MOHRE work permits and labour cards
The mainland employment layer, where quota, job titles and contract terms decide whether a hire proceeds or stalls.
MOHRE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, governs employment for Dubai mainland companies. Its transactions include the establishment card, the labour quota, work permits, offer letters, standard labour contracts, contract amendments and cancellations.
Free zone and DIFC or ADGM entities sit outside the MOHRE regime and follow their own authority. A group holding both must run two employment processes in parallel, and the differences are not cosmetic.
Transactions we run
Establishment and quota
- Establishment card issue and renewal, tracked as a group-level dependency because its expiry blocks every permit
- Quota applications and increases, planned against the hiring forecast
- Activity and job title alignment, so permit applications match what the licence permits
- Emiratisation obligations monitored where the company falls within scope by size and activity
Employee lifecycle
- Work permit applications, renewals and cancellations
- Offer letters and standard labour contracts prepared and lodged
- Contract amendments for salary changes, promotions, title changes and contract type conversions
- Absconding reports and their withdrawal, handled with care because the consequences for the individual are serious
- Labour card issue and renewal, kept on the same register line as the visa and Emirates ID
Where mainland and free zone employment diverge
| Item | Mainland (MOHRE) | Free zone | DIFC / ADGM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract form | Standard MOHRE contract lodged with the ministry | Free zone standard form, lodged with the authority | Own employment law, contract not lodged with MOHRE |
| Quota basis | Set against activity and registered office space | Visa allocation tied to leased area or licence package | Set by the registrar and premises |
| Wage protection | Wages Protection System applies | Applies in many zones, varies | Separate regime |
| End of service | Federal labour law | Federal labour law, applied through the zone | DIFC or ADGM regulations, including workplace savings in DIFC |
| Practical effect | Quota and premises are the constraint | The zone portal is the constraint | The registrar's process is the constraint |
MOHRE transactions: what employers ask
What is the establishment card and why does it matter so much?
It is the company's registration with the immigration and labour systems, and it is the gateway record for employment transactions. When it lapses, work permit and visa activity stops until it is renewed. Because it has no day-to-day visibility, it is the item most often discovered expired at the point it is needed.
How is the labour quota calculated?
It is assessed with reference to the licensed activity and the office space registered against the licence, among other factors. The practical consequence is that a quota increase can require a premises change, which is a property decision rather than an administrative one and needs a longer runway.
Can a job title be changed after the permit is issued?
Yes, through a contract amendment, provided the new title is consistent with the licensed activity. Where it is not, the licence activity may need amending first. Getting the title right at offer stage avoids both.
What does Emiratisation require of a private company?
Requirements apply to companies meeting defined size and activity criteria, with targets and contribution consequences for those in scope. Whether a specific company is in scope, and at what level, should be confirmed rather than assumed, and the position is reviewed as headcount grows.
How are cancellations handled when someone resigns?
The work permit and visa are cancelled and the grace period runs from cancellation. Final settlement should be coordinated with payroll so the labour and immigration records close cleanly, and we diarise the grace period rather than leaving it to the individual to track.
Talk to the PRO desk
A 20 minute scoping call covers entity count, headcount, renewal dates and the transactions falling due in the next 90 days.