Key takeaways
- “Investor”, “partner”, “owner”, “manager” and “employee” are not five kinds of visa. They are the basis on which you are sponsored. Owners and partners are sponsored through their own company’s immigration file. Employees, including hired managers, are sponsored because the company employs them. That one difference decides whether the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) is involved at all.
- On the mainland, a partner or investor working in their own company does not go through MOHRE as a worker. The Labour Law defines a worker as a person “authorised by the Ministry to work… under supervision and direction of the employer” (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021, Art. 1). Owners and partners appear on MOHRE’s establishment file with a personal number, not on a work permit. So: no MOHRE work permit, no MOHRE employment contract, no WPS salary file and no statutory gratuity. No official page says this in one sentence; it follows from the law’s definitions and GDRFA’s document lists, and we explain the gaps below.
- A “manager” can be either. Under the Commercial Companies Law, an LLC’s managers “shall be elected from among the partners or third parties” (Decree-Law 32/2021, Art. 83(1)). A partner who manages keeps the partner route. A hired manager who is not a partner is an employee: MOHRE work permit, MOHRE contract, an attested bachelor’s degree for a level 1 title such as “General Manager”, WPS and ILOE.
- The only company-investor residence that GDRFA Dubai and ICP publish as a service card today is the five-year Green residence for partners and investors, with a paid share of at least AED 1 million. The everyday two-year “partner visa” below that line is not on either catalogue page we could open on 28 September 2026. GDRFA’s family sponsorship card still recognises a partner sponsor whose share is “at least 48 thousand Dirhams”. Figures such as AED 72,000 appear only in secondary sources.
- In free zones the zone is the sponsor and MOHRE is not involved. “Investor” and “Partner” are job titles inside the zone’s own visa process: DMCC gives “Investor” to a sole shareholder and “Partner” to shareholders of multi-owner companies, with a minimum AED 50,000 share, the same floor JAFZA and Meydan publish. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws.
- “Stamping” no longer means a sticker. ICP stopped issuing the residence sticker from 11 April 2022; the Emirates ID proves residence. What people still call stamping is the residence issuance at the end of the chain: entry permit or status change, medical test for everyone 18 and over, Emirates ID biometrics, health insurance, then the residence permit. You have 60 days from entry to finish it.
- The route you pick changes more than the visa: how you prove income to sponsor your family, whether WPS and ILOE apply, whether you accrue gratuity, whether you can take a second job, and what happens to your residence if you sell your shares.
The difference between an investor, partner, manager and employee visa in the UAE comes down to one question: are you sponsored because you own the company, or because the company employs you? Owners and partners are sponsored through the company’s immigration establishment card, sit outside the MOHRE work permit system for work in their own company, and sign no MOHRE employment contract. Employees, including a hired “manager” or “general manager”, need a MOHRE work permit and contract on the mainland, or the free zone’s own permit and contract in a zone, before their residence can be issued. The job title printed on your record follows from that choice, not the other way round.
This guide goes through every layer that treats you differently: company law (who can own and who can manage), MOHRE (work permits, contracts, job titles, skill levels, WPS, ILOE, gratuity, Emiratisation), immigration (GDRFA in Dubai, ICP elsewhere), the free zones, and the residence issuance people still call “stamping”. Wherever the official sources are incomplete or contradict each other, we say so and show what we checked. It does not repeat what our other guides already cover in depth; it links to them.
