🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Working in the UAE requires a work permit and a residence visa, typically sponsored by an employer or a free-zone company. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) governs mainland employment; free zones issue their own permits. There is no personal income tax on salaries.
Work permits on the mainland are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), with residence visas handled by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Free zones sponsor their own visas.
- Mainland employees need a MOHRE work permit and an ICP residence visa.
- Free-zone entities sponsor employee visas under their own free-zone authority.
- The Golden Visa offers long-term residence to qualifying investors and skilled professionals.
Official authorities
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Work permits and labour relations.
- Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP)
Residence visas and entry permits.
Frequently asked questions
Who sponsors my UAE work visa?
Usually your employer or the free-zone entity you join sponsors your work permit and residence visa; the Golden Visa allows longer self-sponsored residence for eligible people.
Is income taxed in the UAE?
There is no personal income tax on salaries; corporate tax applies to businesses above a threshold, and VAT applies to most goods and services.
Can I sponsor my family?
Yes — residents meeting an income threshold can sponsor a spouse and children for residence visas.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.