The MOHRE Services You Will Actually Touch

You need a new hire on payroll, a contract renewed or an employee's permit cancelled, and MOHRE's services page lists 51 services, several with similar names. The hard part is knowing which card applies at each stage, and what has to be in place before you press submit.

For an employer, the services you will touch follow the employment lifecycle: set up the establishment file and quota, issue a work permit, issue or renew the contract, modify it when roles change, and cancel it when employment ends. Complaints and absence reports sit alongside. For the wider picture of company transactions, see the overview of PRO services in Dubai. This article maps each stage to the MOHRE service card by its exact name, with the fee lines each card showed on 20 September 2026.

How MOHRE itself organises the catalogue

In a browser reading on 20 September 2026, MOHRE's services landing page grouped its services as "All Services", "Employer Services", "Employee Services", "Partner Services" and "Approved Services Centers".

The Services Directory has these tabs: "All Services", "Most used", "My Favorites", "Employer Services", "Services for Employee" and "Services for Partner". It also has two filters.

Each card carries its own labels, and they are not uniform. The overseas work permit card shows Category "Employer Service", while the transfer work permit card shows "Labour Service". Use the filters to narrow the list, then open the card itself. This article covers the "Establishments Workers" sector, not domestic workers.

Before hiring: the establishment file, quota and classification

Four things sit underneath a work permit application: an establishment card, an electronic quota, a Ta'qeem report and the classification category.

Issuance of establishment card

MOHRE's "Issuance of establishment card" card states: "First, the establishment details must be registered with the Ministry, in addition to entry of the establishment's owners and authorized signatories, specimens of their signatures, details of the establishment's business activity, and location."

Its conditions include "A valid trade license." and a "Ministry-issued personal identification number" for owners, partners, service agents and authorised signatories. It also states: "The authorized signatory in the Ministry must also be authorized to sign in the Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Port Security."

The fee lines read "Ta'qeem fees: 406 dirhams" and "Business centers charge a maximum commission of AED72".

Work Permit Quotas For Establishments

MOHRE describes this card as a procedure "which allows the customer to obtain electronic quotas." Its conditions are "A valid trade license", "Submission of a valid Taq'eem report" and "The profession must be compatible with the establishment's business activities".

Fee lines: "Ta'qeem fees : 406 dirhams" and "Business centers charge a maximum commission of Dhs.72". The quota matters because the overseas work permit card lists "The establishment must have an electronic quota available" as a condition.

Updating the Establishment File

Its documents include "Lease contract, which includes updated information and the rental amount" and "The Partners' Addendum for incorporated establishments". Its fee lines were not captured verbatim on 20 September 2026; read them on the card.

Your classification category

Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2022 states that establishments "shall be classified into three categories: 1. First category. 2. Second category. 3. Third category." Article 4(2) places in the third category "Establishments that the Ministry has proven to have violated the provisions" of the labour law, its regulations or ministerial resolutions.

The category drives the work permit fee. MOHRE's news item of 1 June 2022 states: "Fees will not exceed AED 250 for first category companies over two years, while second category companies will be charged AED 1200 over two years." For the third category it gives "AED 3450 over two years".

Official pages label the categories differently. MOHRE's cards and the Cabinet Resolution use 1, 2 and 3; the UAE Government Portal (u.ae) says the cost "depends on the company's classification: A, B or C." We did not find, on the pages reviewed on 20 September 2026, where an establishment sees its own category. Ask MOHRE.

Hiring: choosing the right work permit card

Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 states that an employer may not "recruit or employ any Worker, except after obtaining a work permit from the Ministry". It also states: "The Employer is prohibited from charging the Worker the fees and costs of recruitment and employment or collecting them from him, whether directly or indirectly."

The full hiring sequence is covered in the step-by-step employment visa process for employers, and permit types in the guide to work permits and labour cards.

The overseas, temporary, mission and part-time cards each cap the business centre commission at 72 dirhams. The transfer card notes that the "fees shown above do not include tax and collection charges". The directory also lists "Issuance of a New Work Permit - Dependents Sponsored by Family Members", whose card was not read for this article.

Conditions on the overseas card

• "The establishment must have an electronic quota available"
• "The Employee must be 18 years of age or older"
• "The Work Permit application must be submitted by the authorized signatory"
• "Candidate for employment may not possess an active work permit"

The transfer card adds: "The application for a new work permit must be submitted within 90 days of cancellation of the previous work permit." The part-time card requires that "The Candidate for employment must possess a valid residence visa" and asks for a "No objection letter from the current employer".

Two differences between official pages

First, the third-category issuance fee. The overseas card shows 3450. Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2020 shows 3450 for renewal in Table (3), but its Table (2) issuance line was extracted as "3540 1200 250 Issuance of a work permit for a period of two years". Confirm the amount with MOHRE when you pay.

