Hiring Your First Employee in UAE: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

You must have an active trade license, relevant activity for the role, and company registered with MOHRE. Check that your license is current and covers the job you are hiring for.

Every company gets a visa quota based on office size, business activity, and free zone rules if applicable. Check by logging into MOHRE portal, viewing establishment card, and checking available quota. Mainland minimum is usually 1 visa per 9 sqm of office space. Free zone varies by zone and package purchased.

Before paying salaries you need a corporate bank account, WPS registration with the bank, and ability to generate SIF files. Open account before starting the hiring process.

Required before visa processing. Select an insurance provider, confirm compliant plan options, and know the process for adding employees.

Include clear market-standard job title, 5-8 key responsibilities, required skills, experience, and qualifications, researched salary range, benefits you will provide, and work location with remote options.

Typical structure is basic salary 50-60%, housing allowance 25-30%, transport allowance 5-10%, and other allowances 5-10%. Important: Basic salary is used for gratuity calculation so structure wisely.

Check similar listings on job portals, use salary surveys for industry benchmarks, ask recruitment agencies for market data, and talk to peers in your network.

Job portals cost AED 500-3,000 per month for volume hiring. LinkedIn is free to AED 2,000 per month for professional roles. Referrals cost a bonus for quality candidates. Recruitment agencies cost 8-15% of annual salary for specialized roles. Social media is free for brand building.

Bayt.com is the regional leader. LinkedIn is for professional roles. Indeed UAE is for volume hiring. GulfTalent is for mid to senior positions. Dubizzle covers various roles.

Keep it simple but thorough. CV screening matches requirements. Phone screen takes 15-20 minutes for basics. In-person or video interview takes 45-60 minutes. Reference check requires 2 references minimum. Offer is written offer letter.

For inside UAE visa transfer: passport copy, current visa copy, Emirates ID copy, NOC from current employer if employed, educational certificates attested if required, and passport photos. For outside UAE new visa: passport copy with 6+ months validity, passport photos, educational certificates attested, and experience letters if required.

Apply through MOHRE portal or Tasheel. Documents needed are company documents including trade license and establishment card, employee passport copy, offer letter, and job description. Timeline is 2-3 working days. Cost is AED 300-500.

After work permit approval entry permit is issued valid for 60 days and employee can enter UAE. Cost is AED 500-1,000. Employee must enter within 60 days.

At approved medical centers with blood test for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Tuberculosis plus chest X-ray. Results in 1-2 days with some same-day. Cost is AED 300-500. If test fails visa cannot be issued.

Emirates ID application through ICP website or typing centers takes 5-7 working days costing AED 370 for 2-year validity. Visa stamping at GDRFA or Amer centers takes 3-5 working days costing AED 500-1,000.

Required for all mainland employees. Generate contract on MOHRE portal, select standard template, add salary and terms, both parties sign digitally or physically, and contract registered automatically. All new contracts are fixed-term since February 2022 with maximum duration of 3 years and renewable.

Parties with employer and employee details, job title as per work permit, start date as first working day, duration as contract period, salary breakdown of all components, working hours of 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week, leave as per law or better, probation maximum 6 months, notice period minimum 30 days, and termination grounds and process.

Workstation ready, computer and equipment set up, email account created, access cards arranged, bank account letter for employee salary account, and welcome materials ready.

Welcome and introductions, office tour, sign employment contract, collect signed documents, issue access cards, IT setup walkthrough, HR onboarding session, and bank account guidance.

Before first salary add employee to HR or payroll system, collect bank account details, register in WPS system, and test payment if possible. First salary through WPS calculates pro-rata for partial month, includes any agreed allowances, generates SIF file, submits to bank, and keeps payslip record.

Within first month add employee to group policy or purchase individual policy, provide insurance card, and explain coverage.