Part-Time Work Permit UAE: Rules, Eligibility, and How to Get One

The UAE formally recognises part-time work as a distinct employment category — a relatively recent change that gives workers more flexibility without requiring them to navigate the full standard employment visa process for each engagement. If you are considering part-time work in the UAE alongside existing employment or as a primary arrangement, the rules differ significantly from full-time employment visas.

What Is a UAE Part-Time Work Permit?

A part-time work permit is issued by MOHRE and authorises a worker to be employed for fewer than 8 hours per day or fewer than 48 hours per week by one or more employers simultaneously. It is governed by Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, which formalised flexible work arrangements under the updated Labour Law.

Unlike a standard work permit (which ties you to a single employer as the visa sponsor), a part-time permit allows engagement with multiple employers in the private sector.

Who Can Apply for a Part-Time Work Permit?

Category 1: UAE residents with an existing visa sponsor If you are already a UAE resident — for example, on a spouse's visa, a family sponsorship, or a student visa — you can apply for a part-time MOHRE work permit through an employer. This is the most common use case: a spouse who wants to work part-time while sponsored by their partner.

Category 2: Workers seeking a primary part-time arrangement Some roles in the UAE are structured as part-time from the outset. In this case, the employer applies for a standard employment visa on the employee's behalf but specifies the part-time work model in the MOHRE contract. The visa process is the same as a full-time employment visa — the employee receives residency, an Emirates ID, and a work permit — but the labour contract reflects part-time hours and proportional salary.

Category 3: Secondary employment for existing employment visa holders If you hold a UAE employment visa with a primary employer, you can seek permission to work part-time for a second employer. This requires consent from your primary employer and a secondary work permit issued through MOHRE. Working for a second employer without this permit is a violation.

What Part-Time Work Permits Do Not Cover

Part-time work permits are MOHRE-issued instruments for private sector employment relationships. They do not cover:

• Freelance work: If you want to offer services to clients independently, you need a Freelance Permit (available through specific free zones such as Fujairah Creative City, DMCC, Dubai Media City). This is different from part-time employment.
• Free zone employment: Free zone employees need a free zone work permit, not a MOHRE part-time permit, even for part-time arrangements
• Self-employment / business ownership: Requires a trade licence and business setup, separate from any employment permit

The Application Process

For an employee-sponsored part-time arrangement:

1. The employer applies through the MOHRE Tasheel portal or Tas'heel service centres
2. A bilingual fixed-term contract is drafted specifying part-time hours and compensation
3. MOHRE reviews and issues the work permit
4. If the employee does not yet have UAE residency, the entry permit and residency process follows the standard employment visa path

For UAE residents seeking a part-time work permit to add secondary employment:

1. Your primary employer provides a No Objection Certificate (NOC)
2. The secondary employer applies for the part-time work permit through MOHRE
3. The permit is linked to both your Emirates ID and the primary employer's file

Compensation and Rights for Part-Time Workers

Part-time workers have proportional rights under the Labour Law. Key points:

• Annual leave: Calculated proportionally based on actual days or hours worked
• Gratuity: Calculated on the equivalent basic salary at the time of termination, pro-rated for service period
• Overtime: Applies if actual hours worked in a day exceed the agreed part-time hours
• WPS coverage: Part-time salaries paid through registered employers are still processed through the Wage Protection System

Part-time workers are entitled to the same fundamental protections as full-time employees — the employer cannot waive annual leave entitlements, gratuity, or WPS obligations simply because the arrangement is part-time.

Part-Time Work Permit Fees

MOHRE charges a fee for the part-time work permit. As of 2026, costs are approximately:

• Work permit application: AED 300–550 (varies by company tier and permit type)
• If new residency visa is required: add the full residency process costs (medical test, Emirates ID, etc.)
• If adding secondary employment to existing residency: lower fees, primarily the permit application cost

Fees are the employer's legal obligation to cover.

If you are planning to work in the UAE part-time alongside a spouse sponsorship or want to add a second employer to an existing work permit, the UAE Employment Visa Guide includes the exact documentation checklist and the MOHRE portal steps for each scenario.

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