UAE Announces New Work Permit Rules

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has eliminated all supporting document requirements for 13 types of work permits and significantly reduced the amount of data required on certain application forms. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) implemented these changes as part of the government’s Zero Bureaucracy initiative, according to Gulf News.

Processing times have been shortened and all 13 permit services are now accessible through MoHRE’s unified digital channels, allowing employers to apply entirely online. This change is expected to expedite hiring, facilitate job transfers, and minimize bureaucratic hurdles for employers recruiting foreign staff. For Pakistan, which receives approximately 30,000 visas from the UAE each month, these reforms are particularly significant.

The ministry’s objective is to support private businesses, safeguard workers’ rights, and create a more efficient labor market. The reforms have also initiated a fresh phase of enhancements aimed at simplifying procedures and broadening digital services. The 13 work permits affected by these changes include private tutoring, recruitment from outside the UAE (valid for two years), transfer work permits (valid for two years), resident-sponsored family work permits (valid for two years), temporary work permits, mission work permits for short-term projects, part-time work permits for those working for more than one employer (valid for two years), juvenile work permits for ages 15 to under 18, student training or employment permits for ages 15 and above, work permits for UAE nationals and GCC citizens (valid for two years), Golden Residency work permits, national trainee work permits, and freelance work permits.