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Labour Contract Typing in Dubai

Every UAE private-sector contract is fixed-term now, and the offer letter, the permit and the contract must all agree. One mismatched field sends the file back.

Type a Labour Contract Call +971 52 933 0454
MoHRE Format Registered, not just drafted
Amendments Salary, title and term changes
Bilingual Arabic and English

What is a MoHRE labour contract and how is it registered?

It is the employment contract registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for mainland private-sector staff. It must match the signed offer letter and the approved work permit. Since the 2021 labour law all private-sector contracts are fixed-term, for a maximum of three years, and are renewable.

Labour Contract Typing in Dubai at a glance
AuthorityMoHRE, via Tasheel
Applies toMainland private-sector employment
Contract typeFixed-term only, maximum three years, renewable
Must matchThe signed offer letter and the approved work permit
AmendmentsSalary, job title, term and working hours, filed as a separate transaction
What MSM handlesOffer letter, contract typing, registration, amendments and renewals

Last updated 2 August 2026 · Reviewed by Mohammed Shareef A, Senior PRO Consultant, 12+ years in Dubai government liaison. Fees and timelines are set by the issuing authority and change without notice — confirm current figures before you budget.

Why did unlimited contracts disappear?

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 replaced the old limited and unlimited system with a single fixed-term model for the private sector. Existing unlimited contracts had to be converted, and companies that did not convert found themselves unable to complete routine MoHRE transactions.

The practical effect is that every contract now has an end date and a renewal decision attached to it.

  • One contract model: fixed-term, maximum three years
  • Renewable for the same or a shorter period
  • Notice periods run between 30 and 90 days as agreed
  • End-of-service gratuity continues to accrue as before
Bilingual employment contract being reviewed on a desk in a Dubai office

What has to match between the offer letter and the contract?

Everything that MoHRE records. Job title, basic salary, allowances, contract term, working hours and place of work. An offer letter promising one salary and a contract registering another is not an administrative slip; it is a discrepancy the ministry treats seriously, and it is one of the more common reasons a file bounces.

Fix it at the offer letter stage. It is a five-minute correction there and a re-file afterwards.

  • Job title must also match the licensed activity
  • Basic salary and allowances stated separately, and consistently
  • Contract term and start date aligned across all three documents
  • Working hours and place of work recorded accurately
HR officer comparing an offer letter with a registered labour contract

How do you amend a registered contract?

As a separate MoHRE transaction, with the employee's consent. Salary increases, job-title changes, term extensions and changes to working hours all go through the same route.

Companies often let these drift — the person was promoted eighteen months ago and the record still shows the old title. That gap surfaces at renewal, at visa time, or in a dispute, which are three bad moments to discover it.

  • Amendment requires the employee's agreement and a MoHRE filing
  • Salary changes affect WPS, gratuity and, sometimes, visa eligibility for dependants
  • A job-title change may need a qualification check
  • Keep the registered record current rather than reconciling it later
Manager and employee discussing a salary amendment across a meeting table

What about free zone and domestic worker contracts?

Free zone employment sits under the free zone's own rules, with its own contract template and its own registration. The shape is similar; the authority is not.

Domestic workers are covered by their own federal law and their contracts run through the Tadbeer channel rather than standard MoHRE employment.

  • Free zone contracts registered with the free zone authority
  • Domestic worker contracts under the domestic workers law
  • Terms differ on notice, probation and end of service
  • Both still need accurate, consistent documentation
Free zone office corridor in Dubai with staff walking between meeting rooms

How MSM handles contract typing

  1. Draft the offer letterIn the MoHRE format, with the job title checked against your licensed activity and the salary split into basic and allowances.
  2. Employee signatureThe offer letter is signed before the work permit is filed. This order is not optional.
  3. File the work permitThe permit carries the same details, so the contract that follows can match it exactly.
  4. Type and register the contractBilingual contract typed and registered with MoHRE, signed by both parties.
  5. Issue copiesYou and the employee each get the registered contract. We keep a copy on the file for renewals and amendments.

What changes need a MoHRE amendment?

Common changes and whether the registered contract must be updated.
ChangeMoHRE amendment needed?Also affects
Salary increase or decreaseYesWPS file, gratuity, dependant visa eligibility
Job title change or promotionYesQualification check, work permit
Contract extension or renewalYesWork permit and residence visa terms
Change of working hoursYesOvertime entitlement
Change of company addressEstablishment recordEstablishment card, Ejari
Bank account for salaryNoWPS registration details
The mistake we see most: A salary raise given but never registered. The employee is paid more, the WPS file still shows the old figure, and the mismatch is flagged. It also understates gratuity accrual and can mean an employee who now qualifies to sponsor family shows as though they do not.
MSM tip: Split basic salary and allowances deliberately, not by habit. Gratuity is calculated on basic pay, so the split you register today decides the end-of-service cost you carry for years.

What documents do you need?

Documents for contract typing and registration

Trade licence and establishment card
Approved work permit reference
Employee's passport and Emirates ID
Signed offer letter
Agreed salary breakdown: basic and allowances
Contract term, start date and notice period
Employee's bank details for WPS
Authorised signatory's Emirates ID

Have the salary breakdown agreed before typing, not during. Changing basic pay after registration is an amendment, and it changes the gratuity base retrospectively in a way that is awkward to explain to an employee.

MoHRE Work Permit

The permit the contract must match, plus quota and cancellations.

WPS Registration

Wage Protection System setup and monthly salary file filing.

Amer & Tasheel Services

Portal submissions for labour and immigration transactions.

Sources

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Are unlimited contracts still allowed in the UAE?
No. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 moved the private sector to fixed-term contracts only, for a maximum of three years, renewable. Existing unlimited contracts had to be converted.
What is the maximum length of a UAE labour contract?
Three years. It can be renewed for the same period or a shorter one, and there is no limit on the number of renewals.
Does the offer letter have to match the contract?
Yes. The job title, salary, term and hours must be consistent across the offer letter, the work permit and the registered contract. Mismatches are one of the most common causes of a rejected file.
How do I change an employee's salary on the record?
Through a MoHRE contract amendment with the employee's consent. Paying a new salary without amending the contract leaves the WPS file, the gratuity base and any dependant visa assessment based on the old figure.
Which language governs the contract?
The contract is registered in Arabic and English. In a dispute, the Arabic text is the governing version, which is worth knowing before you rely on an English-only translation someone else prepared.
Do free zone employees have MoHRE contracts?
No. Free zone employment is registered with the free zone authority under its own rules and template. The obligations are similar in shape but they are not MoHRE contracts.

Contract, offer letter or amendment to file?

Send us the details and we will type it in the MoHRE format, check it against your licence, and register it.

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Request Contract Typing

Tell us whether this is a new contract, a renewal or an amendment. Each takes a different route.

Hotline: +971 52 933 0454

Email: info@msmdoc.com

Office: Deira, Dubai — serving all seven emirates.