UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)

MOHRE is the federal ministry behind work in the UAE private sector. If a company on the mainland hires you in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, your work permit and employment contract go through the ministry's systems, and MOHRE is also where workers raise labour complaints. Its website is the place to look up its services and the labour rules, rather than relying on a recruiter's summary.

Who it is for

A CS graduate from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria or Egypt who has a UAE offer, or is about to get one. You do not apply to MOHRE yourself for a job: your employer starts the work permit. What you can do is understand the process, read your contract properly and know where to go if something goes wrong.

How to use it

• Read your offer against your contract. The contract registered with the ministry is the one that counts. Check that the job title, salary and allowances match what you were promised before you sign.
• Ask which authority handles your permit. Companies registered in a free zone often deal with that free zone for permits and visas, not the ministry, so ask your employer which applies to you.
• Use the official channels for problems. MOHRE's website lists its service channels and complaint routes. Use those rather than an agent who offers to "fix" your file.

Emiratisation: what it means for you

The UAE wants more of its citizens in private sector jobs. As of 2026, the official UAE government portal says:

• Private companies with 50 or more employees must raise Emiratisation by 2% a year in skilled jobs, working towards an overall increase of 10% by 2026.
• Some companies with 20 to 49 employees in selected sectors had to hire at least one UAE citizen by the end of 2024 and one more by the end of 2025.
• Companies that miss their targets pay financial contributions to the ministry.

Be honest with yourself about this. It does not stop companies hiring foreign engineers, and demand for cloud, data, AI and security skills is real, but it does mean employers often prefer experienced people for roles they fill from abroad. A strong portfolio and a few years of relevant work will help you far more than a long list of applications.

Common mistakes and scams

• Paying for a job or a visa. A real employer pays for your work permit and visa. Anyone asking you for money to "process" an offer is a red flag.
• Travelling on a visit visa to work. Starting work before your permit is issued puts you, not just the company, at risk.
• Signing a contract you have not read. Ask for the contract in English and keep a copy.
• Trusting a WhatsApp message claiming to be from the ministry. Check anything official on mohre.gov.ae or u.ae directly.

Where to go next on Sefism

• Plan the move step by step with the Tech jobs abroad roadmap and keep its cheat sheet open while you apply.
• Read How to get a software job abroad from Pakistan.
• Long-term residence: see the UAE Golden Visa.