Key takeaways
- The UAE government's current rules speak of a work permit, not a labour card; Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 makes it illegal to work in the UAE without a valid work permit.
- A mainland work permit costs between AED 250 and AED 3,450 to issue or renew, depending on how the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) classifies the employer (figures as of October 2026).
- A standard work permit for a worker recruited from outside the UAE is valid for 2 years, but other permit types run for 3 months, 1 year or 12 months, so validity depends on the permit type.
- A work permit is separate from a residence visa: free zone employers, for example, apply for the "work permit and residence visa" as two items with their free zone authority.
- Free zone companies don't go through MOHRE for their own staff; they apply through their free zone authority, and DIFC and ADGM run their own employment frameworks.
What is a UAE labour card, and is it still used?
"Labour card" is the older, everyday name for what the UAE government now calls a work permit. The current legislation and the official u.ae pages use "work permit" and don't mention a labour card at all.
That matters in practice. Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 states that working in the UAE without a valid work permit is illegal, and MOHRE issues the permit to the employer's registered establishment. We read "labour card" and "work permit" as the same thing for everyday purposes, but that's our reasoning from the official wording, not a statement MOHRE makes. If a bank, landlord or insurer asks for your "labour card", ask which document they mean: the work permit record, the employment contract or the residence visa.
Who needs a work permit, and who issues it?
Every worker in the UAE private sector needs a valid work permit before starting, and MOHRE issues it to establishments registered with the ministry. Free zone companies are the exception: the u.ae portal says they apply for the work permit and residence visa with their own free zone authority.
For a mainland company, MOHRE sets four conditions before it will issue a permit:
- The worker is at least 18, except for juvenile and student permits.
- The occupation matches the company's licensed business activity.
- The trade licence is valid and free of violations.
- The application is submitted by a person legally authorised to represent the company.
For free zones, employees are generally governed by their free zone authority's employment regulations alongside the UAE Labour Law, while DIFC and ADGM operate their own independent employment frameworks. Check with your free zone which permit and visa process applies before you hire.
What types of work permit exist?
The u.ae portal lists 13 types of private sector work permit, each with its own validity and conditions. The ones most SME owners meet are below.
| Permit type | Who it covers | Validity (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Recruit from outside the UAE | A worker brought in from abroad | 2 years |
| Transfer | A non-UAE worker moving between establishments | 2 years |
| Family sponsorship | A resident on a family visa | 2 years |
| Part-time | Fewer hours or days; more than one employer allowed with ministry approval | Not stated |
| Temporary | A worker already in the UAE assigned to another company | Limited period |
| Juvenile | Ages 15 to 18 | 1 year |
| National trainee | Training a UAE citizen | 12 months, renewable by agreement |
| Freelance | Self-sponsored individuals, no employer sponsorship or employment contract needed | Not stated |
| Private teacher | Qualified tutors | Free for 2 years |
Source: u.ae work permits page, checked 24 October 2026. The full list also includes mission, student training and employment, UAE/GCC national, and Golden Residency Visa holder permits.
How much does a work permit cost, and how long does it last?
A mainland work permit costs AED 250 to AED 3,450 to issue or renew, and the price depends on whether MOHRE places your company in category A, B or C. Companies with a history of violations are placed in category C.
MOHRE's own fee table for a two-year permit renewal lists three tiers:
| Category | Two-year renewal fee (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | AED 250 |
| Category 2 | AED 1,200 |
| Category 3 | AED 3,450 |
Source: MOHRE employment contract renewal service page, checked 24 October 2026. The fees exclude tax and collection charges, and a business centre's commission is capped at AED 72. Issuing a new permit follows the same classification-based pricing, but we couldn't confirm the per-category new-issue amounts from an official page, so check the current fee table on the MOHRE app before you budget.
The practical point: the top tier costs more than 13 times the bottom one for the same permit. Keeping your company out of category C, which means complying with the Wages Protection System and other labour rules, is the cheapest way to cut permit costs. Permit expiry dates are one more date to track, so if you'd rather not do it by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar is a calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
How do you get a work permit for a new hire?
You get a mainland work permit by issuing an electronic job offer through MOHRE, attaching it to an initial work permit application, and registering the signed contract after the worker arrives. The steps below follow the u.ae portal.
- Confirm the conditions above: worker aged 18 or over, occupation matching your licence, valid licence with no violations.
- Sign the job offer electronically and send it to the worker. It must be in Arabic, English and a third language the worker understands, with the Labour Law annex from the MOHRE website attached.
- Attach the signed offer to the initial work permit application on MOHRE. Approval allows the worker to enter the UAE.
- On arrival, employer and worker sign the offer; MOHRE registers it as the binding employment contract. Submit the contract within 14 days of the worker's arrival.
- Complete the residence visa, medical and fingerprinting steps for the Emirates ID. The u.ae portal points to the Work Bundle platform (workinuae.ae) for permit and residency visa issuance, renewal and cancellation, and states that it cuts processing from 30 working days to 5.
Fixed-term contracts can't exceed three years but can be renewed or extended. Giving MOHRE false information in the offer can bring fines of up to AED 20,000, as stated on the u.ae portal.
AED 250 to AED 3,450: cost range to issue or renew a mainland work permit, depending on company classification. Source: u.ae work permits page and MOHRE fee table, citing Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022, checked 24 October 2026.
What most guides don't tell you
The wording trips people up more than the process. Banks and landlords still ask for a "labour card". Ask what they need rather than guess, because the official pages never use the term, so there's no single document you can point to as the "labour card".
A licence problem becomes a hiring problem. MOHRE requires the trade licence to be valid and free of violations, and may refuse, not renew or cancel a permit where documents are wrong, the establishment is inactive, or the Wages Protection System isn't followed. So an unrenewed licence or an unresolved fine can stall a hire that looked routine. Renew and clear fines before you file.
Don't assume two years. The 2-year figure applies to recruitment, transfer and family-sponsored permits only. A juvenile permit lasts 1 year, a national trainee permit 12 months and a student permit 3 months, so build the right expiry into your tracking.
Cancellation has conditions. Closing a permit requires a formal request, any late-issuance or non-renewal fines settled, and confirmation that the worker has received their entitlements. Until those are done, the cancellation request can't be completed.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Work permit renewals sit next to licence renewals, VAT and corporate tax filings, and each follows a different cycle. The free UAE compliance calendar turns your company's tax and compliance dates into a personalised PDF and calendar file after a few questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a shareholder hold a partner or investor visa and also work in the company? That depends on the free zone or authority that issued the visa, and we couldn't confirm a single UAE-wide rule from an official source. Because Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 requires a valid work permit for anyone working in the UAE, ask your licensing authority in writing whether your visa type allows you to work.
How do I get a visa for myself as the owner of a free zone company? Free zone companies apply for the work permit and residence visa with their respective free zone authority. The number of visas depends on your package, so check eligibility and quota with that authority.
What is the process to change an employee's job title on their visa? Work permit amendments go through MOHRE eServices for mainland companies, and the new occupation must match your licensed business activity. Free zone companies should ask their free zone authority, as it handles their permits and visas.
About Qawi
About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn
Sources
- UAE Government: Work permits (u.ae)
- UAE Government: Employment of expatriates in the private sector (u.ae)
- UAE Government: Recruiting in free zones (u.ae)
- UAE Government: Working in free zones (u.ae)
- MOHRE: Issuance and renewal of employment contracts and work permits
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationships (MOHRE)
Last checked: 24 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.