Investor, partner, manager and employee visas at a glance
| Mainland partner or investor | Mainland employee (including hired manager) | Free zone investor or partner | Green partner or investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basis of sponsorship | Your share in the company | Your employment | Your share, through the zone | Your paid share of AED 1 million or more |
| Who issues the residence | GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (other emirates) | GDRFA or ICP, after MOHRE | GDRFA for Dubai zones, on the zone’s application | GDRFA or ICP |
| MOHRE work permit | No, for work in your own company | Yes (Labour Law Art. 6(1)) | No; the zone issues its own permit or card | No |
| Employment contract | No MOHRE contract; your MOA or partnership contract is the document | MOHRE contract, submitted within 60 days of entry or status change | Zone contract or employment card (for example DMCC’s e-signed contract) | No |
| Typical title on the record | Partner or investor | The MOHRE occupation, such as General Manager, Accountant, Sales Executive | Investor (sole shareholder) or Partner (DMCC, Meydan, RAKEZ) | Green residence, partner or investor category |
| Share or capital condition | Not on any official card we could open; GDRFA’s family card uses AED 48,000 for a partner sponsor | None | AED 50,000 share at DMCC, JAFZA and Meydan | AED 1,000,000 paid share (GDRFA and ICP) |
| Validity | Commonly two years in practice; not stated on an official card | Two years (GDRFA private-sector card) | Two or three years depending on the zone | Five years, renewable |
| WPS salary transfers | No work permit, so no WPS file | Yes | Zone rules; DMCC says “Shareholders are not obliged to register” | No |
| ILOE unemployment insurance | Exempt as an owner who works in the business; the wording differs between sources | Yes | Not settled outside ADGM | As for partners |
| Statutory gratuity | No; gratuity is a worker’s entitlement | Yes, after one year | Under the zone’s regulations | No |
| Grace period after cancellation or expiry | Not stated on an official card | 60 days (GDRFA) | Zone and GDRFA rules | 180 days (GDRFA) |
Investor, partner and employee visas: how MIRDXB PRO helps
Most people who ask us this question are about to make a decision that is expensive to reverse: two founders deciding who holds which share, an employee being offered equity, a company hiring its first general manager, or an investor who wants to sponsor a family on a share rather than a salary. We are an Amer and Tasheel partner in Al Barsha 1, Dubai. We map the company’s ownership and management to the right immigration and MOHRE route before anything is filed, tell you which documents each authority will ask for, and run the establishment cards, entry permits, status changes, contracts, medicals, Emirates ID and residence. For companies, this sits inside our corporate PRO services; staff hires follow our employment visa service, and the long-term routes our golden and investor visa service.
Two separate files: why MOHRE and immigration ask different questions
Every UAE company that sponsors people has two files, and most confusion about investor and partner visas comes from mixing them up.
The labour file belongs to MOHRE. It records the establishment, the people who own and represent it, and every worker it employs. MOHRE’s establishment card service says: “It is mandatory for owners, partners, service agents, and authorized signatories to obtain a Ministry-issued personal identification number”, and the documents include a “Partners Addendum (if licensee names aren’t on the trade license)”. Owners and partners are therefore registered with MOHRE, but as the people behind the establishment, not as its workers. Workers are the people who hold work permits under it. Our MOHRE labour card guide explains what the company labour card and the individual work permit each show.
The immigration file belongs to GDRFA in Dubai and ICP in the other emirates. It is the immigration establishment card, which MOHRE’s own employer awareness kit describes as “containing the data of the owners and authorised signatories”. Every residence the company sponsors, partner or employee, hangs off this card. If it expires, nothing can be issued or renewed for anyone on it.
The Labour Law draws the line between the two groups through its definitions:
| Term | What Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 says (Art. 1) | What it means for owners |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | “Every natural or legal person, who employs one or more workers in return for a wage.” | The company is the employer. Its owners are not employed by it merely by owning it. |
| Worker | “Every natural person authorised by the Ministry to work for one of the licensed establishments in the State, under supervision and direction of the employer.” | A partner running their own company is not working under someone else’s direction on a Ministry authorisation. |
| Work permit | “A document issued by the Ministry, according to which a natural person is allowed to work for the licensed establishment.” | Required for workers. Art. 6(1): no one may “undertake work in the UAE” and no employer may “recruit or employ any worker, except after obtaining a work permit”. |
The law applies “to all establishments, employers and workers in the UAE private sector” (Art. 3(1)) and excludes only government employees, the armed forces and security services, and domestic workers (Art. 3(2)). It never mentions owners or partners working in their own company, and neither do the Executive Regulations (Cabinet Resolution 1/2022), whose only references to partners concern recruitment agencies. GDRFA’s partner and investor residence cards, for their part, ask for a partnership contract or memorandum and the trade licence, and never for a MOHRE work permit or contract. That is why the partner route bypasses MOHRE as a worker, and why it is an inference from the law rather than a sentence you can quote from a single government page.
The partner route covers work in your own company. It does not make you free to work for anyone else. Art. 6(1) bars anyone from undertaking work in the UAE without a MOHRE permit, and the fine for employing a worker without one is AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000 (Art. 60, as amended by Decree-Law 9/2024). See work permit types in the UAE for the permits that exist.
