Everything You Must Know About UAE Work Visas

The UAE’s workforce is mostly expats. Around 88% of the population is foreign. So if you’re hiring, you’re almost always dealing with visa. And if you get it wrong, it can mean delays, rejections, or big fines. Here’s a full breakdown of UAE work visas, the docs you need, the process, and how EOR (Employer of Record) services can make things way easier.

UAE Work Visa Types

There are 3 types of work visas you will see in the UAE: Standard, Green, and Golden.

1. Standard Employment Visa

This is the one most people use. It’s valid for generally 2–3 years and mostly your company sponsors it. It’s tied to your job. If you leave the company, you need to cancel it or transfer it. Most companies in the mainland go with this.

2. Green Visa

A green visa is valid for 5 years, also you don’t need a company to sponsor for you. It’s made for freelancers, self-employed folks, and skilled professionals. To qualify, you usually need a degree and a decent salary (around AED 15,000+/month). You can also bring your family with you, and if you lose your job, you’ve got a 6-month grace period to stay in the country.

3. Golden Visa

This one’s for high-tier people like investors, scientists, top talent, etc. Valid for 5 or 10 years. It’s self-sponsored and gives a lot of perks: multiple entries, stay outside UAE for more than 6 months, sponsor family, and more. But the eligibility is strict, usually AED 2M+ property investment or serious credentials in medicine, science, or entrepreneurship.

Dubai Visa Employment Requirements

To apply for a work visa, you will be needing following documents:

• Passport – valid for 6+ months with blank pages
  
• Passport photos – white background
  
• Employment contract – Arabic and English, signed
  
• Entry permit – given by MoHRE or a free zone
  
• Medical test results – HIV, TB check from a UAE clinic
  
• Attested degree or certificate – must be stamped by UAE and home country authorities
  
• Emirates ID application – you have to do this once you’re in the UAE
  
• Proof of salary – only needed for Green visa (AED 15,000+)
  
• Trade license copy – your employer provides this
  

Step-by-Step: How the Visa Process Works

Step 1 – Entry Permit

Your company first applies for a work permit and an entry visa. Once it gets approved, you will receive a pink visa which is valid for 60 days. This lets you legally enter the country.

Step 2 – Arrive in UAE

You enter UAE with the entry permit. Then the in-country process starts. Most companies will already have it planned out.

Step 3 – Medical Test

You go for medical screening: blood tests for HIV/hepatitis and a chest X-ray for TB. It has to be done at a government-approved clinic.

Step 4 – Emirates ID

You book a biometric appointment, they take your fingerprints, scan your photo, and start the ID application. This ID is mandatory for everything that you do in the UAE.

Step 5 – Visa Stamping

Once everything’s cleared, your passport is stamped with the residency visa. This usually takes 2–4 weeks. You also get your Emirates ID around the same time. The visa lets you stay and work in UAE legally.

The whole process takes 1–2 months start to finish, assuming no delays. 

Problem	How EOR Helps
You have to need a UAE company to sponsor visas	EOR becomes the legal employer and sponsor. You don’t have to open a local entity in UAE.
Long delays with MoHRE or free zones	EOR already has a license and quota. They process visas faster.
UAE labour law changes often	EOR stays updated. You don’t need to track law changes or new MoHRE rules.
Payroll issues – WPS, gratuity, etc.	EOR handles payroll under UAE law. They follow the Wage Protection System.

Why EOR Works for UAE Hiring

An EOR lets you hire anyone in the UAE without setting up a company. They handle the legal parts like visa, contract, insurance, payroll, and offboarding. You just pick the person and pay a fee. The rest is handled.

For companies hiring in Dubai or across UAE, it makes a lot of sense. Hiring someone on a Dubai visa employment contract requires a trade license, local office space, quota approval, and MoHRE filings. EORs skip all of that. They already have the infrastructure, so you just onboard people without the hassle.

EORs are also up-to-date with the latest UAE labour law changes. Stuff changes all the time, end-of-service rules, Emiratisation quotas, free zone caps. They make sure everything’s compliant and above board.

Onboarding through an EOR generally takes less than 2 weeks, compared to 2–4 months if you go the regular way. If you’re scaling fast or testing the UAE market, it’s way more flexible.

Ready to Hire in UAE? Let Arnifi HR Help

Arnifi HR will handle all of your hiring in the UAE, legally and fast. Whether you’re hiring one person or a full team, we take care of contracts, Dubai visa employment, payroll, and compliance. You don’t have to need a UAE company for this. We will do all for you! Book a call with Arnifi HR now.