The UAE runs its work-authorisation system through a federal ministry (MOHRE) for mainland private-sector jobs, the federal identity authority (ICP) and Dubai's own residency directorate (GDRFAD) for permits and Emirates ID, and a patchwork of free-zone authorities that issue their own employment visas for companies registered inside them. Since the 2021-22 labour-law reforms, all mainland contracts are fixed-term, employer-to-employee sponsorship no longer locks a worker to one job for life, and wages must clear the Wage Protection System, but sponsorship itself has not been abolished — a residence permit is still tied to a sponsoring employer or free-zone entity.
How far this page has been checked. Every link is on an official government or regulator domain. 0 of 55 were opened and read directly; the other 55 could not be fetched automatically — these sites block robots, fail TLS handshakes, or render only in a browser — and were taken from another official page that links to them, or from a search result on that same official domain. None was guessed. Expect a higher share of moved or retired pages here than on the rest of this series.
The two primary references for how the whole system fits together: the federal citizen/resident portal and the ministry directly responsible for private-sector labour.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; they are included because they are on the official u.ae or mohre.gov.ae domain and matched by title in an official-domain search.
Mainland employment must run on a MOHRE-registered fixed-term contract, and salaries above a threshold must be paid through the Wage Protection System (WPS).
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official mohre.gov.ae domain and matching titles.
Covers the current rules on moving to a new sponsor, contract termination, and cancellation of a work permit — the area most often misdescribed as either untouched or fully abolished.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official u.ae/mohre.gov.ae domain and matching titles.
Free-zone authorities (DMCC, ADGM, DIFC and others) issue their own residence visas to staff and freelancers of companies registered in their zone, separate from mainland MOHRE sponsorship.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official domain and matching titles.
Long-term (5- and 10-year) residence categories that are not tied to a single employer in the same way as a standard work visa.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official u.ae domain and matching titles.
Domestic work is regulated under a separate law and separate MOHRE licensed 'Tadbeer' centres, not the standard private-sector labour law.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official mohre.gov.ae/u.ae domain and matching titles.
Regulated professions (health, education) require attestation of qualifications and a separate professional licence from the relevant regulator before a work permit can be used to practise.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official domain and matching titles.
UAE law bars charging job seekers recruitment fees for private-sector jobs; domestic-worker recruitment must go through a MOHRE-approved Tadbeer centre.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official mohre.gov.ae domain and matching titles.
Nafis is the federal platform supporting Emirati employment and training in the private sector; u.ae also links to job-search guidance for residents generally.
Large private job boards widely used in the UAE labour market; these are commercial sites, not government authorities.
Once a residence visa is issued, settlement tasks include applying for the Emirates ID, mandatory health insurance, registering a tenancy (Ejari in Dubai), converting a driving licence, and obtaining a Tax Residency Certificate if needed.
Some of these pages block automated fetch checks; included on the strength of the official domain and matching titles.
Directory of official and semi-official sources, compiled 2026-08-26. Links are to the issuing body wherever one exists. This page states no eligibility, processing time or fee, and is not immigration advice — rules change, and the issuing authority is always the current source.
Your own government runs the register of licensed recruiters, the emigration clearance and the welfare fund that apply before you leave. Those pages are written from that side.
Developed by Amit Jain at allfrontierglobal.com
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