Step 3 — Salary is credited to the Ratibi card Once FAB processes the payment, the salary is credited directly to the individual cardholder’s Ratibi card account. An automatic SMS alert is sent to the registered mobile number confirming the credit amount and new balance.
Step 4 — Cardholder receives the SMS and can access the funds The cardholder receives the SMS notification and can immediately use the card for withdrawals, purchases, and transfers.
Understanding this process makes it clear that a delay can occur at any of these stages — and knowing which stage has been delayed is the key to resolving the issue quickly.
Most Common Reasons Why the Salary Has Not Been Credited
Before taking any action, it is worth considering the most likely reasons for the missing credit:
Reason 1 — The employer has not yet processed the payroll The most common reason for a missing salary credit is simply that the employer has not yet submitted the payroll file to FAB. This may be due to a busy period, an administrative delay, a public holiday affecting banking hours, or a deliberate delay.
Reason 2 — The payment is still being processed by FAB If the employer submitted the payroll late in the business day — particularly after banking cut-off times — the payment may carry over to the next business day for processing. This is especially common around public holidays and weekends.
Reason 3 — The registered mobile number is incorrect or inactive If the salary has actually been credited but the SMS alert has not arrived, the registered mobile number linked to the card may be incorrect, inactive, or full. The salary may be on the card without the cardholder knowing.
Reason 4 — The Ratibi card is blocked If the card has been blocked for any reason — expired KYC, incorrect PIN attempts, or a fraud alert — the salary credit may be pending and unable to be applied until the card is unblocked.
Reason 5 — Incorrect employee details on file If the employee’s name, Emirates ID number, or card number on the payroll file does not match the details on file with FAB, the payment may be rejected or delayed while the discrepancy is investigated.
Reason 6 — The employer’s corporate account has insufficient funds If the employer’s account does not have enough funds to cover the full payroll, FAB may be unable to process some or all of the salary payments.
Reason 7 — A banking technical issue Rarely, technical issues within FAB’s processing system can cause delays in salary credits. These are usually resolved within a few hours and FAB typically communicates about such issues through official channels.
Step-by-Step Guide — What to Do When the Salary Has Not Been Credited
Step 1 — Check the Balance First
Before assuming the salary has not been credited, check the actual balance through one of the available methods:
- Magnati online portal — ppc.magnati.com/ppc-inquiry
- FAB mobile app — navigate to the Ratibi card section
- ATM balance enquiry — insert the card and select balance enquiry
- Recent SMS alerts — check all SMS messages including spam folders
It is possible that the salary has been credited but the SMS alert was not received due to a mobile network issue or an incorrect registered number. Checking the actual balance directly confirms whether the money is there or not.
If the balance confirms that the salary has indeed not been credited, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2 — Confirm the Expected Payday
Every employer has a specific payday — the date on which salaries are processed and credited each month. Before raising a concern, confirm:
- The exact payday date as agreed in the employment contract
- Whether payday falls on a weekend or public holiday this month — in which case it may be processed on the next working day
- Whether there has been any communication from the employer about a payroll delay
UAE labour law requires employers to pay salaries within the timeframes set by the Wage Protection System — but understanding the specific arrangement with the employer helps set the right expectations.
Step 3 — Contact the Employer Directly
If the balance check confirms the salary is missing and the expected payday has passed, the employer must be contacted immediately. This is always the first active step.
When speaking to the employer or HR department, ask:
- Has the payroll been submitted to FAB for this month?
- What is the expected date for the salary to be credited?
- Is there any issue with the payroll processing this month?
- Has the correct card number and employee details been used in the payroll file?
Document the conversation — note the date, time, and name of the person spoken to, and what they said. This record is important if the issue escalates.
Step 4 — Wait for One Full Business Day After Payday
If the employer confirms that the payroll has been submitted, it is worth waiting for one full business day after the expected payday before escalating further. Late submissions or high-volume processing periods can cause delays of up to 24 hours on FAB’s side.
During this waiting period, check the balance again every few hours using the Magnati portal or ATM — the credit may arrive at any point during the processing window.
Step 5 — Call the FAB Ratibi Helpline
If the salary has still not appeared after one full business day following payday, call the FAB Ratibi helpline:
| Location | Number |
| Within the UAE | 600 52 2298 |
| Outside the UAE | +971 2 499 6279 |
When speaking to the agent, provide:
- Full name as it appears on the Ratibi card
- The 16-digit card number
- The registered mobile number
- The expected payday date
- Confirmation that the employer has been contacted and what they said
The FAB agent can check whether a salary payment has been received from the employer and is in the processing queue — or whether no payment has been submitted at all. This information is critical for understanding the next steps.
Ask the agent for a reference number for the enquiry — this is important for any follow-up.
