If your organization is planning to expand to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example to a city such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi, then it is likely that you will need to bring some of your employees from abroad to work on the setup and running of the new venture. To do this, your employees will need to apply for a UAE work visa.
The UAE visa application process can be difficult, with unique immigration laws, complex administrative procedures, and a language barrier all contributing to the difficulties. Because of this, it’s important to follow all of the procedures carefully in order to avoid expensive delays.
At Horizons, our experts in foreign expansion offer a full suite of UAE work visa services, immigration support, and outsourcing, giving your business everything it needs to expand into UAE with the help of your existing workforce.
Hire and pay talents
with Horizons in
180+ countries
Requirements for UAE work visas
There are several basic requirements for anybody applying for a UAE work permit. Some of the main examples are:
- Valid passport
- UAE identity card
- Official UAE entry document
- Proof of health check
- Application form
- Job offer/contract of employment
- Application fees
- Details of the employer, including their business license
Types of UAE work visas
There is only one standard work visa for the UAE, otherwise known as a labor card. If you are bringing in foreign workers, this is the permit they will need to be able to work in the UAE legally.
How to get a UAE work visa
Firstly, your employee will need a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which enables them to enter the UAE for work and is valid for 60 days after being issued.
Once your employee is in the UAE, you can complete all the necessary administration such as obtaining a health check, Emirates ID card, and a longer-term work visa/labor card.
The majority of the application process is generally handled by employers.
Additional considerations
If any of your employees would like to bring family members with them, then each family member will need to be formally sponsored to reside in the country.
It is also important to note that applications can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, so you should always prepare well in advance to avoid delays.
How can Horizons help with your Emirati work visas?
At Horizons, we assist organizations of all kinds with their successful expansion into the UAE, and we are experts in obtaining work visas for the UAE. Our UAE work visa specialists offer reliable advice and tailored outsourcing services to support you through the UAE’s complicated immigration process quickly and effectively. We can ensure that you and your valued employees are totally compliant with the UAE’s immigration and employment regulations, save you time, and provide answers to any questions you may have about the process.
We also provide extensive outsourcing services covering recruitment, payroll, HR, administration, and more to help your business start trading in UAE as efficiently as possible, even if you don’t have an established entity in the country.
