Sub-service · Residence visas · 2026
Employment visa in the UAE
An employment visa is the residence visa a UAE company obtains for its staff. In the snapshot it appears in 1,083 license packages — 23% of the catalog across 16 providers — concentrated in mainland Abu Dhabi and Dubai's industry-specific zones.
Updated September 2026 · market data verified methodology
- Packages include it
- 1,083 23% of the catalog
- Providers
- 16 free zones + mainland
- Top cluster
- Abu Dhabi 423 packages at ADDED
- Media zones
- 6 zones Dubai Creative clusters
UAE residence · general
Benefits and requirements of a UAE residence visa
Benefits
- Legal UAE residency for the route's term — renewable while conditions hold
- Family sponsorship: spouse, children and, on many routes, parents
- 0% personal income tax on salary and earnings
- UAE bank account, credit cards and a local driving licence
- Multiple entries with no travel restrictions while the visa is active
- Access to insurance-based private healthcare and government centres
Requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Medical insurance accepted in the UAE
- Entry permit with a change of status, in country or abroad
- Medical fitness test at a UAE health centre
- Emirates ID registration with biometrics
- Route-specific proof of eligibility and a clean immigration record
General rules for UAE residence visas — each route and emirate applies its own conditions, and this page covers this visa’s specifics below.
Process
How the investor visa process goes
-
Visa quota
with licenseThe company obtains its visa allocation — the number of residence visas tied to the license and premises.
-
Entry permit (e-visa)
1–3 daysAn entry permit / e-visa is applied for the employee through the e-channel system.
-
Status change
if applicableIf the employee is already inside the UAE, their status is changed to residence.
-
Employment contract
with applicationThe employment contract is concluded and filed with immigration.
-
Medical & Emirates ID
2–3 daysThe medical fitness test is completed and the Emirates ID application with biometrics is submitted.
-
Resident visa issued
2–5 daysThe UAE resident visa is issued electronically; the Emirates ID card follows by courier.
Typical package sequence in the snapshot: License registration → Establishment card → Investor visa → Corporate bank account (1,833 of 2,047 packages follow this order).
Zones
Where packages include the investor visa
| Provider | Packages with employment visa | License price from |
|---|---|---|
 ADDED (Abu Dhabi mainland) | 423 | from AED 5,880* |
 Expo City Dubai | 201 | from AED 4,650* |
 Dubai Media City | 97 | from AED 6,192* |
 DIFC (Dubai) | 94 | from AED 7,950* |
 Dubai Design District | 81 | from AED 6,192* |
 Dubai Studio City | 42 | from AED 6,192* |
 Dubai Science Park | 42 | from AED 6,192* |
 Dubai Production City | 27 | from AED 6,192* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Who applies for an employment visa — the company or the employee?
Always the company: it holds the visa quota and files the application through the e-channel. In the snapshot, 1,083 license packages include the employment visa step.
How many employment visas can one company get?
It depends on the license package and premises. Free-zone packages typically bundle 2–6 visas; mainland quotas scale with office size.
What does the employment visa step cost?
Packages that include employment visas start from AED 4,650* (Expo City Dubai) and AED 5,880* (ADDED). Visa stamps, medical tests and Emirates ID are separate line items.
Is the process different from an investor visa?
Almost identical: quota, entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID. The employment track adds the signed employment contract filed with immigration.
Planning an investor visa for your company?
We match the license package to your visa plan — quota, family sponsorship and bank account in one scope.