What “investor”, “partner” and “owner” actually mean on a UAE visa
GDRFA and ICP use the combined label “investor/partner” or “partner investor” on their service cards and do not define the two words separately. The distinction people use every day comes from the free zones and from practice:
| Title | Who it usually describes | Official wording we could find |
|---|---|---|
| Investor | The sole shareholder of a company | DMCC: “The applicant should be the sole shareholder of the DMCC Entity to obtain the job title.” Meydan: “you should apply for an Investor visa if you are the sole shareholder.” RAKEZ: an investor visa is available “in case of single shareholder companies”. |
| Partner | One of two or more shareholders | DMCC: “DMCC Entities with multiple shareholders can apply for ‘Partner'”. Meydan: “If you are not a sole shareholder in the company, then you must apply for a Partner visa.” |
| Owner | The holder of a sole establishment or a civil company partner on the mainland | No card uses “owner” as a residence category. The owner is sponsored as an investor or partner; see our professional licence guide. |
| Green partner or investor | A partner or investor whose paid share is AED 1 million or more | GDRFA: “the investor’s or partner’s share cannot be less than one million paid Dirhams”. ICP: the contribution “must not be less than AED 1,000,000 in cash”. |
On the mainland the practical difference between “investor” and “partner” is small: both are shareholders sponsored through the company’s establishment card, and both sit outside the MOHRE work permit system for work in their own company. The distinction matters more in free zones, where the zone assigns the title, and when the title is used as evidence elsewhere, for example by a bank or when you sponsor your family.
The partner or investor visa on the mainland
What the official catalogues show
On 28 September 2026 we read GDRFA Dubai’s residency service catalogue and ICP’s “Issuing Residency Permit” card (service code 377-006-003-000) directly. GDRFA lists Golden Residency, Residency Visa, Renewal, Data Amendment, Cancellation, “Issuance of green Residency” and “Issuance of Residency without work permission”. Its “Residency Visa” group contains only “Issuance of a residence permit for gov- semi-gov sector” and “Issuing residence permits for the private sector”. The investor and partner services it publishes are all Green: “Green visa issuance (investor/partner)”, “Issuing green residence permit (partner investor)” and the matching renewal. ICP’s categories include “Green Residence Investor”, Golden, employment and family categories, and no standard investor or partner category.
In other words, neither authority publishes a service card for the two-year partner or investor residence below AED 1 million that most people mean when they say “partner visa”. Secondary sources describe it, and report share thresholds of AED 72,000 (Gulf News, May 2022, citing Invest in Dubai) or AED 48,000. One official card does still refer to it: GDRFA’s family sponsorship card (“Issuing an entry visa for residence without work – Family”) lists a “Partnership contract for the partner” among the documents and says “The partner’s share must be at least 48 thousand Dirhams, as stated in the partnership agreement.” That is a condition for a partner sponsoring family, not a published condition for the partner’s own residence.
We treat the standard partner or investor residence as a route whose conditions are confirmed at application, not from a published card. Before a client commits to a share structure, we check the partner route against the current GDRFA or ICP requirement for that company, and we tell them in writing if the Green route or an employment visa in their own company is the safer choice. If you see a firm quoting a fixed share threshold as “the law”, ask which card it comes from.
What the partner route involves
The partner or investor route runs through the licence and the immigration file, not through MOHRE’s work permit system:
- Licence and constitutional documents. The trade licence names the partners or is supported by a partners’ addendum; the memorandum of association or partnership contract shows each share. GDRFA’s partner cards ask for the “Partnership/ memorandum of association or investment contract” and the “Trade license”.
- Establishment cards. The company opens its GDRFA or ICP immigration establishment card, carrying the owners’ and signatories’ data, and its MOHRE establishment card, where each owner and partner receives a personal number. See establishment card UAE.
- Entry permit or status change. From outside the UAE, the partner enters on the partner or investor entry permit. GDRFA’s Green card describes this as a permit that “entitles the holder to remain in the country for (60) sixty days from entry until the necessary processes for issuing residency have been completed”. Inside the UAE, a change of status applies (AED 500 at GDRFA and ICP).
- Medical, Emirates ID, health insurance, residence. The same final steps as every resident, covered in the stamping section below.
What is missing from that list is the point: no offer letter, no work permit, no quota, no MOHRE contract, no WPS registration. Adding or removing a partner later is a trade licence amendment, and both establishment files, the partner’s residence and the beneficial owner register must follow it.
