MOHRE Work Permits
New, renewed and cancelled work permits, quota and Emiratisation reporting on your MOHRE file.
The labour side of your company, filed with MOHRE
Every employee on a mainland payroll needs a work permit, and every permit sits on the company’s file with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The federal portal puts it without qualification: “it is illegal for a person to work in the UAE without a valid work permit”, under Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (u.ae, work permits, updated 19 October 2026).
We run that file one transaction at a time: the quota that sets how many permits you may hold, new permits and renewals, cancellations when somebody leaves, and the reporting Emiratisation brings with it. Contracts and the salary system have their own page, Labour Contracts & WPS.
What we file on your MOHRE file
- Quota approval: the establishment's electronic quota, and amendments to it
- New work permits for recruits from abroad, transfers between establishments and residents on family sponsorship
- Renewals filed before the permit lapses
- Temporary, part-time and the other permit types where the role calls for one
- Work permit cancellation when an employee leaves, with the settlement confirmation MOHRE asks for
- Emiratisation reporting: contract changes reported, and an Emirati's permit handled on termination
- Follow-up on each filing to issue or cancellation
Get this quoted
Itemised in writing, government charges shown separately, before anything is filed.
Which one do you need?
Who this desk is for
- Mainland companies hiring their first staff, from the quota onward
- Growing companies close to the edge of their quota
- Companies with people leaving, where permits must come off the file cleanly
- Companies in sectors with Emiratisation targets
- Office managers who want the MOHRE side handled by one desk
What MOHRE asks for
For the quota, MOHRE's conditions (mohre.gov.ae, work permit quotas, read 13 November 2026):
- "A valid trade license"
- "Establishments must maintain a private status, without any restrictions"
- "Submission of a valid Taq'eem report"
- "The profession must be compatible with the establishment's business activities"
To cancel a permit (mohre.gov.ae, cancellation, read 13 November 2026): the "Ministry-issued cancellation request form", with supporting papers that depend on the type of cancellation.
What we ask for, to quote: the trade licence, the establishment card, the employee's passport and signed offer, and who signs for the company.
How a MOHRE filing runs
- We read your MOHRE file: the licence, the quota and the permits already on it.
- A written quote, with MOHRE's charges kept apart from our fee.
- The papers are collected and checked against MOHRE's own list.
- Submission through MOHRE's channels. Approvals MOHRE requires from the company itself, such as a UAE Pass signature, stay with the company.
- Follow-up to issue or cancellation.
- Expiry dates go on our list, so renewals are filed in time.
Timing and the charges published
- Quota: MOHRE's service page publishes conditions and charges, and no processing time (mohre.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026).
- Cancellation: the timing section of MOHRE's cancellation page is empty (mohre.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026).
- Our side: we follow each filing to completion and tell you where it stands; MOHRE sets the pace.
Fees: Quote on request. Our service fee is quoted in writing. MOHRE's charges are listed separately in your quote, as MOHRE publishes them below.
Quota approval
The quota decides how many permits the file can carry, so it comes before the first hire. MOHRE grants some quotas proactively from the establishment file itself; others are applied for with the papers it lists: "evidence of work volume, trade license, a list of vehicles" (mohre.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026). We read the file, apply where an application is needed, and ask for an amendment when the business has outgrown the number.
Work permits
A permit is issued against the quota and the registered offer, then renewed before it lapses. The federal portal lists thirteen types, including "Temporary work permit", "Part-time work permit" and "Work permit to transfer a non-UAE worker from one establishment to another" (u.ae, updated 19 October 2026). We choose the type that fits the role, type and file the application, and follow it up. The offer and contract behind each permit are prepared on our Labour Contracts & WPS page.
Work permit cancellation
When somebody leaves, the permit comes off the company's file. MOHRE's conditions are that fines for late issuance or non-renewal are paid, that the employer gives a statement that the worker's dues are settled, and that the worker signs to agree, with exemptions for workers who are abroad and other listed cases (mohre.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026). The federal portal sets out the same steps, from a formal request to cancel the work permit to settling outstanding fines (u.ae). We prepare the request and the settlement papers, file, and confirm the permit is off the file before the visa side follows.
Emiratisation reporting
A company with Emirati staff carries reporting duties. The federal portal lists, among others: "register the Emirati in the pensions and social security system and start contributing to it within a month from the date of issuing his/her work permit", and on termination "cancel the Emirati employee's work permit immediately" (u.ae, updated 15 October 2026). We file the contract changes and cancellations those duties call for, on time.
What is published
AL HUDHUD quotes on request. These are the charges the authorities print, read on 13 November 2026. Work permits (u.ae, work permits, updated 19 October 2026):
- "The cost of issuing and renewing a work permit ranges from AED 250 to AED 3,450"
Quota (mohre.gov.ae):
- "The service is provided free of charge through MOHRE website and App."
- "Ta'qeem fees : 406 dirhams"
- "Business centers charge a maximum commission of Dhs.72"
Cancellation (mohre.gov.ae):
- "Except for federal charges, the service is free of charge via MOHRE's website and smart app."
Not published officially
- How long a quota takes. MOHRE's page gives no processing time.
- How long a cancellation takes. The timing section is blank.
- The permit fee for your category. The portal gives the range, not the amount per category.
- Any total. We do not add the published lines together.
MOHRE work permit questions
Who issues a mainland employee's work permit?
MOHRE. The federal portal: "it is illegal for a person to work in the UAE without a valid work permit" (u.ae, updated 19 October 2026).
What is the quota?
MOHRE describes it as "A Subsidiary Procedures associated to the services of opening and updating of the establishment file", through which a company gets electronic quotas (mohre.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026). How it is worked out is in our guide Company visa quota in the UAE.
Do I have to apply for a quota?
Not always. MOHRE's page says "A proactive service quota is awarded without submitting an application or any documentation to the Ministry." Where it is not, we apply with the papers MOHRE lists.
What does a work permit cost?
The federal portal: "The cost of issuing and renewing a work permit ranges from AED 250 to AED 3,450", depending on the company's category, and "Companies with a history of violations and non-compliance will be placed in category C" (u.ae, updated 19 October 2026).
Which permit types are there?
Thirteen, from recruiting a worker from outside the UAE to temporary, part-time, freelance and national trainee permits (u.ae). Each is explained in our guide UAE work permit and labour card.
How is a work permit cancelled?
MOHRE: "This service is provided by the Ministry to employers wishing to cancel work permits of their employees." Its conditions include "Payment of any fines incurred by reason of late issuance or non-renewal of work permits" and the worker's dues being settled (mohre.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026).
Does cancelling cost anything?
MOHRE's page: "Except for federal charges, the service is free of charge via MOHRE's website and smart app." A business centre may add its commission, which the page caps.
Is cancelling the permit the same as cancelling the visa?
No. The permit is MOHRE's; the residence visa is an immigration step, handled on our UAE visas page.
What does Emiratisation reporting involve?
The federal portal lists the employer's duties, among them to "report any amendments to the employment contract that may affect the employee's eligibility for Nafis' benefits" (u.ae, updated 15 October 2026). Targets and contributions are in our guide Emiratisation targets for the private sector.
Does a free zone company deal with MOHRE?
For its own staff, generally not; its permits and visas run through the zone. See Free Zone PRO Services.
Every rule and charge above names its source and the date on the page, or the date it was read where the page carries none: MOHRE's service pages for work permit quotas and for cancellation, and the federal portal u.ae. Rules, fees and processing times are set by those authorities and can change without notice; confirm with MOHRE before you rely on a figure. AL HUDHUD provides documentation and processing support. Final approvals rest with the relevant government authority.
Last updated: November 2026.
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