Key takeaways
- A UAE company's visa quota is the maximum number of work permits or residence visas it can sponsor, and the authority that licenses the company sets it: a free zone authority for free zone companies, MOHRE for mainland companies.
- A free zone quota usually follows the space leased: DMCC allows up to 3 visas on a flexi desk, 4 or 5 in a serviced office, and 1 visa for every 9 square metres of physical space (checked 09 October 2026).
- MOHRE gives a new mainland establishment 3 work permits to start, 6 if the establishment is listed in Annexure 2 of Cabinet Resolution No. 203 of 2022, and 20 for the highest-priority establishments (MOHRE FAQ, checked 09 October 2026).
- An existing mainland establishment receives new quota automatically at 5% to 10% of its registered workforce, capped at 100 employees a year; a company that runs out can ask MOHRE for more by stating its need.
- A free zone company can raise its quota by moving to bigger premises or by applying to its free zone authority, which has to approve the increase.
Who sets your UAE visa quota?
Your licensing authority sets it, so the formula depends on where your company is licensed. A free zone company deals with its free zone authority; a mainland company deals with MOHRE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
The u.ae portal states that most free zone authorities cap the number of visas each business can have, and that you apply for work permits and residence visas through the free zone concerned. For the mainland, u.ae says the number of employees a company can hire depends on the quota the ministry approves. Because the two systems are separate, a quota in one does not carry over to the other.
How is the visa quota calculated in a free zone?
Most free zones tie the quota to the premises you rent, and some also tie it to the licence type or fee. No single UAE-wide formula exists; each authority publishes its own basis, and several publish only a range.
| Free zone | Published basis | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC | Workspace type and size | Flexi desk: up to 3; serviced office: 4 or 5; physical space: 1 per 9 square metres | DMCC visa guide |
| twofour54 | Licence fee and office size | No fixed number published | u.ae, Recruiting in free zones |
| Meydan Free Zone | Licence type or structure and office size | Licences start with 0 to 6 allocations | Meydan blog, updated 29 July 2026 |
| SHAMS | Package chosen | Packages list 0 to 6 allocations; each allocation listed at AED 1,600 | SHAMS packages page |
Accurate as of 09 October 2026. Free zones change packages without notice, so get the allocation for your exact package in writing before you pay.
Say a consultancy leases 45 square metres of physical space at DMCC (a hypothetical case). At DMCC's published ratio of 1 visa per 9 square metres, that points to a quota of 5; if the owner's own visa draws on the same pool, four slots remain for staff. The same company on a flexi desk would be capped at 3.
How is the work permit quota calculated on the mainland?
MOHRE sets mainland quotas by establishment type and priority, not by a published square-metre formula. According to u.ae, the ministry bases the quota on the company's legal form, premises area, projects and the operational demand the employer shows.
The MOHRE FAQ gives the starting and annual figures:
| Establishment | Electronic quota | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New, standard | 3 work permits | MOHRE FAQ |
| New, listed in Annexure 2 of Cabinet Resolution No. 203 of 2022 | 6 work permits | MOHRE FAQ |
| New, highest priority | 20 work permits | MOHRE FAQ |
| Existing, standard | 5% to 10% of registered workforce, capped at 100 employees a year | MOHRE FAQ |
| Existing, high priority | 50% of registered workforce each year | MOHRE FAQ |
Accurate as of 09 October 2026, as stated on the MOHRE FAQ page.
MOHRE also states that a new work permit needs an electronic quota available to the establishment, and that the establishment's licence must be valid with no violation causing suspension. So a quota on paper is not enough: the establishment has to be in good standing when you apply.
Can I increase my visa quota?
Yes, in both systems, but the authority decides. A free zone company can move to bigger premises or apply for an increase, subject to the free zone authority's approval (u.ae). Meydan adds that larger quotas may need a review of the business plan, operational structure and office requirements.
On the mainland, an establishment that has used its electronic quota can submit a request stating the need, and a special committee reviews it (MOHRE FAQ). MOHRE also says electronic permit shares can be revoked if the establishment breaches the labour relations law or its regulations.
