UAE Extends Pension Coverage to Part-Time Emirati Workers in Public and Private Sectors

Emiratis working part-time in the public and private sectors will now be covered by the UAE pension system, according to an announcement made by the General Pension and Social Security Authority on Friday.

Under the new regulations, part-time employees qualify for registration in the pension system if their work schedule consists of eight to 32 hours per week, or between one and four days a week. This workload corresponds to 20 to 80 percent of standard full-time working hours.

Emirati citizens employed on part-time contracts are eligible for this social security coverage under UAE pension law. The GPSSA stated that the initiative adapts to changing labour market dynamics, supports flexible on-site, remote, and hybrid work models, and enhances financial security and stability for all citizens.

An employee's service duration and pension benefits will be calculated proportionally based on their actual hours worked and the approved contribution-calculation salary for that specific period.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers bear the responsibility of registering eligible Emirati part-time workers with the GPSSA. Businesses are also required to update employee information via the authority’s Maashi platform whenever an insured worker transitions from a full-time position to a part-time contract.

To join the part-time pension system, employees must submit a formal request to their human resources department, enabling the employer to complete the registration process.

The GPSSA emphasized that expanding social security protection across diverse employment types provides Emiratis with enhanced flexibility to balance their professional careers with personal commitments, such as ongoing education and family caregiving.

The authority noted that the part-time pension framework maintains service continuity when workers transition between full-time and part-time roles, safeguarding their long-term financial and social well-being.

Emiratis enrolled in the pension system are eligible for various benefits, which include a retirement pension or end-of-service gratuity, a disability pension for medical unfitness, and survivors' pensions designated for eligible beneficiaries after the death of an insured person.