The Green residence for partners and investors
The Green route is the only company-investor residence both authorities publish in full. Our Green visa service page covers it for all categories; the investor and partner points that matter for this comparison are these.
| Point | GDRFA Dubai | ICP (other emirates) |
|---|---|---|
| Share condition | “Upon incorporation or contribution, the investor’s or partner’s share cannot be less than one million paid Dirhams or its equivalent in other currencies.” | “The investor’s contribution to the company must not be less than AED 1,000,000 in cash or its equivalent in foreign currencies, whether at the time of establishing the company or when contributing to an existing company.” In-kind contributions are valued by the Ministry of Economy. |
| Legal forms | Public shareholding company, private joint stock company, limited liability company, simple commandite company, solidarity (general partnership) company | Not listed on the card |
| Validity | Up to five years, “without needing a guarantor or employer”, renewable on the same terms | Five years |
| Documents | Photo, passport valid at least six months, partnership or memorandum or investment contract, trade licence | Passport, photo, trade licence, partnership or investment agreement |
| Fees on the card | Entry permit AED 200 plus 5% VAT; residence AED 200, plus AED 10 Knowledge and AED 10 Innovation, AED 500 if inside the country, AED 20 delivery; the issuance fee rises by AED 100 a year for each year over two | Application AED 100; AED 100 per year of residence; smart services AED 100; status adjustment AED 500 |
| Family | Sponsored under the Green rules | Financial guarantee of AED 3,000 per family member, capped at AED 15,000 |
| Grace period | 180 days after expiry or cancellation | Per ICP’s Green rules |
| Ongoing condition | “To continue to adhere to the terms, the green residency must be maintained and renewed.” | The holder “must notify the issuing authority if any of these conditions are no longer met.” |
Two practical consequences. First, the sole establishment is not in GDRFA’s list of legal forms, so a sole establishment owner should not assume the Green partner route is open to them. Second, the share is a continuing condition: if you sell down below AED 1 million, the basis of the residence goes with it. The ten-year Golden residence has its own investor and entrepreneur routes; see Golden visa eligibility and Golden visa cost.
Manager visa: partner-manager or hired manager?
“Manager visa” is not a residence category. A manager is a role in company law, and the person in it is sponsored either as a partner or as an employee.
What company law says about managers
- Who can manage an LLC: “The management of a Limited Liability Company shall be undertaken by one or more managers as determined by the partners in the Memorandum of Association. Such managers shall be elected from among the partners or third parties” (Decree-Law 32/2021, Art. 83(1)). Unless the memorandum limits them, managers have “full powers to manage the Company” (Art. 83(2)).
- Removing a manager: the general assembly may dismiss a manager “whether the manager is a partner or not” (Art. 85(1)), and the company must notify the licensing authority within 30 days when a manager’s term ends (Art. 85(3)). A change of manager is a licence amendment.
- Residence is not a company-law requirement: the Ministry of Economy’s investment FAQ says “The Commercial Companies Law does not require a partner or a manager of a limited liability company to be a resident of the UAE.” Some free zones set their own rule: RAKEZ says “it is required for a company manager to be resident in the UAE.”
The two manager routes compared
| Partner who is also the manager | Hired manager who is not a partner | |
|---|---|---|
| Residence basis | Partner or investor | Employment |
| MOHRE work permit | No | Yes, if they work in the UAE for the company |
| Employment contract | No; appointment is in the memorandum or a resolution | MOHRE contract, plus the appointment in the memorandum or resolution |
| Job title | Partner or investor on the residence; “manager” on the licence | MOHRE occupation such as “General Manager” or “Manager”, which must be “consistent with the establishment’s activity” |
| Qualification | None for the residence | Manager titles are skill level 1; MOHRE requires a bachelor’s degree or higher for levels 1 and 2, attested (see MOHRE equivalency) |
| WPS, ILOE, gratuity | Not as a worker | Yes, like any employee |
| If the role ends | Licence amendment; residence continues while they remain a partner | Licence amendment, work permit and residence cancellation, grace period |
Two situations need care. A non-resident manager named only in the memorandum, who does not physically work in the UAE, is not addressed by any MOHRE page we could find; ask MOHRE before relying on it. And a hired manager without a qualifying degree cannot simply be given a “General Manager” title to match the licence: MOHRE’s title must match both the degree rules and the company’s activity, and a mismatch is a common reason work permits are returned.
Job titles on UAE visas: where they come from and why they matter
Two different systems produce the “profession” people see on their residence record.
