The total cost of a 2-year Dubai employment visa in 2026 ranges from AED 3,500 to AED 6,000 per employee when calculated across all mandatory government charges: the work permit (issued by MOHRE), the residence visa (issued by GDRFA), the mandatory medical fitness test, and the Emirates ID. This is the employer’s out-of-pocket cost for a new employee in the UAE. Understanding each component — what it is, who pays it, and when it is due, is the starting point for accurate HR and payroll budgeting for any Dubai company bringing on new staff.
A Dubai employment visa is actually two documents processed in sequence: the work permit (authorization to work in the UAE, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, MOHRE) and the residence visa (authorization to reside in the UAE, issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, GDRFA). Both are required. The work permit alone does not authorize residency; the residence visa alone does not authorize employment. Most guides quote only one of these fees, which is why budget estimates are frequently wrong. For full UAE residence visa processing, Gulf Corporate Services manages both components.
Dubai 2-Year Employment Visa Cost 2026: Complete AED Breakdown
Here is the full cost breakdown for a new 2-year Dubai employment visa in 2026, covering all mandatory and common optional charges:
Initial Mandatory Costs (Every New Employee)
| Cost Item | AED 2026 |
| MOHRE Work Permit (new employee, mainland) | AED 500 to AED 2,000 |
| GDRFA Entry Permit (bringing employee into UAE) | AED 200 to AED 600 |
| Status Change (if employee already in UAE) | AED 500 to AED 1,000 |
| GDRFA Residence Visa Stamping | AED 300 to AED 500 |
| Medical Fitness Test | AED 300 to AED 500 |
| Emirates ID (2-year) | AED 200 to AED 400 |
| TOTAL — New Employee, Mainland | AED 2,000 to AED 5,000 |
Additional and Optional Costs
| Cost Item | AED 2026 |
| Establishment card (new company, one-time) | AED 2,000 to AED 5,000 |
| Labour card / MOHRE registration (first employee) | AED 500 to AED 1,000 |
| Express/urgent processing (optional) | AED 150 to AED 500 per application |
| Typing center fees (document preparation) | AED 50 to AED 200 |
| Health insurance (mandatory, annual) | AED 650 to AED 2,500+ per person |
| Free zone visa (instead of mainland) | AED 3,000 to AED 5,500 all-in |
| 2-Year Renewal (same structure) | AED 2,000 to AED 4,500 |
The most important cost not captured in most guides: mandatory health insurance. Dubai law requires all employees to hold valid health insurance as a condition of employment visa issuance. The employer is legally obligated to provide this for mainland company employees. Health insurance costs AED 650 to AED 2,500+ per employee annually depending on coverage level, age, and the employee’s nationality. This recurring annual cost is separate from the visa processing fees above and must be factored into total employment cost per head.
Work Permit vs Employment Visa in UAE: What’s the Difference?
These two terms are often used interchangeably but refer to two distinct documents in the UAE employment process, each issued by a different authority:
- Work Permit (MOHRE): Issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). It authorizes your company to hire a specific employee for a specific role at a specific salary. You cannot legally employ someone in a mainland Dubai company without a MOHRE work permit. The work permit is linked to the company’s labour quota and requires the employee’s educational credentials to be submitted if applying for a professional/skilled category permit
- Residence Visa (GDRFA): Issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for Dubai, or by the ICP for other emirates. It authorizes the employee to reside in the UAE for the 2-year visa period. The residence visa is sponsored by the employer company
- Emirates ID: Issued by the ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security). A physical identity document required for all UAE residents. The Emirates ID is linked to the residence visa and cannot be issued before the visa is stamped. It is also valid for 2 years, matching the visa
Process sequence for mainland employers: MOHRE work permit application → GDRFA entry permit (to bring the employee into the UAE) → employee enters UAE → medical fitness test → GDRFA residence visa stamping → Emirates ID biometrics and issuance. Each step has its own fee and processing time, which is why the total cost is a sum of multiple charges, not a single figure.
