Recruitment agencies are in high demand in UAE. Here is the 2026 guide for staffing and recruitment businesses choosing UAE free zones.
In this guide:
UAE Recruitment Market
- UAE job market: 100,000+ new vacancies annually across sectors
- Executive search: AED 500+ million executive and professional recruitment market
- Tech recruitment: Shortage of tech talent in UAE; specialized tech recruiters in high demand
Recruitment Agency Licence Requirements
- MOHRE Private Recruitment Agency licence: Required for agencies that place candidates with UAE employers
- Free zone company first: Set up free zone company, then apply for MOHRE private recruitment agency licence
- MOHRE application: Requires meeting specific capital, office, and staff requirements; AED 5,000-10,000 licence fee
- International recruitment only: If you recruit for companies outside UAE and do NOT place candidates in UAE employment, MOHRE licence may not be required
Best UAE Free Zones for Recruitment Agencies
- IFZA: Recruitment Consulting + HR Consulting activities; most popular starting point; AED 13,900
- DMCC: For executive search in financial and commodities sector
- Mainland DED: For agencies with physical office and UAE placement (after MOHRE licence); often required
Recruitment Agency Revenue Streams
- Contingency fee: 15-20% of first-year salary for placed candidate
- Retained search: AED 50,000-300,000+ for senior executive search
- RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing): Monthly fee for ongoing recruitment outsourcing