For employees, the title is a MOHRE occupation. The UAE classifies jobs in nine skill levels drawn from the ILO’s international classification. MOHRE’s service cards state the qualification rule verbatim: “Skill levels 1-2: Bachelor Degree or higher is required; 3-4: Diploma graduate or higher; 5: High School Certificate”, with no certificate for levels 6 to 9, and “Workers earning less than AED 4,000 monthly or without degrees are not considered skilled.”
| Skill level | Group (u.ae) | Examples | Certificate MOHRE requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legislators, managers and business executives | General Manager, Manager, Director | Bachelor’s degree or higher, attested |
| 2 | Professionals in scientific, technical and human fields | Engineer, accountant, lawyer | Bachelor’s degree or higher, attested |
| 3 and 4 | Technicians and associate professionals; clerical | Technician, administrative roles | Diploma or higher |
| 5 | Service and sales | Sales and service roles | High school certificate |
| 6 to 9 | Skilled trades through simple professions | Trades, operators, labourers | None |
The occupation must also fit the company: “In the event of an occupation change, the new occupation must be consistent with the establishment’s activity.” Changing it later uses MOHRE’s “Modification of Work Permits / Employment Contracts” service: a new contract signed by both parties, the certificate for the new level, an AED 50 federal fee plus a business-centre commission capped at AED 72, and about two working days. Degree attestation is covered in our degree attestation service and the Indian degree attestation guide.
For owners, the title follows the immigration category. Free zones assign “Investor” or “Partner” as the job title in their visa process. On the mainland the title follows the partner or investor residence. GDRFA’s service for amending residence data says: “In case of investor and partner, an establishment card must be presented.” We found no official rule allowing a partner’s residence title to be changed to “Manager”, and no need for it: the licence already names the manager.
Where the title matters. ICP says the Emirates ID that replaced the sticker “includes… personal and professional data”. Your title is then read by others: MOHRE’s skill level decides whether you count as skilled, the Golden visa salary route looks at your MOHRE level (see Golden visa salary requirement), and family sponsorship asks employees and partners for different evidence, covered below.
Which visas need a MOHRE work permit and labour contract
The short version: a MOHRE work permit and contract are needed whenever someone works for a mainland establishment as a worker. Owning the establishment is not working for it in that sense. The table covers the situations we are asked about most.
| Situation | MOHRE work permit? | MOHRE contract? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner in a mainland LLC working in their own company, on a partner or investor residence | No | No | Not a “worker” under Art. 1; registered on MOHRE’s establishment file with a personal number |
| Sole establishment or civil company owner working in their own business | No | No | Sponsored as investor or partner through the business |
| Green partner or investor residence holder, in their own company | No | No | GDRFA: residence “without needing a guarantor or employer” |
| Hired manager or general manager who owns no shares | Yes | Yes | An employee like any other; Art. 6(1) |
| Shareholder who chooses to hold an employment visa in their own company | Yes | Yes | Once employed on a permit, the full worker regime applies to that permit |
| Golden visa holder employed by a mainland company | Yes: the Golden visa holder work permit | Yes | MOHRE card: “The Candidate for employment must possess a valid golden visa”; AED 50 federal fee |
| Resident on another sponsor taking a second job | Yes: part-time or temporary permit | Yes | Part-time permit needs a “Valid residence visa” and a “No objection letter from current employer” |
| Partner or Green investor wanting a job with another company | Not settled | Not settled | No MOHRE permit type names partner or investor holders, and no official page answers it; ask MOHRE first |
| UAE or GCC national employed by a mainland company | Yes: UAE/GCC national permit | Yes | MOHRE card: “Electronic quota is not required”; no federal fee; valid two years |
| Free zone founder or employee | No MOHRE permit; the zone’s own permit | Zone contract or card | u.ae: free zone staff are “sponsored by the respective free zone authority and not by their employer” |
| DIFC or ADGM employee | No MOHRE permit; ADGM issues its own work permit | Under DIFC or ADGM employment law | ADGM: “The UAE Federal Labour Law… does not apply in ADGM” |
MOHRE’s list of permit types under Cabinet Resolution 1/2022 (overseas, transfer, family-sponsored, temporary, one-mission, part-time, juvenile, student, UAE/GCC national, Golden visa, national trainee and freelance) has no partner or investor permit, which is consistent with partners sitting outside the permit system. The full list, conditions and fees are in work permit types in the UAE. The contract forms, fixed terms and the six work models are in UAE employment contract types.
