what do I need to register to hire employees in the UAE
What you must register before you can employ staff in the UAE 1:12 min
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The paperwork the government holds, not the paperwork you hold. Split in two: things you register, things you keep. The labour card. Without it, that person cannot legally work. Register for wage protection, or salaries can't be paid the legal way. Documents: the Emirates ID, the visa, the medical cover. Attach the actual file to the actual line. Now it opens in one click. From anywhere. Tick it, and the whole page moves. Cross the border and the list changes. Same page. One down. And now the building has a floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is a labour card and why does it matter?
It is the registration that makes a person legally able to work for you. Without it, that employee cannot legally work — which is why it sits on the register-with-government side of the checklist, not the documents-you-keep side.
Why do I need to register for wage protection before payday?
Without the wage-protection registration, salaries cannot be paid the legal way. The checklist puts it alongside the labour card because both gate your ability to run payroll at all.
Does the checklist change when I add another country?
Yes. Cross the border and the list changes to that country's registrations and documents — Oman asks for items the UAE does not.