Second, the number of permit types. Article 6 of Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2022 lists 12 types, (a) to (l). The u.ae work permits page, updated 13 August 2026, states: "MoHRE has 13 types of work permits." Ask MOHRE which type fits the role.

Contracts: issuing, renewing and modifying

The contract itself is covered in the guide to employment contracts and offer letters under MOHRE.

Issuance/Renewal of Employment Contracts

MOHRE describes this service as for "establishments wishing to issue or renew their employees' employment contracts." Its document line is "Employment contract approved by the Ministry, signed by both the employer and employee."

The card sets two time points: "The application must be submitted within 60 days of the employee's entry into the country or the change in status." and "Work permits may be renewed (60) days prior to its expiration date". We did not confirm any other submission deadline on the official pages reviewed on 20 September 2026. Do not rely on one deadline for all cases; ask MOHRE if the dates are tight.

The fee section showed the labels "Federal Fees" and "Work permit renewal for two years:" without amounts on 20 September 2026. Read the amounts on the card when you apply.

Late renewal carries a fine under Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2020. Its Article 3 lists the violation "Failure to renew the Work Permit within a period not exceeding 60 days from the date of expiry." with the fine "200 for each month, and a maximum of 2,000." Ask MOHRE how this applies to a specific file.

Modification of Work Permits / Employment Contracts

Use this card when contract terms change. Its conditions include "In the event of an occupation change, the new occupation must be consistent with the establishment's activity." and "Modification application must be submitted by the establishment's authorized signatory."

Documents include, for regulated jobs, a "Professional license issued by the competent authority, example: doctor, nurse, etc." Fee lines: "Federal Fees: 50 dirhams" and "Business Centers commission is capped at 72 dirhams".

Ending employment: cancellation, absence and complaints

Employer duties at exit are covered in the guide to employee visa cancellation and employer obligations.

Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts

The card's conditions include:

• "Payment of any fines incurred by reason of late issuance or non-renewal of work permits (if any)."
• "An official statement issued by the establishment confirming that the worker's rights, dues and entitlements have been fully satisfied."
• "Employee's signature indicating their agreement to cancellation, and acknowledging receipt of all labor dues."

The card lists exceptions, including employees "who are overseas, deceased, suffering from contagious diseases". The document is a "Ministry-issued cancellation request form". The card shows the 72 dirham commission cap; no federal fee amount was displayed in our reading on 20 September 2026.

On the residence side, GDRFA Dubai's cancellation card asks for "An extract of work permit cancellation issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (if the employee works in the private sector)."

Filing a Labour Complaint - Absence From Work

The informal term "work abandonment" does not match this card's title; the directory filter value is "Filing Absconding Reports".

Conditions include "The employee must be present inside the country". The document is an "Employee's entry and exit movement report", with a report period not exceeding "30 days from the date of issuance". The fee line reads "None". The card also states: "Work permit is automatically canceled once the application is approved by the ministry, excepted the permits for recruiting employees from abroad and transfer permits".

Registering a labour complaint

MOHRE's card states: "Employers and employees can use this service to register their labor claims in the event that one of the parties breaches their contractual obligations". Employers must "enter the establishment or license number". The u.ae labour dispute page adds that if a friendly settlement is not reached "within 14 days from the date of application, the ministry shall refer the dispute to the competent court".

The complaint card gives 046659999; the services page footer gives "Call Center: 600 590000". Ask MOHRE which line handles your case.

Running alongside the lifecycle: WPS, ILOE and Emiratisation

Wages. MOHRE's Wages Protection System page states that the law "requires private-sector establishments to pay their workers' wages on a monthly basis, in the amount and at the time agreed upon in the employment contract". See the WPS guide for employers.

Unemployment insurance (ILOE). The u.ae page describes the scheme as providing workers "financial support if they lose their jobs, as a result of termination by their employers."

Emiratisation. MOHRE's Emiratisation Targets page states: "Companies in the private sector with 50 or more employees are required to achieve 2% annual growth of Emirati employees in skilled positions". Companies with 20 to 49 employees in specified sectors "are required to recruite at least 1 UAE national employee and retain those already employed." (spelling as on the page). Check your status with MOHRE.

