UAE lists 12 work permit categories for Kenyans, other foreign workers

• The UAE Ministry of Human Resources has published guidance on 12 distinct work permit categories for foreign workers
• Employers who misuse or ignore permit rules face fines of up to Dh1 million, equivalent to around KSh 35 million
• The categories cover everything from standard recruitment and family-sponsored residents to part-time work and Golden Visa holders

Elijah Ntongai is an experienced editor at TUKO.co.ke, with more than four years in financial, business, labour and technology research and reporting. His work provides valuable insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has published detailed guidance on 12 work permit categories applicable to foreign workers.

The ministry is urging both employers and employees to select the category that accurately reflects the nature of the job and the worker's circumstances.

The announcement, made in October 2026, is particularly relevant to Kenyan nationals, who form a significant portion of the East African workforce in the Gulf state.

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Ministry officials warned that using a permit for a purpose other than the one for which it was approved constitutes a violation, attracting fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million (approximately KSh 3.5 million to KSh 35 million).

12 categories of work permits

The 12 categories span a wide range of employment arrangements.

The most common for Kenyan workers include the standard recruitment permit for workers hired from outside the UAE, the transfer permit for those switching employers within the country, and the family-sponsored resident permit for workers already in the UAE on a dependent visa.

Workers recruited for time-bound projects or assignments fall under either the temporary work permit or the mission work permit, depending on whether the recruitment originates from inside or outside the country.

The ministry also outlined permits for part-time workers, who may hold more than one job with official approval, as well as separate categories governing the employment of young people between the ages of 15 and 18 and students seeking training or part-time work.

	Permit Category	Purpose and Who It Is For
1	Work permit for recruiting workers from outside the UAE	Allows businesses registered with the ministry to recruit workers from outside the country for employment in the UAE. This is the standard permit for employers bringing in new staff from Kenya or other countries.
2	Transfer work permit	Regulates the movement of a non-Emirati worker from one establishment registered with the ministry to another. It provides a legal framework for employees changing employers within the regulated labour market.
3	Work permit for family-sponsored residents	Allows businesses to employ individuals who are residing in the UAE under the sponsorship of family members, such as dependants on a parent's or spouse's visa.
4	Temporary work permit	Allows a company to employ a worker to carry out a task or assignment that, by its nature, must be completed within a specified period. The permit applies to employment arrangements with a defined duration at registered establishments.
5	Mission work permit	Intended for businesses seeking to recruit workers from outside the UAE to complete temporary assignments or specific projects with a predetermined duration. It is distinct from the temporary work permit in that it specifically covers project-based recruitment from abroad.
6	Part-time work permit	Allows businesses to recruit and employ workers from inside or outside the UAE under part-time employment contracts. A worker may be employed by more than one employer, subject to approval from the ministry.
7	Juvenile work permit	Enables businesses to employ young people aged between 15 and 18, provided they comply with the conditions governing the employment of minors. The ministry stressed that businesses must observe the applicable legal requirements when hiring workers in this age group.
8	Student training or employment permit	Allows businesses to provide training opportunities to students within the UAE or employ students who have reached the age of 15. Such arrangements must comply with the relevant regulations and approved conditions.
9	Work permit for Emiratis and GCC nationals	Issued to businesses seeking to employ UAE citizens or nationals of other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
10	Golden Visa holder work permit	Issued to businesses employing individuals who hold UAE Golden Visas and are residing in the country. The permit is issued to the employing establishment when it recruits a Golden Visa holder already within the UAE.
11	Emirati trainee work permit	Intended for businesses wishing to train UAE citizens in accordance with their recognised academic qualifications. It allows companies to provide training opportunities suited to the educational backgrounds of Emirati trainees.
12	Private tutoring work permit	For qualified and eligible individuals who provide private lessons to individual students or groups. The permit is issued in accordance with the regulations governing private tutoring activities.

Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, October 2026

Ministry's emphasis on labour laws

Officials stressed that the permit framework is designed to protect both workers and employers by ensuring that each employment arrangement operates within a defined legal structure.

Selecting the wrong category, even unintentionally, can strip a worker of legal protections or leave them without valid status in the country.

The guidance accompanies a broader crackdown on labour law violations.

The ministry has previously identified five violations that carry maximum penalties, including hiring workers without a valid permit, failing to provide employment after recruitment, and employing minors outside the conditions permitted by law.

For Kenyans planning to take up work in the UAE, officials recommend confirming with the employer that the correct permit category has been applied for before departing for the Emirates.

Workers who are uncertain which category applies to their situation are advised to contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation directly or consult the Kenyan embassy in the UAE.

Source: TUKO.co.ke