Mainland vs Free Zone Employment Visa: Process and Cost Difference 2026
The employment visa process differs significantly between mainland Dubai companies and free zone companies, with cost implications for both employers and employees:
- Mainland companies (DET-licensed): Must process work permits through MOHRE and residence visas through GDRFA. The MOHRE work permit step adds AED 500-2,000 to the process and requires labour quota availability (companies need sufficient approved quota to issue new work permits). Health insurance is legally mandatory for all mainland employees. Total new employee cost: AED 3,500-5,000
- Free zone companies: Process visas through the free zone authority’s visa services, which coordinates with GDRFA on the employer’s behalf. Many free zones have their own establishment card and quota system separate from MOHRE. The free zone visa process is often simpler for employers, as the zone authority manages much of the government interface. Total new employee cost through free zone: AED 3,000-5,500, broadly similar to mainland but with a different administrative process
- Health insurance for free zone employees: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) mandates health insurance for all Dubai residents, including free zone employees. Free zone employers are equally obligated to provide health insurance, though the administration is managed through the free zone rather than DHA directly
For mainland companies with multiple employees, engaging a PRO services team to manage MOHRE submissions, quota tracking, and GDRFA applications significantly reduces the administrative burden, particularly during peak hiring periods when response times from government portals slow.
Who Pays for the Dubai Employment Visa, Employer or Employee?
Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the UAE Labour Law), the employer is legally obligated to bear the cost of the employment visa. This includes the MOHRE work permit fee, GDRFA entry permit and residence visa stamping fees, medical fitness test, and Emirates ID. The employer cannot legally deduct employment visa costs from the employee’s salary under UAE labour law.
What the employer pays:
- All MOHRE work permit fees
- GDRFA entry permit and residence visa stamping fees
- Medical fitness test (AED 300-500)
- Emirates ID fee (AED 200-400)
- Mandatory health insurance (AED 650-2,500+ annually)
- All typing center and PRO coordination fees
What the employee typically pays (company policy, not law):
- Flight ticket to the UAE for the initial entry (many employers cover this, but it is not legally mandated)
- Security deposit if required by the accommodation lease
- Personal bank account setup costs
The salary deduction prohibition is one of the most common UAE labour law violations by smaller companies. If your company is considering deducting visa costs from a new employee’s salary, this is a MOHRE compliance violation that can result in fines and damage the company’s Nitaqat/WPS standing.
Dubai Employment Visa Renewal Cost 2026
A 2-year Dubai employment visa must be renewed every 2 years before its expiry date. The renewal cost follows a similar structure to the initial issuance but is typically slightly lower because the MOHRE work permit for an existing employee is a renewal rather than a new application, and no entry permit is required (the employee is already in the UAE).
| Renewal Cost Item | AED 2026 |
| MOHRE work permit renewal | AED 300 to AED 1,000 |
| GDRFA residence visa renewal | AED 300 to AED 500 |
| Medical fitness test (required at each renewal) | AED 300 to AED 500 |
| Emirates ID renewal (2-year) | AED 200 to AED 400 |
| Health insurance renewal (annual) | AED 650 to AED 2,500+ |
| TOTAL renewal cost (every 2 years) | AED 1,550 to AED 2,900 |
Renewal must be applied for before the current visa expires. Late renewal incurs GDRFA fines and — critically — an employee with an expired visa cannot legally work in the UAE. The visa expiry date is shown on the residence visa page in the employee’s passport and on their Emirates ID. Set calendar reminders 90 days before the expiry date to start the renewal process, as medical test appointments and government processing can take 2 to 4 weeks.
Dubai Employment Visa Application Process 2026: Step-by-Step
- Confirm your company has sufficient MOHRE labour quota for the new hire. If your quota is insufficient, apply to increase it through MOHRE before starting the visa process
- Submit the MOHRE work permit application through the MOHRE portal (mohre.gov.ae) or the UAEPASS-linked employer portal. For professional/skilled workers, submit educational certificates for credential verification. Processing takes 3 to 7 working days for standard applications
- After MOHRE work permit approval, apply for the GDRFA entry permit to allow the employee to enter the UAE (if they are abroad). The entry permit is valid for 60 days from issuance. If the employee is already in the UAE on a visit visa, apply for a status change instead
- Employee enters UAE on the GDRFA entry permit (or status change is processed). Within the UAE, the employee must complete the mandatory medical fitness test at a MOHRE-approved medical center. Results are electronically linked to the GDRFA application
- Submit the GDRFA residence visa stamping application after medical clearance. Visa is stamped in the passport. Processing takes 3 to 5 working days for standard applications
- Register the employee for Emirates ID biometrics at an ICP service center or through the ICP app. Emirates ID is printed and delivered within 5 to 7 working days. The physical Emirates ID must be in the employee’s possession for daily UAE compliance (banking, signing leases, etc.)
