UAE Employment Visa for Free Zone Company Employees 2026 — Employer Guide
If you own a UAE free zone company and want to hire employees, you need to sponsor UAE employment visas for them. Here is the complete 2026 guide to UAE employment visas for free zone company owners who are hiring.
In this guide:
How Many Employees Can My UAE Free Zone Company Hire?
UAE free zones issue “visa allocations” — a quota of visas your company is permitted to sponsor. The allocation depends on:
- Office size: Flexi-desk packages typically include 1-3 visa allocations; dedicated offices allow more
- Business activity: Some activities allow more visas than others
- Free zone policy: Each free zone has its own quota calculation
Examples:
- IFZA flexi-desk (entry level): 1-3 visa allocations
- DMCC business centre office: 3-5 visa allocations
- RAKEZ dedicated office: 10+ visa allocations
- JAFZA warehouse: Based on warehouse size (typically 10+ for any warehouse)
UAE Employment Visa Process for Free Zone Employers
- Obtain visa quota approval: Request visa allocation from your free zone if you need more than already allocated
- Issue employment offer letter: Prepare UAE employment contract (in Arabic + English, meeting UAE Labour Law requirements)
- Apply for entry permit: The free zone or immigration agent files an entry permit for the employee
- Employee enters UAE: On the entry permit, employee enters UAE (or if already in UAE, changes status)
- Medical fitness test: Employee completes medical test at MOH-approved centre
- Emirates ID application
- Labour contract registration: UAE employment contract is registered with the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHRe)
- Visa stamping
UAE Free Zone Employment Law
Most UAE free zones are subject to UAE Federal Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021):
- Maximum working hours: 8 hours per day, 48 hours per week
- Annual leave: 30 calendar days per year (after 1 year)
- End of service gratuity (EOSB): 21 days per year for first 5 years, 30 days per year thereafter
- Termination notice: Minimum 30-90 days depending on contract type
- WPS (Wage Protection System): Salaries must be paid via UAE banking WPS monthly
Exception: DIFC and ADGM have their own employment law (DIFC Employment Law, ADGM Employment Regulations) which differ from federal UAE Labour Law.
Probation Period and Unfair Dismissal
- UAE Labour Law allows a probation period of up to 6 months
- During probation, either party can terminate with 14 days notice
- After probation: minimum 30-day notice for termination
- Arbitrary dismissal compensation: Up to 3 months salary if an employee is unfairly dismissed
WPS (Wage Protection System)
UAE WPS requires all employers to pay salaries through the Wage Protection System — a UAE Central Bank-monitored payroll system. Requirements:
- Salaries must be paid on or before the due date (last day of the month for monthly employees)
- Must be paid in AED via UAE bank transfer to employee UAE bank account
- WPS reports are automatically filed by the bank to MOHRe
- Non-compliance: MOHRe can freeze new visa applications until arrears are paid