1 visa for every 9 square metres: DMCC's published ratio for physical office space; a flexi desk gets up to 3 and a serviced office 4 or 5. Source: DMCC, "The 4 types of Dubai free zone visas at DMCC", checked 09 October 2026.
How do I check my quota before I hire?
Ask the authority for the number attached to your exact licence, in writing, before you promise anyone a job. These steps work for most companies:
- Free zone companies: ask the free zone authority, or your PRO, for the visa allocation on your package and the price of adding more.
- Mainland companies: confirm with MOHRE that your establishment has an electronic quota available before you start a new work permit application.
- Ask whether the owner's investor or partner visa uses one of the slots; Meydan lists an available allocation as a condition for an investor visa.
- Check that the premises the quota was based on match your current lease; a move or a change of desk type can change the answer.
- If the quota is short, request an increase through the free zone authority or MOHRE and keep the approval with your licence file.
- Diarise the visa renewal date for each hire, because more staff means more separate renewals.
If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists them for your company.
What most guides don't tell you
The 9 square metre ratio is DMCC's, not a UAE rule. Blogs often present it as universal, but u.ae attributes it to DMCC and says twofour54 uses licence fee and office size instead. Check your own zone's basis.
Quota is a ceiling, and your classification still costs money. MOHRE's classification of private companies took effect on 1 June 2022: a first-category company pays up to AED 250 per two-year work permit, second category AED 1,200 and third category AED 3,450. A quota gives you permission to hire; it doesn't set the fee you pay for each hire.
Changing authority resets the paperwork. Meydan states that visas and establishment cards are authority-specific and must be cancelled and re-issued when a company transfers to it, so a bigger quota in a new zone doesn't carry existing visas across automatically.
An allocation doesn't oblige you to issue visas. Meydan notes that having an allocation doesn't mean visas must be issued immediately, so a small starting package costs little if you hire slowly, but check what each extra allocation costs before you rely on it.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Visa renewals, licence renewals, VAT and corporate tax filings all run on different dates, and every new hire adds another renewal. The free UAE compliance calendar is a free calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
How many visas can I get with a free zone licence? It depends on the free zone: u.ae says most free zone authorities cap visas per business, and published starting ranges run from 0 to 6 (Meydan and SHAMS, as of October 2026). DMCC's cap follows workspace: up to 3 on a flexi desk, 4 or 5 in a serviced office and 1 per 9 square metres of physical space.
Can I get an investor visa through my company? In most free zones, yes, if you're a shareholder or partner, the trade licence is active and a visa allocation is still available (Meydan's listed conditions). Because the owner's visa may use one slot, count it before you plan hires.
Can I change my free zone later without closing the company? Yes: Meydan describes a transfer in which the company doesn't close, the current free zone issues a No Objection Certificate and Exit Certificate, and the old licence is cancelled once the new zone approves (page updated 18 July 2026). Visas and establishment cards are authority-specific, so they're cancelled and re-issued under the new free zone, which sets your new quota.
How do I move my company from a free zone to the mainland? A move means obtaining a mainland licence from the relevant licensing authority, and the mainland establishment then falls under MOHRE's quota rules. For Dubai free zone entities, Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 (issued 3 March 2025) lets them apply to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism for onshore access through a branch or a temporary permit, which may be enough without a full move; confirm the route with the Department before you commit.
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
- DMCC: The 4 types of Dubai free zone visas at DMCC
- u.ae: Recruiting in free zones
- u.ae: Recruiting on the mainland
- MOHRE: Frequently asked questions (work permit quotas)
- MOHRE: Issuance of a new work permit, overseas
- MOHRE: New classification of private companies comes into force, 1 June 2022
- Meydan Free Zone: How many visas do I actually need
- Meydan Free Zone: Investor visa in UAE free zones
- Meydan Free Zone: Transferring an existing free zone company
- SHAMS: Business setup packages
- CMS: Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 (law-firm summary, used for interpretation only)
Last checked: 09 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.