Many individuals visit the UAE on a visit visa in search of job opportunities, but is it legal to begin working after accepting a job offer, even before your work permit or visa is processed?
In the UAE, an employer is not permitted to hire someone without a valid work permit, as stated in Article 6(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relations. This article specifies: “No work may be performed in the UAE, and no employee may be recruited or employed by any employer without obtaining the work permit from the Ministry, by the provisions of this Decree-Law and its Executive Regulations.”
Additionally, expatriates are prohibited from working in the UAE without both a valid work permit and a valid UAE residency visa. This requirement is reinforced by Article 5(4) of Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on the entry and residence of foreigners, which mandates that “an alien (anyone who is not a UAE national) is obligated not to engage in any activity or work except by the legislation in force in the State.”
Employers and employees may agree to obtain different types of work permits, depending on the nature of the work, as regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MoHRE). These permits can include full-time, part-time, temporary, or freelance work permits, as detailed in Article 6 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, which implements the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regarding employment relations.
If an employer hires someone without a valid work permit and residency visa, they face a penalty of at least AED 100,000. This is outlined in Article 1 of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024, which amends Article 60(1)(a) of the Employment Law. It specifies: “Individuals who commit the following violations shall be fined a minimum of Dh100,000 (one hundred thousand dirhams) and a maximum of Dh1,000,000 (one million dirhams).”
Based on these legal provisions, it is not lawful to work in the UAE while on a visitor visa. Instead, your employer must arrange for a work permit and residency visa, sponsored by them, before you begin employment.