UAE Onboarding and Offboarding Checklists

Enter the first working day to date the steps.

1. Job offer and MOHRE work permit

   Nobody may start work before MOHRE issues a work permit. For a hire from abroad, MOHRE’s work-permit service needs the Ministry’s job offer form signed by the employer and the worker. The employer may not charge the worker any recruitment fee or cost.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 6(1) and 6(4); MOHRE service “Issuance of a New Work Permit – Overseas”

   Official source

   • “It is not permissible to undertake work in the UAE and the employer may not recruit or employ any worker, except after obtaining a work permit from the Ministry as per the provisions of this Decree-Law and its Implementing Regulation.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 6(1) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “The employer is prohibited from charging the worker for the fees and costs of recruitment and employment or collecting them from him, whether directly or indirectly.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 6(4) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “The official job offer form issued by the Ministry, signed by both the employer and employee.”

     MOHRE service “Issuance of a New Work Permit – Overseas”

   Tools: Offer Letter

2. Employment contract registered with MOHRE

   Submit the MOHRE employment contract within 60 days of the worker’s entry into the UAE or change of status. The contract is made in two copies, one kept by the employer and one handed to the worker.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 8(1); MOHRE service “Issuance/Renewal of Employment Contracts”

   Official source

   • “The application must be submitted within 60 days of the employee's entry into the country or the change in status.”

     MOHRE service “Issuance/Renewal of Employment Contracts”

   • “The contract shall be made in two copies; one copy shall be kept by the employer and the other shall be handed over to the worker, as per the forms specified by the Implementing Regulation hereof.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 8(1) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Salary Calculator · Employee Cost

3. Health insurance

   In Dubai the employer must provide health insurance to its employees; cover for dependants is the sponsor’s duty. Insurance is a condition of the residence permit, so arrange it within the residence window.

   Basis: Dubai Health Authority; u.ae (Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013)

   Official source

   • “In the emirate of Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. Sponsors are required to get insurance cover for their resident dependents.”

     u.ae — Getting health insurance

   • “All resident expatriates working for Dubai registered companies (including Free Zone entities) must receive at least a basic level of cover as stipulated by Dubai Health Authority and paid for by the employer.”

     Dubai Health Authority, health insurance FAQ

   Tools: Employee Cost

4. Medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa

   The work entry permit allows 60 days from entry to complete the residence requirements: the medical fitness test (18 and over), the Emirates ID application with biometrics, then the residence permit from ICP (GDRFA in Dubai). MOHRE’s worker guide says the employer carries out the residence procedure without charging the worker.

   Basis: ICP Services Guide 2024, “Issue of Entry Permit for work”; GDRFA Dubai; u.ae; MOHRE “Know Your Rights”

   Official source

   • “The period of stay is (60) days to complete the requirements for issuing a residence permit.”

     ICP Services Guide 2024, “Issue of Entry Permit for work”

   • “Foreigner is given a work entry visa that allows them to remain in the country for (60) sixty days from the date of entry until the completion of the requirements for obtaining residency (federal or local government sector, private sector, domestic service workers).”

     GDRFA Dubai, “Visa Issuance for Foreigners linked with Job Contract”

   • “A residence visa requires applicants who are 18 and above to undergo a medical test to prove that they are medically fit. They must also pass a security check and apply for an Emirates ID card from Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.”

     u.ae — General provisions for the residence visa

   • “The employer with whom you have agreed upon concluding a contract shall be responsible for carrying out the procedures for obtaining your residency permit, without having you bear any expenses in this respect.”

     MOHRE, “Know Your Rights” (2024)

5. Unemployment insurance (ILOE): the worker subscribes

   The worker buys the ILOE policy and pays the premium. A worker hired after 1 January 2023 who has not subscribed within four months of entering on a work entry permit or changing status is fined AED 400. Exempt: investors who own and run the business, domestic workers, temporary-contract workers, under-18s and pensioners who took a new job.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2022; Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022, Art. 2 and 8; Ministerial Resolution No. 604 of 2022, Art. 11(2) (MOHRE’s unofficial English translation)

   Official source

   • “All workers/employees of the Federal Government and Private Sectors shall subscribe to the Unemployment Insurance Scheme through purchasing an insurance policy whereby the insured insures himself in the event of termination of his service in accordance with the relevant cases of eligibility.”

     Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022, Art. 2

   • “As per paragraph (1) of this Article, fines specified in this decision shall apply to employees subject to the provisions of the aforementioned Decree-Law No (13) of 2022, who were employed or recruited after January 1, 2023, and did not enroll to the scheme within four months of entering the country under an entry permit for work, or after they changed their status, or after the initial approval of their work permit by the Ministry in cases where a status modification is not required.”

     Ministerial Resolution No. 604 of 2022, Art. 11(2) (MOHRE file, “not an official translation”)

   • “a fine to be collected by the Ministry in the amount of (AED 400) four hundred dirhams in case of the worker's/employee's failure to subscribe to the Scheme, and (AED 200) two hundred dirhams in the event of the insured's failure to pay the prescribed insurance premiums for more than (3) three months.”

     Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022, Art. 8

6. First salary through WPS

   Wages for a month fall due on the 1st of the next month and are paid through the Wage Protection System; this date is the first payday for the start month. Resolution 340 lists no grace period for new hires (the 30-day new-employee exclusion was in the repealed Resolution 598 of 2022).

   Basis: Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, Art. 1 and 4

   Official source

   • “The first day of each Gregorian month shall be designated as the unified due date for the payment of workers’ wages in private sector establishments for the preceding Gregorian month.”

     Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, Art. 1(1)

   • “All establishments registered with the Ministry shall pay the wages of their workers on the due date specified in Clause (1) of this Article, through the Wage Protection System approved by the Ministry, or any other systems adopted by the Ministry for this purpose.”

     Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, Art. 1(2)

   Tools: WPS Deadline · Payslip Generator

7. Last day to end probation with notice

   The employer may end employment during probation with at least 14 days’ written notice. To end it by the last day of probation, serve the notice by this date.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(1)

   Official source

   • “The employer may terminate the service of the worker during this period after notifying the latter of the same in writing fourteen (14) days at least before the date specified for the termination of service.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(1) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Notice Period · Termination Letter

8. Probation ends

   Probation may not exceed six months from the first working day and may be used only once with the same employer. If the worker passes it and keeps working, the contract continues on its agreed terms and the probation counts as service.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(1) and 9(2)

   Official source

   • “The employer may appoint the worker under a probationary period not exceeding (6) six months from the date of commencement of work.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(1) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “It is not permissible to appoint a worker under probationary period more than once at one employer, and if the worker successfully passes the probationary period and continues to work, the contract shall become valid according to the agreed terms. This period shall be counted within the term of service.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(2) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Probation Confirmation Letter

9. Annual leave starts to accrue

   Once service passes six months, the worker earns two days of paid leave for each month; after a full year, at least 30 days a year. Leave may be granted during probation by agreement.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 29(1) and 29(3)

   Official source

   • “Two days for each month if his service term is more than six months and less than a year;”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 29(1)(b) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “The employer may agree to grant the worker a leave from his annual leave balance during the probationary period, while the worker shall reserve his right to be compensated for the remainder of his annual leave balance in case he does not pass the probationary period.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 29(3) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Annual Leave · Public Holidays

Enter the last day of the contract to date the steps.

1. Serve written notice

   Either party may end the contract with written notice of 30 to 90 days, as the contract sets; the contract runs, and the full wage is paid, during the notice. During probation the notice is 14 days from the employer, one month from a worker moving to another UAE employer and 14 days from a foreign worker leaving the UAE. The date shown is the latest day to serve it.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 43(1)–(2) and Art. 9(1), 9(3), 9(4)

   Official source

   • “Either party to the employment contract may terminate the contract for any legitimate reason, provided that the other party is notified in writing and work shall be performed during the notice period agreed upon in the contract, provided that such period is not less than (30) thirty days and not more than (90) ninety days.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 43(1) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “If the worker wishes to move during the probationary period, to work for another employer in the State, he shall notify the original employer of the same in writing within not less than one month from the date of his wish to terminate the contract.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(3) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “If the foreign worker wishes to terminate the employment contract during the probationary period, to leave the State, he shall notify the employer of the same in writing not less than fourteen (14) days from the date specified for the termination of the contract.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(4) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Notice Period · Termination Letter · Resignation Acceptance Letter

2. Last working day

   The contract ends when the notice period expires. The deadlines below count from this day.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 43(2)

   Official source

   • “The employment contract continues to be valid throughout the notice period referred to in this Article and is terminated upon expiry of such period.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 43(2) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Final Settlement

3. Pay the final dues

   Within 14 days of the end of the contract, pay the wages and every other entitlement: wages still owed, the value of untaken leave (on the basic wage), and the end-of-service gratuity of a full-time foreign worker with at least one year of continuous service.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 53, 29(9) and 51

