Part-Time Jobs in the UAE: The Legal Ways to Do Them

Published · by JOBB GROUP FZE

Yes, you can work part-time in the UAE legally, but not informally. Every legal route runs through a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), and which permit applies depends mainly on your residence status: whether you are already employed, sponsored by family, a student, or working for yourself.

This guide sets out each route as of November 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm the details with MoHRE on 600590000 before you start any work.

What the law means by part-time work

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the UAE’s private-sector labour law, recognises several work patterns. Article 6(1)(b) defines part-time work as “working for one or more employers for a specified number of working hours or days”. The same article also lists temporary work and flexible work, where hours or days change with the workload.

The detail sits in the law’s implementing regulation, Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022. Its Article 6 lists the types of work permit, including a part-time permit, a permit for family-sponsored residents, a student training and employment permit, a permit for Golden Visa holders and a freelance permit.

Which route fits you

Your situation Usual legal route Who applies
Employed full-time and want a second, part-time job Part-time work permit The new part-time employer
Resident sponsored by a family member (spouse, parent) Work permit for family-sponsored residents The employer
Student aged 15 or over, already in the UAE Student training and employment permit The employer
Want to work for several clients on your own account Freelance permit or a freelance licence You
Golden Visa holder Golden Visa holders’ work permit The employer
On a visit or tourist visa No part-time route: the part-time permit requires a valid residence visa Not applicable

Route 1: A part-time work permit alongside your main job

This is the route most people mean when they say “a part-time job in Dubai”. Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (Article 6(1)(f)) allows a MoHRE-registered business to employ a worker on a part-time contract, and lets the worker work for more than one employer with the Ministry’s approval. The Government of Dubai’s portal describes the same permit as allowing private-sector employees to work for another employer alongside their main one.

MoHRE’s service page for the part-time permit lists these conditions, among others:

  • You must be at least 18 and hold a valid UAE residence visa.
  • All skill levels and professions are eligible, but licensed professions (for example health, education, fitness or law) need the licence from the relevant authority.
  • The job must match the business’s licensed activities, and the business must hold a valid licence.
  • The application is made by the employer’s authorised signatory, not by you.

Required documents include a photo, a passport copy valid for at least six months, the Ministry’s job offer form signed by both sides, academic certificates matching the skill level, any professional licence, and a no-objection letter from your current employer. MoHRE lists the fees as a federal fee of AED 50 plus a business service centre commission of up to AED 72, with no other charges through its website or app apart from federal fees. The permit is valid for one year.

A note on employer approval: in 2021, before the current law took effect, Gulf News reported that part-time work did not need the original employer’s approval. The MoHRE service page checked for this guide lists a no-objection letter as a required document, so plan to ask your main employer. Under the Decree-Law, a worker must not work for others in breach of the law (Article 16(9)), so working a second job without a permit can put your main job at risk too.

Route 2: Family-sponsored residents

If your residence visa is sponsored by a spouse or parent, you do not need to change your visa to work. Article 6(1)(c) of the Resolution provides a work permit for residents sponsored by their families, applied for by the employer. Ask the employer to confirm they are applying for this permit, and whether your contract is full-time or part-time, before your first shift.

Route 3: Students

Students already in the UAE have their own permit (Resolution Article 6(1)(h)). MoHRE’s service page says registered businesses can train or employ students aged 15 and over; under-18s need written consent from a guardian. Documents include proof of student status, an Emirates ID copy, a valid residence visa for non-national students, a medical fitness certificate and, for training, a no-objection letter from the school or university. The permit lasts three months and carries the same AED 50 federal fee.

There is an important limit. The UAE Government Portal, citing Ministerial Decree No. 519 of 2018, states that businesses may employ students during academic holidays only, for up to three consecutive months at a time; training is not limited in the same way. MoHRE’s current permit page does not repeat the holiday rule, so confirm it with the employer or MoHRE. Students on these permits are not entitled to end-of-service gratuity or other leave unless the contract provides it. If you are applying for your first role, a student resume builder can help you present coursework and activities.

Route 4: Freelancing instead of employment

If you would rather sell your services to several clients than be employed, the employment permits above are the wrong tool. The Resolution creates a freelance permit (Article 6(1)(l)) for people who want independent self-employment, and Article 8 describes freelance work as an arrangement in which a person earns income from services for a set period or task without being the client’s employee.

There are also freelance licences issued by free zones and emirate-level authorities. Middle East Briefing notes that free-zone freelance licences are usually limited to an approved list of activities and may restrict work with mainland clients, and that some activities need extra approvals or a company structure. Check the activity list, cost and visa implications with the licensing authority before you take on clients.

Your rights as a part-time worker

Part-time work is covered by the same labour law as full-time work. Key points, as of November 2026:

  • Hours. Normal working hours are capped at eight a day or 48 a week (Decree-Law Article 18(1)). For non-full-time patterns, the employer may not ask you to work more than the hours in your contract without your written consent (Article 18(5)).
  • Annual leave. Part-time workers are entitled to annual leave according to the hours they actually work (Decree-Law Article 29(2)). According to Khaleej Times’ summary of Article 18 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, hours are converted at up to eight hours a day, with a minimum of five working days a year.
  • End-of-service gratuity. The same summary of the Resolution’s Article 30 says part-time gratuity is a percentage of the full-time amount, based on contracted hours. Temporary work lasting under a year does not qualify.
  • Your main employer’s position. The law also requires employers not to allow workers to work for others except as the law permits (Decree-Law Article 13(10)). A valid permit protects both you and them.

Before your first shift: a checklist

  1. Confirm which permit the employer is applying for, and that it matches your visa status.
  2. Get a no-objection letter from your main employer if the permit requires one.
  3. Check the job offer form: hours per week, pay, and the duration of the contract.
  4. Do not start work until the permit is issued and the contract has been approved electronically, which is a step in MoHRE’s process.
  5. Keep copies of the permit and contract. If you are paid late or not at all, contact MoHRE on 600590000; labour claims can also be raised through the claims line on 80084.

Many part-time roles in retail, hospitality, tutoring and administration are filled quickly, so have a short, focused resume ready. A simple resume template or the main resume builder works for this.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) on 600590000 or through its official website and app.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work part-time in the UAE on a visit visa?

Not under the part-time work permit. MoHRE lists a valid residence visa among the conditions, and the employer, registered with MoHRE, has to apply for the permit.

Do I need my main employer's permission to take a part-time job?

As of November 2026, MoHRE's part-time permit page lists a no-objection letter from your current employer among the required documents. Some older news reports said no approval was needed; follow the current MoHRE requirements.

Who pays for the part-time work permit?

The part-time employer applies. MoHRE lists a federal fee of AED 50, and a business service centre may charge a commission of up to AED 72. Applying through the MoHRE website or app has no other charges apart from federal fees.

Do part-time workers get annual leave and gratuity?

Yes, in proportion to their hours. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, annual leave is based on actual hours worked, with a minimum of five working days a year, and end-of-service pay is a percentage of the full-time amount based on contracted hours.

Can a student work part-time in the UAE?

Students aged 15 and over can be trained or employed under a student permit applied for by the employer. Paid employment is allowed during academic holidays only, for up to three consecutive months at a time, according to the UAE Government Portal.

Sources

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