The United Arab Emirates remains a premier destination for businesses aiming to establish a Middle East presence. With its strategic location, modern infrastructure and cosmopolitan workforce, the UAE offers significant advantages. However, its evolving labour and immigration regulations make it challenging for organisations without a local entity to hire compliantly.

Access Financial’s Employer of Record (EoR) service in the UAE streamlines employment, payroll, and visa processes—letting you focus on growth while we manage compliance.

What is an Employer of Record (EoR)?

An Employer of Record legally employs your staff in the UAE, taking on all statutory and administrative duties, while you maintain control over roles and responsibilities. Our EoR service ensures that:

• Employment contracts adhere to UAE labour laws, including the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
• Wages are paid via the Wage Protection System (WPS)
• Statutory contributions and salary registers are managed monthly
• Visas and Emirates IDs are obtained, renewed, and compliant
• Leave, termination and dispute resolution follow MOHRE guidelines

This allows rapid deployment of local or expatriate staff without establishing a trade licence or registered entity.

Key 2025 regulatory developments

Mandatory Digital Wage payments and WPS

Since 2022, all private-sector salaries must be paid through the Wage Protection System, which expanded in April 2025 to include domestic workers too. Salaries must be paid within 15 days of the due date, or face penalties.

Labour Law enhancements (2025)

Multiple reforms came into effect this year, introducing:

• Standardised notice periods during probation (minimum 14 days)
• Written flexible and part-time work agreements, digitised and renewable every two years
• Expanded leave entitlements: annual, sick (90 days), maternity (60 days full pay), paternity (5 days), bereavement and study leave  
• Mandatory gratuity or savings scheme choices
• Formal grievance and harassment procedures, with penalties up to AED 50,000
• Stronger MOHRE enforcement, now legally enforceable without lengthy court processes  

Work Permits extended & visa reform

Work permits and visas now can be issued for up to three years, and Golden Visa eligibility widened to include tech and healthcare professionals earning AED 30,000/month. These reforms support longer-term stability for expat staff.

Regulated working hours in heat-prone roles

High-temperature outdoor workers (e.g. construction, warehousing) now have reduced maximum weekly hours and mandatory midday breaks in summer. Overtime in the UAE is capped at two extra hours per day, with premium pay rates for after-hours, weekends, and Ramadan shifts.

Employment, payroll & compliance

Wage Protection & payroll

All wages processed through WPS to comply with MOHRE requirements. Payslips, records, and statutory registers are maintained to avoid sanctions.

Leave & benefits

We administer statutory leaves—including annual, sick, maternity and paternity—plus optional health insurance and other benefits where desired.

Work permits & visas

We handle the full visa lifecycle—from securing work permit approvals, salary submission proof, to Emirates ID issuance. We also facilitate Golden Visa support for qualifying senior professionals.

Why choose Access Financial’s EoR in the UAE?

Fast market entry

Engage local or expat talent within days—not months—without entity incorporation.

 Labour Law compliance

Contracts, payroll and working hours comply with the 2025 labour reforms and WPS requirements.

Immigration expertise

We manage visas, work permits and ID cards, including multi-year work visas and Golden Visas, reducing delays and administrative burden.

Risk-free & centralised

Manage one relationship with us, not multiple local agents. MOHRE decisions are enforced without court involvement, reducing legal risk.

Onboarding process

1. Consultation and role specification
2. Local-compliant contract preparation
3. Enrolment via WPS and payroll setup
4. Work permit and visa applications
5. Issuance of Emirates ID and onboarding
6. Ongoing payroll, leave, compliance tracking
7. Support for renewals or termination

Who is this for?

• Start-ups & SMEs launching or testing UAE presence
• Multinationals and remote-first businesses employing regional managers
• Order-based or project teams needing temporary staffing
• Recruitment firms placing candidates under full compliance
• Senior hires aiming for extended stay or Golden Visa eligibility

Avoiding compliance pitfalls

Without EoR support, employers risk:

• Fines and visa blocks for late WPS payments
• Legal action under digitised labour reforms
• Emiratisation and grievance procedure violations
• Visa rejections or delays
• Salary underpayment or benefits non-compliance

Access Financial ensures end-to-end compliance and protects your operations.

Ready to hire in the UAE?

With ongoing labour reforms, visa enhancements, and digital wage protection enforcement, employing in the UAE requires precision and local know-how.

Access Financial’s UAE EoR service offers fast, compliant, and risk-free hiring, so you can grow your Gulf presence with confidence.

Get in touch today to unlock UAE hiring with ease.