- Register employee with GOSI (if applicable) and ensure salary payments go through the Wage Protection System (WPS) from the first pay cycle. WPS compliance is monitored by MOHRE and delays or gaps in WPS payments affect the company’s MOHRE compliance rating
Conclusion
The total cost of a 2-year Dubai employment visa in 2026 ranges from AED 3,500 to AED 5,000 per employee for a new hire on a mainland company, covering the MOHRE work permit, GDRFA entry permit and residence visa, medical test, and Emirates ID. The employer bears this cost under UAE labour law, salary deductions for visa costs are a MOHRE compliance violation. Add mandatory health insurance (AED 650-2,500+ annually) for the full per-employee cost of UAE compliance.
For complete employment visa processing including MOHRE work permit applications, GDRFA submissions, and ongoing quota management, Gulf Corporate Services’ PRO services team handles the full process on your behalf. For employees interested in upgrading from an employment visa to a long-term residency option, the UAE Golden Visa is available to qualifying professionals and investors as a 10-year residency alternative. For the broader UAE residence visa framework, see our UAE residence visa guide.
FAQs: Dubai 2-Year Employment Visa Cost 2026
How much does a 2-year Dubai employment visa cost in 2026?
Total cost for a new 2-year Dubai employment visa ranges from AED 3,500 to AED 5,000 per employee for mainland companies, covering MOHRE work permit (AED 500-2,000), GDRFA entry permit and visa stamping (AED 500-1,100), medical fitness test (AED 300-500), and Emirates ID (AED 200-400). Add mandatory health insurance (AED 650-2,500+ annually). Free zone employment visas cost AED 3,000-5,500 all-in through the zone’s visa services.
Who pays for the Dubai employment visa, employer or employee?
The employer pays. Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law), employers are legally obligated to bear all employment visa costs including MOHRE work permit, GDRFA residence visa, medical test, and Emirates ID. Deducting visa costs from an employee’s salary is a UAE labour law violation that can result in MOHRE fines and damage the company’s compliance standing.
What is the difference between a work permit and an employment visa in Dubai?
A work permit (MOHRE) authorizes your company to employ a specific person in a specific role. A residence visa (GDRFA) authorizes that person to reside in the UAE. Both are required for legal employment. The work permit is issued first; the residence visa follows. An Emirates ID is then issued based on the active residence visa. All three together constitute what most people refer to as the ’employment visa package’.
How long does Dubai employment visa processing take?
Total processing time from work permit application to Emirates ID issuance is typically 3 to 5 weeks for straightforward cases: MOHRE work permit (3-7 working days) + GDRFA entry permit (3-5 working days) + medical test (same day) + GDRFA residence visa stamping (3-5 working days) + Emirates ID delivery (5-7 working days). Express processing is available at each stage for an additional fee of AED 150-500.
How much does Dubai employment visa renewal cost?
2-year employment visa renewal costs AED 1,550 to AED 2,900 per employee covering MOHRE renewal (AED 300-1,000), GDRFA visa renewal (AED 300-500), repeat medical test (AED 300-500), and Emirates ID renewal (AED 200-400). Health insurance must also be renewed annually. Renewal is cheaper than initial issuance because no entry permit is required for an employee already in the UAE.
Is health insurance mandatory for employment visa in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) mandates that all employers provide valid health insurance for their employees as a condition of employment visa issuance and renewal in Dubai. Mainland company employers must comply with DHA’s health insurance regulations. Free zone employers are equally obligated. Basic health insurance packages meeting DHA minimum requirements start from approximately AED 650 per employee annually.
What happens if an employee’s Dubai employment visa expires?
An employee cannot legally work in the UAE after their employment visa expires. The employer must initiate the renewal process before expiry, ideally 90 days in advance. If the visa expires before renewal is complete, the employee enters an overstay situation (AED 200/day fine from GDRFA) and cannot legally be at work. MOHRE can also flag the employer for employing an individual without a valid work status. Start visa renewal tracking through HR systems at the 90-day mark before expiry.
About the Author
Adil Ahmad
Adil Ahmad is a business setup and HR compliance consultant at Gulf Corporate Services, based in Dubai. He advises UAE employers, HR managers, and businesses on MOHRE work permit processing, GDRFA residence visa management, UAE labour law compliance, and employment visa cost budgeting. Adil writes to give employers and HR teams the accurate, complete cost information they need to plan Dubai employment costs correctly from the first hire.