   Official source

   • “The employer shall pay to the worker, within (14) fourteen days from the end date of the contract term, his wages and all his other entitlements stipulated herein and resolutions issued for its implementation, the contract or the establishment’s by-laws.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 53 (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “The worker shall be entitled to a wage for the accrued leave days if he quits the work before using them, regardless of the leave duration, with respect to the period for which he did not obtain his leave.”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 29(9) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   • “The full-time foreign worker, who completed a year or more in continuous service, shall be entitled to end of service benefits at the end of his service, calculated according to the basic wage”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 51(2) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Final Settlement · End of Service · Annual Leave

4. ILOE claim (the worker’s)

   A worker who lost the job for a reason other than resignation claims unemployment insurance from the insurer within 30 days of the end of employment.

   Basis: Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022, Art. 12

   Official source

   • “The insured shall submit the claim to the service provider within (30) thirty days from the termination date of employment relationship, by filing an application to benefit from unemployment insurance scheme in accordance with the mechanism specified under a resolution of the Minister and accompanied by the documents evidencing the insured's eligibility for compensation.”

     Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022, Art. 12

   • “The insured person must prove that he/she is unemployed for reasons other than resignation.”

     u.ae — Unemployment insurance scheme

5. Experience certificate

   On the worker’s request when the contract ends, free of charge: start and end dates, total service, job, last wage and the reason the contract ended, with nothing that harms the worker’s chances of new work.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 13(11)

   Official source

   • “Giving the worker, as per his request and upon expiry of the employment contract, a certificate of experience, without fees, indicating the date of his commencement of work, the date of its expiry, his entire service term, job title or type of work he was performing, the last wage he was receiving and the reason for the termination of the employment contract”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 13(11) (MOHRE consolidated text)

   Tools: Experience Certificate

6. Cancel the work permit (MOHRE)

   The employer applies. MOHRE asks for the establishment’s statement that the worker’s dues are fully paid and the worker’s signature acknowledging receipt (a worker who is abroad, for example, is exempt from signing). MOHRE’s service rules give no day count.

   Basis: MOHRE service “Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts”; u.ae

   Official source

   • “An official statement issued by the establishment confirming that the worker's rights, dues and entitlements have been fully satisfied.”

     MOHRE service “Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts”

   • “Employee's signature indicating their agreement to cancellation, and acknowledging receipt of all labor dues. Excluded from this rule are employees who are overseas, deceased, suffering from contagious diseases or employees who have been administratively canceled, after being removed from the Identity, Nationality, Customs and Port Security System.”

     MOHRE service “Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts”

7. Cancel the residence visa (ICP / GDRFA)

   After the MOHRE cancellation the sponsor applies to ICP (GDRFA in Dubai) to cancel the residence; the worker cannot do it alone.

   Basis: u.ae, general provisions for the residence visa

   Official source

   • “Normally, only the sponsor can cancel your residence visa. You cannot process the application on your own.”

     u.ae — General provisions for the residence visa

   • “If a company decides to cancel an employment visa of its employee, it must first approach Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation with an application to cancel the employee’s labour contract and labour card. The employee must also sign this application. Then, the employer should apply to ICP for visa cancellation.”

     u.ae — General provisions for the residence visa

8. Return ticket

   The employer bears the worker’s repatriation to the place of recruitment or another agreed place, unless the worker has joined another employer or the contract ended for a reason attributable to the worker.

   Basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 13(12)

   Official source

   • “Bearing the repatriation expenses of the worker to his place of recruitment or any other place that both parties had agreed upon, unless he has already joined the service of another employer or unless the reason for terminating the contract was attributed to the worker”

     Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 13(12) (MOHRE consolidated text)

9. Grace period to leave or change status

   After a residence is cancelled, residents get a grace period of up to 6 months depending on the residence category; staying beyond it costs AED 50 a day. We could not verify in an official text how many days apply to an employment residence, so no date is given: ask ICP or GDRFA.

   Basis: u.ae; ICP

   Official source

   • “UAE residents are granted longer flexible grace periods that reach up to 6 months (according to resident category) to stay in the country after the residence permit is cancelled or expired.”

     u.ae — General provisions for the residence visa

   • “تُحتسب غرامة قدرها 50 درهماً عن كل يوم في حال البقاء داخل الدولة ابتداءً من اليوم التالي لانقضاء فترة السماح لتصريح الإقامة بحسب النوع”

     ICP service “Cancel residence permit”