All about working part-time in the UAE
According to the UAE Labour Law, a full-time job requires you to clock in an 8-hour work shift daily. But what about working part-time in the UAE? Is it allowed to legally employ part-time staff in the UAE? Are there any rules for those with a part-time contract in the UAE?
Whether it’s to keep yourself busy or to earn an extra income, here’s what you need to know about part-time jobs in the UAE.
ARE YOU ALLOWED TO WORK PART-TIME IN THE UAE?
Most people looking for jobs with a shorter time commitment are often concerned about whether working part-time in the UAE is legal. While it was not possible for employees to engage in part-time work in the UAE in the past, amendments to the UAE Labour Law in 2010, made special provisions allowing people to take up jobs for shorter hours.
There are, however, certain stipulations that employees and employers need to abide by and those looking for such opportunities are also required to get a part-time UAE work permit to do so legally.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT IN THE UAE?
To get a permit for working part-time in the UAE, the employee must be
- At least 18 years old
- UAE resident
Anyone who does not fall in these criteria is not eligible for working part-time in the UAE, along with
- UAE residents aged 65 or above
- People with a tourist visa
Any entity planning to hire part-time employees are considered to be a secondary employer. Their responsibility includes paying of salary for the allotted hours and other costs associated with the part-time work. Other statutory benefits are the responsibility of the primary employer. However, you can offer part-time employers benefits on a discretionary basis.
Please note that part-time work permit UAE cost is to be paid by the employer.
HOW CAN I GET A PART-TIME WORK PERMIT IN DUBAI AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UAE?
Just like you need to get a work permit in Dubai to legally work, you need to get a part-time or temporary work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) to take up a certain job in the UAE on a temporary basis.
It is the responsibility of the employer hiring part-time workers to apply for their temporary work permit in the UAE. The process can be executed online through the MoHRE part-time permit portal or in person via Tas’heel services in the UAE. This permit is generally valid for six months.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT
To be able to apply for the temporary work permit, the employer needs to submit a number of documents on the worker’s behalf. These required documents for the permit include:
- A copy of the applicant’s passport
- A copy of the job contract
- A coloured (white background) photograph of the applicant
- A copy of the applicant’s visa (should be valid for at least 6 months)
- Copies of academic qualifications
Other than the above-mentioned documents, the prospective employer must also submit
- A copy of trade licences of both employers (full-time and part-time)
- An NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the full-time employer (in case the worker is employed)
- An NOC that ensures all parties involved are aware of the applicant’s part-time contract.
THE TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT FEES
The permit for working part-time in the UAE costs AED 600 in total. The break-up of this part-time work permit fee in the UAE includes:
- Application fee: AED 100
- Approval fee: AED 500
These fees are payable by the prospective employer. The temporary UAE work permit fee is separate from any Tas’heel service charges that may be applicable.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I WORK PART TIME IN THE UAE WITHOUT A PERMIT?
The 2007 Federal Decree Law No.2 penalises a company that hires part-time employees without an official permit. There’s a hefty penalty for working without work permit in the UAE.
An immediate fine of AED 50k is applicable on the employer, which may lead to further penalties in case the offence is repeated.
PART-TIME JOBS IN THE UAE
There are a variety of part-time jobs in the UAE that one can take up, given they have the skill, expertise and/or qualifications for it. Usually, jobseekers inclined towards working part-time in the UAE can find employment as a:
- Store Assistant
- Sales Officer
- Call Centre Agent
- Accountant
- Driver
- Teacher/Instructor/Trainer
- Writer
- Designer
- Waiter/Waitress
- Nanny
- Corporate Assistant
- HR Recruiter
There are a lot of other temporary jobs in the UAE that you can consider besides the ones listed above. Most UAE job sites regularly list part-time jobs for students and adults. There is no predefined pay scale that applies to part-time work in the UAE, so it may vary from job to job based on the nature of the job and the amount of hours you work.
FAQs
I HAVE A QUERY ABOUT PART TIME-WORK IN DUBAI. WHICH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT CAN ASSIST?
For any further inquiries about part-time work in Dubai and other emirates, call the MoHRE customer services at 80060.
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR A FREELANCE PERMIT IN DUBAI?
Read our guide which details everything about freelance permit in Dubai. Please note that for working part-time in the UAE, freelance permit doesn’t suffice. As per the UAE part-time work regulations discussed earlier, you need a part-time work permit.
HOW MUCH CAN I EARN WHILE WORKING PART-TIME IN DUBAI?
Generally, one can earn between AED 15 to AED 30 per hour whilst working part-time in Dubai. This may vary as per your skill level, company you work for and other such factors.
ARE PART-TIME WORKERS ELIGIBLE FOR GRATUITY IN THE UAE?
Yes, part-time workers are eligible for gratuity in most cases based on the number of hours worked in a year.
That said, people who wish to work in the UAE, must first get a job in Dubai or any of the other emirates and obtain a valid work permit to avoid legal consequences. It also pays to keep a close eye on the UAE work permit fees for any changes that might occur.
That’s all we have for you now. We hope you find this post useful. Have you ever worked part-time in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or any of the other emirates? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.
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