The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has introduced installment payment options for eligible government fees and fines through Tabby, extending the use of buy now, pay later services into federal labor-related transactions.
Customers using the service can divide qualifying payments over periods ranging from four to 12 months.
The ministry said the maximum amount that can be processed through the installment option is approximately $5,446 (AED 20,000) per transaction.
A New Payment Route for Labor Services
MoHRE’s decision means customers facing an eligible government fee or administrative fine will no longer necessarily have to settle the full amount in a single payment. Instead, they may select Tabby through one of the ministry’s approved payment channels and repay the amount under an agreed installment schedule.
The ministry did not publish a complete list of the individual services and penalties covered by the arrangement. It described the option more broadly as applying to fees and fines payable through its service channels, meaning customers may need to confirm eligibility during the payment process.
Access to an installment plan is also not the same as a reduction, waiver or cancellation of a government charge. The underlying amount remains payable, while Tabby provides a separate method of financing the transaction over time.
Customers choosing the service will be responsible for any commission or financing cost associated with the installment plan, MoHRE said. Applicable commissions, fees and repayment terms depend on the payment option selected and the customer’s agreement with Tabby.
Federal Partnership Reaches MoHRE Customers
The MoHRE rollout follows a broader agreement announced by the UAE Ministry of Finance in November 2025. Under that arrangement, Tabby was brought into the federal government’s payment system to provide installment options for service fees and fines collected by participating entities.
Under the arrangement, Tabby pays the relevant government entity the full value of an eligible fee or fine, while the customer repays Tabby according to the terms agreed when selecting the installment option.
That structure allows a federal authority to receive the amount due without waiting for each customer installment. Repayment risk and customer collection are handled through the payment provider rather than transferred to the government department receiving the original fee.
The Ministry of Finance said it had negotiated a commission arrangement for the service, with the cost borne only by customers who voluntarily select the installment option. People who pay through existing government channels without using Tabby are not described as being subject to that commission.
Bringing MoHRE into the program gives the federal initiative a direct connection to employers, workers and other customers using labor-market services. The ministry manages services that include work permits, employment contracts, establishment transactions, labor complaints and domestic-worker-related processes.
The development also signals a broader use of buy now, pay later platforms in the UAE. Such services became widely known through retail purchases, but the federal agreement applies the installment model to government obligations arising from regulatory services or administrative enforcement.
Repayment Terms and Customer Obligations
Customers who choose the instalment option can spread eligible payments over a longer period, subject to Tabby's terms and conditions.
The arrangement does not remove the original fee or fine. Instead, customers repay Tabby according to the installment terms presented when they select the payment option.
Late or missed payments can also create separate consequences. Tabby’s UAE customer guidance says missed due dates may result in collection charges, reduced access to its services and a negative effect on a customer’s credit score when payments are consistently late.
MoHRE has not announced that the installment option will replace any existing payment method. The service provides an additional payment option for eligible customers. The rollout marks another step forward in digital payments
The rollout forms part of a wider effort to expand payment choices across UAE government services.