Step 6 — Escalate to the Ministry of Human Resources If Needed
If the employer confirms that the payroll has been submitted but FAB confirms no payment has been received — or if the employer is unresponsive or deliberately delaying the salary — this becomes a labour rights issue.
The UAE’s Wage Protection System (WPS) is a government-mandated system that requires employers to pay salaries on time through approved channels. Failure to do so is a violation of UAE labour law.
In this situation, the following steps should be taken:
Contact MOHRE — the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation can be reached on 800 60 (free call within the UAE). They handle salary complaint cases and can investigate employers who are not paying salaries on time.
File a wage complaint online — the MOHRE website and app allow workers to file a formal salary complaint against their employer. This triggers an official investigation process.
Visit a MOHRE service centre — if online filing is not accessible, visiting the nearest MOHRE service centre in person is an alternative. Bring the employment contract, Emirates ID, and any documentation about the missing salary.
MOHRE takes salary complaints seriously and has the authority to impose penalties on employers who violate WPS regulations.
What to Do If the Salary Is Only Partially Credited
Sometimes the balance shows a salary credit — but the amount is less than expected. This is a different issue from a completely missing salary but is equally important to address.
Possible reasons for a partial salary credit include:
- A deduction authorised by the employer — such as an advance repayment, accommodation fee, or fine
- An error in the payroll file submitted by the employer
- A processing issue where only part of the payment was successfully transferred
Steps to take:
- Check the employment contract and any recent payslips to understand what deductions — if any — were expected
- Contact the employer or HR department and ask for a detailed breakdown of the salary payment
- If the deduction is unexplained or unauthorised, request a written explanation from the employer
- If the employer cannot explain the deduction or refuses to rectify it, contact MOHRE on 800 60
Managing Financially While Waiting for the Salary
A delayed salary — even by a few days — can create genuine financial pressure. Here are some practical ways to manage during the waiting period:
Ask the employer for an emergency cash advance — if the salary delay is confirmed and the employer accepts responsibility, requesting a cash advance against the expected salary is a reasonable and common request.
Contact family members — informing family back home about the delay avoids unnecessary worry and allows them to make alternative arrangements if they were expecting a remittance.
Prioritise essential spending — focus available funds on food, transport to work, and any urgent bills. Non-essential spending can wait until the salary is received.
Keep records of all expenses — if the salary delay causes additional costs — such as late payment fees on bills — keep records of these expenses in case they need to be referenced during a complaint process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does FAB take to credit a salary after the employer submits the payroll? In most cases, FAB credits the salary to Ratibi cards within a few hours of receiving the payroll file from the employer. During high-volume periods or if the submission is made late in the business day, processing may take up to one full business day.
Q: Can the salary be credited on a weekend or public holiday? FAB processes WPS salary payments on business days. If the employer submits the payroll on a Friday or a public holiday, the credit will typically appear on the next working day.
Q: What if the employer says the salary has been paid but FAB says nothing has been received? Ask the employer to provide the payment reference number or transaction confirmation from their banking system. This can be shared with FAB to trace the payment and identify where the delay has occurred.
Q: Is there a time limit for filing a salary complaint with MOHRE? MOHRE accepts salary complaints for salaries that are more than 10 days overdue. However, it is always better to start the complaint process as early as possible to avoid further delays.
Q: What if the registered mobile number linked to the card is wrong and the salary has actually been credited? Check the balance directly through the Magnati portal or ATM. If the salary is there, inform the employer to update the registered mobile number with FAB so that future SMS alerts are received correctly.
Q: Can a salary credit be reversed once it has been applied to the Ratibi card? In general, once a salary is credited to a Ratibi card, the funds belong to the cardholder. The employer cannot unilaterally reverse a credited salary — any disputed amounts would need to go through a formal process involving FAB and potentially MOHRE.
Final Thoughts
A missing salary credit on the Ratibi card is stressful — but in the vast majority of cases, it is caused by a processing delay or a straightforward administrative issue that can be resolved within one to three business days.
The key steps are always the same — check the balance directly first, contact the employer to confirm the payroll status, call the FAB Ratibi helpline if the employer’s answer is unsatisfactory, and escalate to MOHRE if the employer is not paying the salary as required by UAE law.
Every worker in the UAE has the right to receive their salary on time — and the systems are in place to ensure that right is protected.
For workers whose Ratibi card is blocked and preventing access to a credited salary, Article #9: What to Do If the Ratibi Card Is Blocked covers the complete unblocking process in full detail.
Come next — How to Transfer Money From Ratibi Card to Bank Account, where every method of moving funds from the Ratibi card to a personal bank account is explained step by step — marking the beginning of Cluster 4: Transactions & Transfers.