Your employer lifecycle map

Practical asset: MOHRE employer lifecycle table and pre-transaction checklist Fee lines are as each card showed them on 20 September 2026. Do not add them up: each is a separate line, and some cards state that the fees shown do not include tax and collection charges. | Stage | MOHRE service (exact card name) | Fee lines as labelled | What to prepare | |---|---|---|---| | Set-up | Issuance of Establishment Card | "Ta'qeem fees: 406 dirhams"; commission "maximum of AED72" | Valid trade licence; signatory details | | Set-up | Work Permit Quotas For Establishments | "Ta'qeem fees : 406 dirhams"; commission "maximum of Dhs.72" | Valid Taq'eem report; matching professions | | Changes to company | Updating the Establishment File | Not captured verbatim; read the card | Licence, lease, partners' addendum | | Hiring | Issuance of a New Work Permit - Overseas | Application 50; two-year issuance 250 / 1200 / 3450 by Category (1), (2), (3) | Quota; signed MOHRE job offer; passport | | Hiring | Issuance of a New Work Permit - Transfer Work Permit | Transfer line 50 | Date the previous permit was cancelled (90-day condition) | | Hiring | Issuance of a New Work Permit - Temporary Work Permits; Issuance of a New Work Permit - Mission Work Permit; Issuance of a New Work Permit - Part Time Work Permit | "Federal fees of 50 dirhams" | Current employer's approval (temporary) or NOC (part-time) | | Contract | Issuance/Renewal of Employment Contracts | Amounts not displayed; read the card | Signed contract; entry date; expiry date | | Changes to role | Modification of Work Permits / Employment Contracts | "Federal Fees: 50 dirhams" | Occupation matching activity | | Exit | Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts | Commission cap 72; no federal amount displayed | Form; dues statement; employee signature | | Absence | Filing a Labour Complaint - Absence From Work | "None" | Movement report within 30 days | Pre-transaction checklist 1. Quota. Does the establishment hold an electronic quota for this profession? [yes / no] 2. Ta'qeem. Is the Taq'eem report valid, as the quota card requires? [yes / no] 3. Category. Which category, 1, 2 or 3, applies to the establishment? Confirm it with MOHRE and note which fee line it selects. [____] 4. Signatory. Is the applicant the authorised signatory, and is the same person authorised with the federal identity authority, as the establishment card requires? [yes / no] 5. Card. Have you opened the card for this exact service today and noted its fee lines? [date ____] 6. Dates. For contracts, transfers and renewals: entry or status-change date, previous cancellation date, permit expiry date. [____] 7. Signatures. Does the service need the employee's signature, and can the employee give it through your chosen channel? [yes / no]

What you pay

Keep three kinds of cost apart when you budget.

1. Government charges. The federal fees and category fees printed on the MOHRE card, and the Ta'qeem fee where the card lists it.
2. Commission and charges not included. The business centre commission, capped on the cards reviewed at 72 dirhams, plus any tax and collection charges the cards say are not included.
3. Provider service fees. Whatever a private provider charges for its own work. These are separate from both of the above and did not appear on the MOHRE cards reviewed.

The overseas card states that "the service is free of charge via MOHRE's website and smart app", so check the channel before budgeting the second line. Channels are compared in the explainer on Tasheel centres. The residence side runs through a different authority: GDRFA Dubai's "Visa Issuance for Foreigners linked with Job Contract" card lists "The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization's endorsement of the work permit for establishments under its umbrella" as a condition. Dubai residence transactions and their channels are covered in the guide to Amer centres in Dubai.

Two worked examples

Hiring a sales coordinator from abroad. Before the application, confirm the quota covers the profession and the Taq'eem report is valid. Check the establishment's category, because the overseas card prices two-year issuance at 250, 1200 or 3450 by category. The authorised signatory submits the overseas permit with the signed MOHRE job offer. After entry, note the date: the contract card's 60-day wording runs from "the employee's entry into the country".

An employee leaves and joins a competitor. Your side is the cancellation card: settle any fines, issue the dues statement and collect the employee's signature. The new employer applies under the transfer card, which requires the new permit application "within 90 days of cancellation of the previous work permit." Each employer reads its own card; MOHRE decides both applications.

Who decides, what you prepare, what a provider can do

What the authority decides. MOHRE decides establishment cards, quotas, work permits, contracts, modifications, cancellations and absence reports. The u.ae labour dispute page describes when MOHRE refers an unsettled dispute to the court, including where the disputed claim is "more than AED 50,000"; ask MOHRE how this applies to your case.

What the company prepares. A valid trade licence, quota and Taq'eem report, an authorised signatory, the documents the card lists, employee signatures and a note of the fee lines on the day.

What a provider can do. Within whatever its licence covers, a provider can prepare documents, submit applications through a channel the card lists and track their progress. It cannot change a card's conditions, fees or MOHRE's decision.

Fees checked on 20 September 2026.

Last verified: 20 September 2026. Information verified against official sources on 20 September 2026.

If you are planning a MOHRE transaction, contact RINJAZ to confirm availability, scope and quotation. RINJAZ is a privately licensed UAE service provider. It is not a government entity and does not act for any authority.

A provider's role, within whatever its licensed activity covers, is to prepare documents, submit them through the correct channel and track progress. MOHRE decides each application, and no provider can promise the outcome.