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Need a domestic worker? The UAE just made getting a visa way easier

Published

3 months ago

October 17, 2025

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Employers in the UAE can now handle all domestic worker visa services through a single unified digital platform, eliminating the need to navigate multiple government agencies for routine procedures.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has centralised visa applications, renewals, cancellations, and mandatory medical tests on the Work in UAE portal (workinuae.ae), representing a major simplification of domestic worker regulations.

What the platform offers

The digital portal consolidates services previously scattered across different government entities, allowing employers to manage the complete visa lifecycle from one location:

Visa services:

New visa applications for domestic workers
Visa renewals and extensions
Visa cancellations and transfers
Status tracking and updates

Medical requirements:

Required medical test bookings
Health screening coordination
Medical certificate processing
Test result retrieval

Administrative functions:

Document submission and verification
Fee payments
Application status monitoring
Digital record management

The multi-agency challenge solved

Previously, employers navigated a complex system requiring interactions with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), Emirates Health Services, Abu Dhabi Department of Health and various typing centres and service providers

Each agency maintained separate systems, requiring multiple visits, redundant documentation, and lengthy processing times.

The new platform integrates these services through backend collaboration among all participating entities, presenting employers with a single interface.

The domestic worker visa platform is part of MoHRE’s Work Bundle initiative, which aims to streamline labour services across the UAE’s employment ecosystem.

Why domestic worker regulations matter

Domestic workers represent a significant segment of the UAE’s labour market, with hundreds of thousands employed across the country in roles including housekeepers, nannies, cooks, drivers, and caregivers.

Simplifying the administrative framework for this sector serves multiple objectives:

For employers: Reduced time spent on bureaucratic processes, clearer procedures, lower administrative costs, and faster processing times.

For workers: Greater transparency in employment status, improved documentation of legal rights, clearer pathways for status changes, and reduced dependency on intermediaries.

For the system: Better compliance tracking, reduced fraud opportunities, improved data collection, and more efficient resource allocation.

How employers benefit

The centralised platform eliminates common pain points in domestic worker visa management:

Time savings: No need to visit multiple agencies or government offices for different steps in the visa process.

Simplified procedures: Single login provides access to all required services rather than maintaining accounts across multiple platforms.

Reduced costs: Elimination of typing centre fees and reduced transportation costs from multiple agency visits.

Faster processing: Backend integration among agencies speeds approval workflows and reduces waiting periods.

24/7 access: Digital platform allows employers to initiate and track processes at any time rather than being constrained by office hours.

Document storage: Digital records eliminate paper documentation and provide easy retrieval of historical information.

Implementation and access

Employers can access the platform immediately through workinuae.ae using their existing UAE Pass credentials or by creating new accounts.

The platform provides step-by-step guidance for each process, with support available through MoHRE’s customer service channels for employers requiring assistance.

All new visa applications, renewals, and cancellations for domestic workers should now be processed through the unified platform rather than through legacy channels.

What hasn’t changed

While the platform simplifies administration, core requirements for domestic worker employment remain in effect:

Employer eligibility criteria
Worker qualification standards
Mandatory medical examinations
Contract registration requirements
Minimum wage and benefit obligations
Insurance requirements

The platform streamlines how these requirements are met but doesn’t alter the fundamental regulatory framework.

Looking ahead

The successful consolidation of domestic worker visa services may serve as a model for further service integration across other employment categories and government functions.

MoHRE’s Work Bundle initiative is expected to expand with additional features and service categories as the digital infrastructure matures and user feedback is incorporated.

Platform Details:

Website: workinuae.ae
Access: UAE Pass or platform registration
Services: Visa applications, renewals, cancellations, and medical tests
Availability: 24/7 online access

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

News

Sharjah sets deadline for owners to collect impounded vehicles

Published

8 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Motorists in Sharjah have been urged to take immediate action to retrieve vehicles and other items impounded by the Sharjah City Municipality, with a deadline set later this week.

In a notice issued on Monday, the Municipality called on owners of vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and bicycles that have been impounded for more than six months to complete the required release procedures.

Owners have been instructed to visit the Inspection and Control Department in Industrial Area 5 within four days from the date of the notice, ending January 29, to address the reasons for impoundment and collect their properties.

The Municipality warned that failure to comply within the specified period will result in the impounded items being sold through a public auction after the deadline.

The notice was shared via the Municipality’s official social media channels, where a QR code was also provided to allow owners to access a list of impounded vehicles and related items.

Residents are advised to act promptly to avoid losing ownership of their impounded properties.

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Abu Dhabi introduces new safety guidelines for e-scooters

Published

1 day ago

January 26, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If you ride an e-scooter or electric bike in Abu Dhabi, it’s worth knowing where you’re allowed to go, and where you’re not.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport has outlined designated areas where electric bikes and scooters are permitted, along with clear restrictions aimed at improving safety, easing traffic flow and supporting smarter urban mobility.

According to the department, e-bikes and scooters are allowed on internal roads with speed limits below 40km/h, dedicated cycling and e-bike lanes, and shared paths designed for both pedestrians and cyclists.

However, riding is strictly prohibited on highways, pedestrian-only paths, and roads outside the city where speed limits are 60km/h or higher.

The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) said the rules are part of a broader plan to create a safe, connected network of cycling and e-bike routes across the emirate, encouraging active transport and better integration with public transport.

Pedestrian safety remains a top priority. Riders are required to follow traffic laws, obey road signs and markings, ride in the direction of traffic, keep a safe distance from pedestrians and use designated cycling lanes whenever available.

Cyclists are also reminded that riding on roads with speed limits above 60km/h requires a special permit. On roads with speed limits of 60km/h or below and no cycling lanes, riders should keep to the right-hand side.

Parking is only allowed in designated areas to avoid blocking pedestrians or vehicles. Riders must also maintain at least a five-metre distance from school buses when warning lights are on, and the stop arm is extended. Group cycling tours must obtain prior approval from Abu Dhabi Police.

Authorities say the measures are designed to keep everyone, riders, pedestrians and motorists, safe while supporting a more active and sustainable transport culture in the capital.

News

Planning a trip to Mleiha? Sharjah warns against entering the park without permission

Published

1 day ago

January 26, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Sharjah authorities have warned that strict legal action, including hefty fines, will be taken against any vehicle entering Mleiha National Park without official authorisation.

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said the park is a protected national site established by Emiri decree and governed by a strict legislative framework aimed at preserving its archaeological, cultural and environmental significance.

Shurooq stressed that unauthorised access by any type of vehicle, without exception, constitutes a direct violation of the park’s protected status and will result in financial penalties and other legal measures. The enforcement is intended to prevent damage to the park’s fragile terrain and irreplaceable archaeological remains, which cannot be restored once disturbed.

Mleiha National Park forms part of the Al Faya Site, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. The designation places additional responsibility on local authorities to ensure the long-term protection of the site as a rare and continuous record of early human history.

Public access to the park is therefore strictly limited to approved, organised activities supervised by the Mleiha Archaeological Centre. All visits must be booked exclusively through the centre and conducted along designated routes in accordance with established guidelines designed to safeguard the site.