Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

UAE work visa cost explained: who pays for a UAE employment visa, what an employer really spends on a work permit in Dubai, and how long the grace period is after visa cancellation. A practical guide for employees protecting their rights and founders budgeting a first hire.

The biggest myth: the employee shares the cost. Under Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the employer pays the MOHRE work permit, entry permit, visa stamping, medical test and Emirates ID, and cannot recover them by invoice or salary deduction. Keeping your passport is illegal too.

Where the employee pays: sponsoring a spouse or children. You then cover their entry permits, medical tests, Emirates IDs and health insurance.

What a two-year mainland hire costs the employer, roughly AED 1,820 to just over 5,020 in government fees:

Work permit: AED 250 for a MOHRE category 1 company, 1,200 for category 2, 3,450 for category 3, plus a AED 50 application fee.

Entry permit: AED 200 plus 5% VAT, so AED 210.

Medical test: AED 270, or AED 700 premium and AED 1,020 VIP at Dubai Health.

Emirates ID: about AED 300 for two years.

Visa issuance at GDRFA Dubai: about AED 740.

Basic health insurance: AED 500 to 1,100 a year.

Extra costs: a candidate already inside the UAE adds AED 520 for the status change. A dependent costs AED 2,040 from inside the country, AED 1,520 from outside. Workers aged 65 and over carry an extra fee commonly reported at around AED 5,000.

Free zones: no MOHRE categories. The zone sponsors the visa at its own package price, and your visa quota follows your office size.

During the job: the labour card is now digital in the MOHRE app, and your Emirates ID carries your employment data. A side job needs a MOHRE part-time work permit. At renewal the entry permit and the AED 520 fee fall away, but late renewal brings daily fines.

After cancellation: the grace period depends on who issued the visa. ICP rules allow 30, 60, 90 or 180 days by skill level; GDRFA Dubai private sector cards state 60 days. For dependents, the government portal says six months while the residency cards say 60 days. Assume the shorter one.

Full employment visa guide: https://emirae.pro/guides/uae-employment-visa-cost/

Employment visa help from vetted providers: https://emirae.pro/services/visa-and-residency/employment-visa-support/

General information, not legal advice. Figures checked on official UAE sources.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

UAE Golden Visa explained: who qualifies for the 10-year UAE residence visa, which documents the ICP accepts, and what the application really costs. A practical guide to the UAE Golden Visa for investors, property owners, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, scientists, students and humanitarian pioneers.

The biggest Golden Visa myth: AED 2 million is not a fee. It is a qualifying threshold, an investment or property you own and keep. What you actually pay the ICP covers visa issuance, the medical exam and the Emirates ID.

Who qualifies for the UAE Golden Visa:

Investors: AED 2 million in a public investment or real estate; a mortgaged property via an approved UAE bank and off-plan units from an approved developer can count.

Property investors get 10 years, not 5: ICP and GDRFA service cards checked on 3 October 2026.

Entrepreneurs: an approved innovative project worth at least AED 500,000.

Executives: bachelor's degree, UAE work permit, MOHRE contract at occupational level 1 or 2, salary of at least AED 30,000 a month.

Outstanding students: 95% in high school, or a GPA of 3.5 (top-100 or category A university) or 3.8 (category B), within two years of graduation.

Humanitarian pioneers: five years of service, 500 volunteer hours, or AED 2 million in humanitarian support.

The quiet tax route: a Federal Tax Authority letter confirming annual tax of at least AED 250,000.

Why qualified people get rejected: a title deed is not enough, the ICP wants a Dubai Land Department lien letter; an attested degree is not a recognition report from the Ministry of Higher Education; talent routes need the right ministry letter (Ministry of Health, UAE Council for Scientists, Ministry of Culture and Youth); applicants from India face remittance limits and usually need full embassy attestation, not just an apostille.

How to apply: ICP Golden Services, Amer centres in Dubai, TAMM in Abu Dhabi, then medical exam, biometrics and Emirates ID. The cost depends on applying from inside or outside the UAE, the Emirates ID length and the route; property routes cost more to process.

Why it is worth it: you become your own sponsor, can sponsor your spouse and children without the standard salary caps, and the six-month rule outside the UAE no longer applies.

Full Golden Visa guide: https://emirae.pro/guides/golden-visa-uae/

Golden Visa help from vetted providers: https://emirae.pro/services/visa-and-residency/golden-visa/

General information, not legal advice. Figures checked on official UAE sources.

UAE company setup cost explained: what a free zone licence really costs, the hidden fees behind "cheapest free zone in UAE" adverts, and how to choose between mainland, free zone and offshore. A practical guide to the real first-year budget for a one-person UAE business.

The biggest myth: a UAE company for under AED 5,000 is real, but it buys a piece of paper, not a working business. Add a residency visa, an office and a bank account, and the realistic first-year entry cost sits between AED 11,000 and 17,000.

The cheapest published entry points (checked early October 2026):

Fujairah Creative City: media package at AED 3,999 a year.

SRTIP in Sharjah: SPARK Starter at AED 3,999, a limited-time offer.

Ajman NuVentures Centre: from AED 4,888.

Ajman Media City: AED 4,999.

The hidden fees: these are zero-visa packages. Before any visa, the company needs an immigration establishment card and e-channel registration, AED 2,000 to 3,500. The visa itself (entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping) adds AED 3,500 to 6,500 per person.

Offshore is not a shortcut: a JAFZA Offshore or RAK ICC company is a holding structure with no residency visas, no workspace and no right to trade inside the UAE.

Free zone vs mainland: a free zone gives 100% foreign ownership and all-in packages, but goods for the onshore UAE market usually go through a local distributor. A mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government contracts, with 100% foreign ownership for most activities, but usually needs a physical office. Map your customers first, then pick the structure.

Two traps after the licence:

Banking: a licence does not guarantee an account, banks check substance. Mashreq NEOBiz from AED 99 plus VAT a month, RAKBANK RAKstarter AED 103.95 plus a RAKvalue package from AED 51.45, ADCB SmartStart AED 131.25, all with no minimum balance.

Renewal: IFZA and Ajman Free Zone publish no prices online. Ajman Media City renews its zero-visa package at the same AED 4,999 and RAKEZ guarantees the same renewal price on its all-inclusive package. Get the year-two price in writing.

Paying more on purpose: Meydan Free Zone publishes a licence-only option from AED 12,500. A Dubai address passes client vendor checks and bank compliance faster.

Full setup cost guide: https://emirae.pro/guides/uae-free-zone-company-setup-cost/

Company setup help from vetted providers: https://emirae.pro/services/company-formation/free-zone-company-formation/

General information, not legal advice. Figures checked on official UAE sources.