What follows the work permit: contract, WPS, ILOE, gratuity and Emiratisation
Everything in this section attaches to the work permit. That is why it applies to a hired manager and not to a partner working in their own company.
The MOHRE hiring sequence
MOHRE’s awareness kit for new employers sets the order for a mainland hire:
- Issuance of the job offer and the employee’s signature
- Subscription to the protection insurance (the worker protection scheme, or a bank guarantee)
- Issuance of the work permit
- Issuance of the employment contract
- Orientation session
- Subscription to the unemployment insurance
- Health insurance
- Issuance of the residency visa and Emirates ID
The contract has a deadline: “The application must be submitted within 60 days of the employee’s entry into the country or the change in status.” Contracts for skill levels 6 to 9 are delivered at workers’ awareness centres. Our labour contract service handles the typing and submission, and the employment visa cost guide prices every line of the sequence.
WPS, ILOE, gratuity and Emiratisation compared
| Obligation | Employee on a MOHRE permit | Partner or investor in own company | Source and caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wage Protection System | Salary through WPS, due on the 1st of each month under Ministerial Resolution 340 of 2026 | Not in WPS, because there is no work permit | MOHRE WPS page; partner status is an inference. See WPS explained. |
| ILOE unemployment insurance | Mandatory subscription | Exempt as an investor who owns and works in the business | Decree-Law 13/2022, Art. 3(1)(a): “Investors (Business owners who own the entire business and manage it themselves)”. The ILOE insurer’s site says “owners of companies they work at”. Whether a minority partner on an employment permit is exempt is not settled. See ILOE subscription. |
| End-of-service gratuity | 21 days’ basic wage per year for the first five years, 30 days after, once one year is complete | No statutory gratuity; the partner’s return is their share | MOHRE employers’ kit; partner position is an inference from Art. 51 applying to workers. See gratuity guide. |
| Quota | Uses the establishment’s electronic quota | Uses no work permit quota | MOHRE overseas permit condition: “The establishment must have an available electronic quota.” |
| Emiratisation base | Counted in the establishment’s headcount | No official statement | Companies with 50 or more employees must grow Emirati skilled staff by 2% a year; 20 to 49 in listed sectors must hire at least one. Whether owners count is not stated. See Emiratisation rules. |
Some founders hold shares but take an employment visa in their own company, usually because the partner route’s conditions do not fit or a bank asks for a salary. On that permit they are a worker in every respect that follows from it: contract, WPS, ILOE and the gratuity questions that follow. No official source addresses how a later gratuity claim interacts with their ownership. Decide this deliberately at the start, not after the first renewal.
Free zone investor, partner and employee visas
In a free zone, the zone authority sponsors everyone and handles work permits. u.ae says free zone employees are “sponsored by the respective free zone authority and not by their employer”, and ICP’s residence card asks for a MOHRE work permit only “if the sponsoring entity is subject to the Labor Relations Law”. For zones in Dubai, GDRFA gives final approval on the zone’s application.
| Zone | Founder titles | Share condition published | Validity published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC | “Investor” for the sole shareholder; “Partner” for shareholders of multi-owner entities | “Share certificate with a minimum of 50 shares, a total worth of AED 50,000 share capital” | Three years (DMCC blog, March 2026) | Handled through the employee residence process, with an e-signed employment contract and Company Employment Card |
| JAFZA | Shareholder visa and employee visa | “The minimum share of the applicant in the company must be AED 50,000” | Three years for both | Shareholder confirmation letter from JAFZA’s commercial department |
| Meydan Free Zone | Investor (sole shareholder) or Partner | “AED 50,000 share capital or more” | Its blogs say two years, or “two to five years”; the FAQ gives no period | Use the FAQ’s definitions; the blogs conflict |
| RAKEZ | Investor (single-shareholder companies) or Partner | None stated on the service card | Not stated on the card | “It is required for a company manager to be resident in the UAE” |
| IFZA | “Company Investor Visa”; shareholders use the same visa form as employees | None found on a current official page | Two years, renewable | “Attested degree is not needed for Shareholders of the company” |
| SHAMS | Investor, Partner and Manager designations | None found | Not found | Uses the designation to decide who may sponsor domestic workers |
Three differences from the mainland stand out:
- The paperwork looks like employment even for owners. Several zones process the founder through their employment-visa workflow with an employment card or contract, because the zone is the sponsor and the title is a job title. That contract is the zone’s, not MOHRE’s.
