Why MENA Businesses Need A Localised HR System Built For Labour Law, WPS & Payroll Compliance

By Akeed Azmi, Co-founder, Cercli

In an era where nearly every business function has embraced digital transformation, HR systems in the Middle East and North Africa are still behind. And it’s not because of a shortage of HR software.

If anything, the global HR tech market is saturated. But for businesses in MENA, the problem isn’t access — it’s fit. Most HR systems weren’t built with this region in mind.

They overlook key requirements like WPS (Wage Protection System) compliance, local Labour Law UAE standards, DEWS regulations, and the complexity of multi-country operations. They don’t support visa renewals, MOHRE filings, or the specific payroll structures required across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and beyond.

The result? HR teams are forced to rely on fragmented tools and outdated workflows, increasing compliance risk, slowing growth, and frustrating employees.

The Big 3 Challenges: Localisation, Fragmentation, and Legacy HR Systems

Here are the core pain points companies across MENA are facing:

1. Lack of localisation

Managing payroll in Dubai isn’t the same as managing a team in Riyadh or Cairo. From WPS filings to free zone vs. mainland requirements, HR teams need tools tailored to the region — not retrofitted software from overseas.

2. Fragmented HR tech stacks

Many companies still juggle different platforms for payroll, leave tracking, onboarding, contract management, and document storage. This creates inefficiencies, silos, and unnecessary manual work.

3. Manual processes and outdated tools

Legacy software and spreadsheets are still widely used — especially for payroll processing. That leads to delays, errors, and poor employee experiences, particularly when cross-border or multi-entity teams are involved.

How Modern HRIS Platforms Can Solve MENA’s HR Challenges

Reevaluating your HRIS (Human Resources Information System) isn’t just about streamlining HR. It’s about enabling faster growth, staying compliant, and giving your people the experience they deserve.

Here’s what a modern HR platform can do:

1. Automate payroll and stay WPS-compliant

A modern HR system like Cercli can handle multi-country payroll, WPS filings, and real-time calculations — all without the manual stress. It supports multiple currencies, reduces errors, and ensures on-time salary disbursements across borders.

2. Unify your entire HR tech stack

No more logging into five different systems. A consolidated HR system gives your team one platform for everything: contracts, payroll, time-off tracking, compliance, and employee records — all in one place.

3. Stay compliant with UAE Labour Law and regional regulations

Compliance in MENA isn’t optional. Whether it’s DEWS in the DIFC, MOHRE updates, or GOSI in KSA, Cercli offers automated compliance tracking with alerts, expiry reminders, and built-in workflows that keep you ahead of the curve.

4. Improve employee experience with better tools

The best HR software feels like using a modern app, not a clunky ERP. Employees should be able to request leave, view payslips, or update documents easily — without emailing HR or submitting paper forms.

5. Built for MENA from day one

Localisation means more than language. Cercli is designed for how businesses in this region operate — supporting WPS compliance, DEWS integration, entity-level control, and more. It works for startups, SMEs, and scale-ups alike.

Why HR Tech is the Growth Lever MENA Companies Can’t Ignore

The companies that will define the next decade in MENA won’t be the ones with the biggest perks. They’ll be the ones who build efficient, compliant, scalable systems from the ground up — starting with HR.

That means choosing software that understands your context, your regulations, and your people.

A modern, localised HRIS can help you:

• Run payroll in minutes
• Stay compliant with labour laws in the UAE and MENA
• Pay employees across multiple countries
• Reduce manual work and costly errors
• Deliver a better experience for your team

If your current HR system is slowing you down, talk to us at Cercli — and see how the right HR technology can unlock growth.