Recruitment in the UAE
Personal services in the UAE: recruitment. On request.
How staff are hired in the UAE
The UAE labour market is built around visas: an employee is almost always either already a resident with a valid visa, or relocating — in which case the employer opens their visa.
That decides both the start date and the cost of hiring. A candidate with a visa in place starts sooner; a candidate from abroad only after a work permit and the medical.
The terms the expert works on
Guarantees the outcome by contract
Writes the outcome and the timeline for every service — including opening a bank account — into the contract, and answers for them.
Bills in stages
You do not pay the whole sum up front: invoices come in instalments as each stage closes.
Fixes the price in the contract
The cost is locked in and does not grow as the work goes on. Prices on the site are indicative — the final figure comes after your case is reviewed.
Charges no hidden fees
No penalties or surcharges beyond the contract. No Pactors markup either: you pay the expert their own price.
Works with lawyers of 8+ years in UAE law
The licence for your activity is matched, and the requirements worked through, by qualified lawyers.
Thinks a step ahead
Picks the zone and the licence so that a year from now you do not hit a limit and have to redo the whole thing.
Deals with authorities directly
Handles government bodies, free zones and UAE banks personally — no chain of subcontractors.
What a UAE company needs before it can hire
You can't hire someone in the UAE in one step — the company first has to become an employer. The order is strict and no link can be skipped: each one rests on the previous.
- Registration with the labour ministry — the company gets an electronic employer file
- The establishment card at the immigration service, without which visas can't be filed
- The visa quota — how many employees the company may sponsor
- The work permit and residence visa for a specific person
- Connection to the wage system — salaries are only paid through it
The order is the same for everyone, but the documents and timelines depend on whether the company is registered in a free zone or on the mainland.
What the service includes
| A consultation on your case | |
| Preparing the documents | |
| Support through the process | |
| State fees and third-party charges— billed separately |
Documents and programme requirements
- 1A passport
- 2Resident status, if required
How the process runs
1–3 weeks- Step 1We take down the requirements for the role and check the company's visa quota.
- Step 2Sourcing and initial screening of candidates.
- Step 3Interviews and document checks, including legalisation of the diploma.
- Step 4The offer and drawing up the employment contract.
- Step 5The work permit, the visa and enrolment in the payroll system.
Frequently asked questions
Who is faster to hire — a resident or a candidate from abroad?
What should be checked in a candidate's documents?
Can I hire someone whose visa is held by another employer?
What has to be done before the search starts?
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