- Which federal rules apply is not uniform. One u.ae page (updated 12 August 2026) says free zone workers are “generally not governed by the UAE Labour Law”; another (updated 28 September 2026) says the zone’s regulations apply “together with” the Labour Law. DIFC (Employment Law No. 2 of 2019) and ADGM (Employment Regulations 2024, in force 1 April 2025) are separate legal systems. JAFZA says “all businesses registered with Jafza are required to comply with the WPS system”, while DMCC says “Shareholders are not obliged to register for salary transfer.” ILOE is “not mandatory in ADGM”; its status in other zones is reported differently by different sources.
- Mainland and free zone can meet through temporary permits. RAKEZ’s temporary work permit covers “Mainland employees working temporarily for a RAKEZ company” and the reverse, for up to six months with the current employer’s NOC. RAKEZ also warns: “It is illegal to work on a visa other than a valid employment visa in the UAE.”
Zone-by-zone set-up detail is in our guides to DMCC, JAFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ and IFZA, and the broader comparison in free zone vs mainland visa.
Residence “stamping” in 2026: what it means now
ICP announced on 5 April 2022 that it would stop issuing the residence sticker “as of April 11, 2022”, and that “The Emirates ID card issued to the foreigner residing in the UAE will serve as an alternative to prove his residence.” The same notice ended the step of handing in the passport for the sticker. When people say “visa stamping” today, they mean the residence issuance: the final steps that turn an entry permit or status change into a residence permit and an Emirates ID.
For Dubai specifically, we found no GDRFA announcement giving its own date for the change, and secondary reports from 2022 conflict, so we do not state one. What is certain is that Emirates ID is part of GDRFA’s process: its Green renewal card lists an “ID receipt” among the documents.
Residence stamping requirements, track by track
Steps every track shares
| Step | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline after entry | Residence must be completed within 60 days of entry on the entry permit. ICP: “the foreigner’s stay in the UAE does not exceed sixty (60) days from the date of entry”; overstaying costs AED 50 a day. | GDRFA Green entry permit card; ICP residency card |
| Status change inside the UAE | AED 500, after the previous residence is cancelled and the new permit issued. GDRFA adds AED 10 Knowledge, AED 10 Innovation, AED 15 individual and AED 50 establishment fees. | GDRFA “Status Amendment”; ICP residency card. See status change cost. |
| Medical fitness test | Everyone aged 18 and over coming “for work, residence or study”. Investors are not exempt; GDRFA’s partner renewal card requires “A decent medical examination… for those over 18 years old”. | dubai.ae (modified 10 January 2026); GDRFA. See medical fitness process. |
| Emirates ID | Biometrics and card issuance; the card is the proof of residence. ICP delivers it by courier after issuance. | ICP. See how long Emirates ID takes. |
| Health insurance | Mandatory for Dubai residents under Law No. 11 of 2013; “if the employer does not provide such coverage, responsibility rests with the sponsor”. Nationally, employers must buy cover for private-sector staff “as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing residency permits”, in all emirates from 1 January 2025; the basic package is AED 320 a year for ages 1 to 64. | ISAHD/DHA FAQ; MOHRE, 16 December 2024. For partners, GDRFA’s Green renewal card lists “Health insurance”. |
Mainland employee, including a hired manager
- Company file in order: valid trade licence, GDRFA or ICP establishment card, MOHRE establishment file, available quota.
- Signed offer letter, protection insurance or guarantee, then the MOHRE work permit in the right occupation. Levels 1 and 2 need an attested bachelor’s degree; levels 3 and 4 a diploma.
- Employment entry permit from outside, or status change inside.
- MOHRE contract submitted within 60 days of entry or status change; ILOE subscription.
- Employer health insurance, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics.
- Residence issued for two years (GDRFA private-sector card), with a 60-day grace period after cancellation or expiry. Salaries then run through WPS.
Mainland partner or investor
- Trade licence and memorandum or partnership contract showing the share; partners’ addendum where the licence does not name them.
- Immigration establishment card (owners’ data) and MOHRE establishment card (personal number for each owner and partner).
- Partner or investor entry permit from outside, or status change inside. For the Green route, the AED 1 million paid share and an eligible legal form.
