How to make a monthly budget in the UAE (salary-day plan)
In the UAE most months run from salary day to salary day, not from the 1st to the 31st. This plan follows that rhythm: start the month when your salary lands, set aside fixed costs first, then turn what's left into a weekly allowance you can actually stick to.
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Step 1: Start your month on salary day
If your salary arrives on the 25th, your budget month should run from the 25th to the 24th. Budget by calendar month instead and one salary gets split across two months, so the numbers never quite add up.
In Malii, set this under Settings → Manage Budget → Budget Start Day. Your budget then resets on that day every month.
Step 2: Fixed costs first
List everything that must be paid before you spend on anything else. For costs paid quarterly or per term, like school fees or rent cheques, divide by the number of months they cover and set that share aside every month, so the big payment never catches you out.
In Malii, add them as recurring payments so they are counted before they are charged (up to 3 on the free plan, unlimited with Premium).
- Rent, or the monthly share of your rent cheques
- DEWA, SEWA, or ADDC
- du or etisalat: mobile and home internet
- Salik, fuel, and any car payment
- School fees: the monthly share
- Insurance and subscriptions
Step 3: Pay savings first, then set a weekly allowance
Decide what you are saving before you spend, and move it on salary day. What's left after fixed costs and savings is your flexible money: groceries, eating out, Talabat and Careem, shopping, coffee.
Divide the flexible money by the number of weeks in your budget month (about 4.3) to get a weekly allowance. A weekly number is easier to follow than a monthly one: if one dinner runs over, you know straight away how much is left for the rest of the week.
Worked example (illustrative numbers)
- 1Salary: AED 15,000, arriving on the 25th.
- 2Fixed costs: rent share AED 5,000 + DEWA AED 500 + du/etisalat AED 400 + Salik and fuel AED 600 + school fees share AED 1,500 + insurance and subscriptions AED 500 = AED 8,500.
- 3Savings, moved on salary day: AED 2,000.
- 4Flexible money: AED 15,000 − 8,500 − 2,000 = AED 4,500.
- 5Weekly allowance: AED 4,500 ÷ 4.3 ≈ AED 1,045, so round down to AED 1,000 a week and keep about AED 200 as a buffer.
Example only: round numbers chosen to show the method, not typical UAE costs. Use your own salary and bills.
Prefer a rule of thumb? Try 50/30/20
The 50/30/20 rule splits take-home pay into 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings. It's a useful starting point. If your rent and school fees alone take more than half your salary, start from your real fixed costs (step 2) and adjust the other two parts around them.
Malii keeps the plan in one place: one monthly budget, spending logged with Apple Pay Shortcuts, Siri, or widgets, and a week view in analytics to see how you're doing against your allowance.
Frequently asked questions
When should my budget month start?
On the day your salary arrives. That way your fixed costs, savings, and weekly allowance all come out of the same salary instead of being split across two calendar months.
How do I budget for school fees and rent paid by cheque?
Divide each payment by the number of months it covers and set that share aside every month, as if it were a monthly bill. When the cheque or term fee is due, the money is already there.
Is the 50/30/20 rule right for the UAE?
It's one option. If your fixed costs are well above 50% of your salary, start from your actual numbers and treat the percentages as a guide, not a rule.
What if I overspend one week?
Take the difference from next week's allowance or from your buffer, and leave savings and fixed costs untouched.
Can I run this plan in Malii for free?
Yes. The free plan includes one monthly budget, up to 3 recurring payments, unlimited categories and transactions, and week and month analytics.
What people say on the App Store
5.05 ratings
Finally, a Budgeting App That Gets It Right
“Finally found a budgeting app that feels both safe and beautifully designed. Most other budgeting apps I tried either felt complicated, outdated, or raised concerns about security. This one has a clean, intuitive UI that makes managing expenses and understanding your finances…”
This app saved my financial life!
“I’ve been looking for an app that can do track my spending in this way, and this is it!! It’s efficient, easy to get around and use, I love that it does its magic in the background.. i highly recommend!”
Finally, a budgeting app that actually makes sense
“I’ve tried a few budgeting apps, but Malii is honestly one of the easiest to use. The interface is clean, simple, and makes tracking your spending feel much less overwhelming. What I really appreciate is the privacy aspect, which is so important especially to manage something as…”
رهيب، ومرّه برايفيت
“فكرة انه التطبيق ما يطلع الداتا او يبيع الداتا هذا لحاله كافي ٥ نجوم. شكراً”
Finally, a Budgeting App That Gets It Right
“Finally found a budgeting app that feels both safe and beautifully designed. Most other budgeting apps I tried either felt complicated, outdated, or raised concerns about security. This one has a clean, intuitive UI that makes managing expenses and understanding your finances…”
This app saved my financial life!
“I’ve been looking for an app that can do track my spending in this way, and this is it!! It’s efficient, easy to get around and use, I love that it does its magic in the background.. i highly recommend!”
Finally, a budgeting app that actually makes sense
“I’ve tried a few budgeting apps, but Malii is honestly one of the easiest to use. The interface is clean, simple, and makes tracking your spending feel much less overwhelming. What I really appreciate is the privacy aspect, which is so important especially to manage something as…”
رهيب، ومرّه برايفيت
“فكرة انه التطبيق ما يطلع الداتا او يبيع الداتا هذا لحاله كافي ٥ نجوم. شكراً”
Plan your salary-day budget.
Malii is free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
On a computer? Scan to open the App Store on your iPhone.