Find work in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates — 10 million people, UAE Dirham (AED), Arabic, English. Full employment compliance handled for you, paid every Friday.
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Population
10 million
GDP / capita
$49,450
Currency
AED
UAE Dirham
Time zone
UTC+4 (GST)
Working in United Arab Emirates: what to expect
Key employment law provisions that affect your engagement. Corpshore handles compliance so you don't have to navigate this alone — but knowing your rights matters.
Standard workweek
48h max
40-48 hours (8 hours/day; government sector moved to 4.5-day week in 2022)
Annual leave
10 public holidays
30 calendar days after 1 year (2 days/month during first year)
Maternity leave
60 days (45 at full pay + 15 at half pay)
Paternity leave
5 working days (within 6 months of birth)
Notice period
30 days minimum (both employer and employee). Contract may specify up to 3 months.
Severance
End of service gratuity: 21 days basic salary per year (first 5 years) + 30 days per additional year. New DEWS (DIFC) and alternative savings schemes being introduced.
Overtime rules
25% premium (normal overtime), 50% premium (overtime between 10pm-4am). Friday overtime: 50% premium.
Probation period
Up to 6 months
Tax landscape in United Arab Emirates
Indicative tax ranges for general orientation. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. Tax year: Calendar year or financial year.
- Income tax
- 0% (no personal income tax)
- Corporate tax
- 9% (effective June 2023, on taxable income above AED 375,000)
- Social contributions
- UAE nationals only: 5% employee + 12.5% employer (Abu Dhabi) or 5% + 15% (other emirates). No contributions for expatriates.
- VAT / GST
- 5% (introduced 2018)
Treaty network
Over 130 tax treaties
Your fee is always zero
Corpshore charges the hiring business, never you. You receive 100% of the agreed rate, regardless of tax jurisdiction.
How you get paid in United Arab Emirates
WPS (Wage Protection System) mandates electronic salary payments through approved channels. UAEFTS handles interbank transfers. AED is pegged to USD. Stripe and Wise support AED.
Bank transfer (UAEFTS)
Stripe Connect
Wise
Settlement
Every Friday
No net-30 waits, no chasing invoices
Platform fee
Zero, forever
The business pays Corpshore, never you
Currency
AED
Local currency where supported
Regulatory landscape in United Arab Emirates
Corpshore manages compliance so you can focus on the work. Here's what shapes the regulatory environment for workers in United Arab Emirates.
Worker classification
New Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, effective February 2022) modernised employment relations. Freelancer visas available in some free zones.
Data protection
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 (Personal Data Protection Law). Free zones (DIFC, ADGM) have separate data protection regimes aligned with international standards.
Right to work
All foreign workers require a work permit and residence visa sponsored by an employer. Free zone employment has separate licensing. Golden visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals.
Non-compete enforceability
Enforceable under Article 10 of the Labour Law. Limited to 2 years, specific geography, and must protect a legitimate interest. Courts assess proportionality.
Collective bargaining
Trade unions are not permitted under UAE law. Ministry of Human Resources handles labour disputes. Wage Protection System (WPS) ensures salary payments.
Working culture in United Arab Emirates
Business culture
Cosmopolitan, fast-paced, and deal-oriented. Expats constitute ~90% of the private-sector workforce. Arabic courtesies (meeting, coffee, relationship-building) precede business. Friday-Saturday weekend (most sectors).
Key industries
Talent pool strengths
Historical context
The UAE's economic transformation from a pearling economy to a global business hub occurred in a single generation. Dubai's free zone model, pioneered with Jebel Ali Free Zone (1985), created regulatory enclaves that attracted international companies. The DIFC (2004) and ADGM (2015) established common-law courts within a civil-law country, a governance innovation now studied worldwide.
At a glance
- Official name
- United Arab Emirates
- Languages
- Arabic, English
- Time zones
- UTC+4 (GST)
- Data region
- Middle East & Africa
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