Saturday, 26 September 2026 · Dubai Newsletter

Living & Working

Visas, Emirates ID, labour law and the cost of living: plain-English guides for people working in the UAE.

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GuideUpdated 26 Sep 2026 ILOE insurance UAE: how to pay, check fines and claim job-loss pay

ILOE job-loss insurance costs AED 5 or AED 10 a month and pays 60% of your basic salary for up to three…

Harper Cross · 4 min read GuideUpdated 26 Sep 2026 How to calculate gratuity in the UAE (with examples)

UAE gratuity is 21 days' basic pay a year for the first five years and 30 days a year after that, capped…

Harper Cross · 4 min read GuideUpdated 26 Sep 2026 How to check your UAE visa status online

Check any UAE residence or visit visa online in two minutes with your passport number, file number or Emirates ID, using ICP…

Harper Cross · 5 min read
Freelancer working on a laptop at a co-working space in Dubai with the city skyline behind
Visa Types

Freelance visa in Dubai and the UAE: real costs, routes and requirements

A freelance visa is really two things: a freelance permit and a residence visa. In Dubai, GoFreelance charges AED 7,500 a year for the permit, AED 2,000 for the establishment card and AED 5,042 for a two-year visa.

Harper Cross ·
Labour LawProbation period in the UAE: length, notice and resigning earlyHarper Cross ·
New employee on the first day at work being welcomed by a colleague at a reception desk in Dubai
Labour LawTermination benefits in the UAE: what your employer must pay youHarper Cross ·
Employee packing personal items into a box at an office desk in Dubai after the last day of work
Labour LawResignation and notice period in the UAE: the rules in plain EnglishHarper Cross ·
Employee handing a resignation letter to a manager across a desk in a Dubai office

Latest in Living & Working

Man resting on a sofa at home in Dubai with a glass of water and a phone, off work sick
Labour LawSick leave in the UAE: days, pay and the medical certificate rules

After probation, UAE private-sector workers get up to 90 days of sick leave a year: 15 days on full pay, 30 on half pay and the rest unpaid. Here is…

Harper Cross ·
Couple with a suitcase leaving a Dubai apartment building for a holiday in the morning
Labour LawAnnual leave in the UAE: how many days you get and how it’s paid

UAE workers get 30 days' paid annual leave a year after one year of service, and 2 days a month between 6 and 12 months. Here is how leave pay,…

Harper Cross ·
Employee and HR manager reading an employment contract together in a Dubai office
Labour LawUAE labour law explained: your main rights at work in plain English

A plain-English map of the UAE labour law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021: working hours, leave, probation, notice, dismissal, gratuity and how to make a claim, with article numbers.

Harper Cross ·
Office worker in Dubai checking an electronic work permit on a laptop next to a passport
MOHRE & WPSUAE labour card: what it is now and how to check it online

The UAE labour card is now an electronic work permit from MOHRE. Here is how to find your labour card number, check its status, print a copy and spot fake…

Harper Cross ·
Traveller checking a visa fine on a phone at a departure hall in a UAE airport
FinesOverstay fine check UAE: how much you owe and how to pay

The UAE overstay fine is AED 50 for each day you stay after your visa or grace period ends. Here is how to check the amount on ICP or GDRFA,…

Harper Cross ·
Resident renewing an Emirates ID online on a laptop at a home desk in Dubai with a passport beside it
Emirates IDEmirates ID renewal: fees, documents and how to renew online

Residents pay AED 100 for each year of the new card plus a AED 100 smart fee. Here is who can renew, what you need, how long it takes and…

Harper Cross ·