- Health insurance (GDRFA’s Green partner renewal card lists it; no card says whether the company or the partner buys it), medical test, Emirates ID biometrics.
- Residence issued. No work permit, contract, WPS or ILOE step for work in their own company.
Free zone investor, partner or employee
- Zone licence, share certificate (AED 50,000 minimum at DMCC, JAFZA and Meydan for founders), zone immigration card.
- Zone visa application with the title (Investor, Partner or the employee’s job title). Employees’ degrees are attested where the title needs it; IFZA says shareholders do not need one.
- Entry permit or status change through the zone, approved by GDRFA for Dubai zones.
- Medical, Emirates ID, the health insurance the zone requires, and the zone’s employment card or contract.
- Residence issued for the zone’s period: three years at DMCC and JAFZA, two at IFZA.
To estimate the fees for any of these, use our visa cost estimator; the full fee lines for employees are in the employment visa cost guide.
Moving between tracks
| Change | What has to happen |
|---|---|
| Employee becomes a partner in their employer’s company | The share transfer is a licence amendment. The employment work permit and residence are cancelled (see cancelling an employment visa), a partner entry permit is issued, then a status change (GDRFA conditions: “Having a new visa” and “Cancellation of the previous residence permit”), medical, Emirates ID and residence. |
| Employee founds their own company | Same sequence, sponsored by the new company. The old employer’s cancellation comes first. |
| Partner sells all their shares | The basis of the residence ends. The residence is cancelled or transferred, and the licence, both establishment files and the beneficial owner register are updated. See trade licence amendment. |
| Green partner’s share falls below AED 1 million | ICP requires the holder to “notify the issuing authority if any of these conditions are no longer met”. Plan the next residence before the transaction completes. |
| Partner becomes the company’s manager | No visa change. The manager appointment is a licence amendment, notified within 30 days under Art. 85(3). |
| Company hires an outside manager | MOHRE work permit and contract for the manager, the appointment in the memorandum or a resolution, and the licence amended to show the manager. |
| Partner wants to work for another company too | Not settled in any official source. The part-time permit requires a valid residence and an NOC from the current employer, and a partner has no employer. Ask MOHRE before starting. |
Family sponsorship: how each track proves income
| Track | What the authority asks for |
|---|---|
| Employee (GDRFA) | “the resident’s salary must be AED4,000 or AED3,000” plus accommodation; employment contract, and a salary certificate for government, semi-government and free zone employees |
| Mainland partner (GDRFA) | “Partnership contract for the partner”; “The partner’s share must be at least 48 thousand Dirhams, as stated in the partnership agreement” |
| Employee (ICP) | “minimum monthly income of AED 3,000 plus employer-provided housing, or AED 4,000 if housing is not provided”; employment certificate showing monthly income. ICP’s card says nothing specific about investor sponsors. |
| Green investor (ICP) | Financial guarantee of AED 3,000 per family member, maximum AED 15,000 |
| Free zone investor or partner | Zone rules: Meydan asks for the “Latest 3 months bank statement if the sponsor is an investor or partner”; RAKEZ applies an “additional deposit of AED 3310… for each applicant if the sponsor is investor/partner” |
Note that GDRFA’s AED 48,000 partner figure and the zones’ AED 50,000 founder minimum are two different thresholds for two different purposes. The full salary rules are in our family visa salary requirement guide, and the service itself is our family visa service.
Where official sources are silent or disagree
| Question | What the sources say | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Is there still a standard two-year partner or investor residence below AED 1 million? | Not on GDRFA’s or ICP’s service catalogues (read 28 September 2026). GDRFA’s family card still refers to a partner sponsor with an AED 48,000 share. Secondary sources describe the route with AED 48,000 or 72,000 thresholds and two or three years’ validity. | Confirmed for each company at application; never quoted as a published rule |
| Do partners need a MOHRE work permit for their own company? | No page says so in terms. The Labour Law’s definitions, MOHRE’s establishment card rules and GDRFA’s document lists all point the same way. | Stated as the position that follows from the law; any unusual structure checked with MOHRE (600590000) |
| Can a partner or investor residence holder be employed by another company? | No MOHRE permit type names them; the part-time permit assumes a current employer | Not advised until MOHRE confirms in writing for the case |
| Is a minority partner on an employment permit exempt from ILOE? | The law says investors “who own the entire business”; the insurer says “owners of companies they work at”; press citing MOHRE says “Business Owners working in their registered business” | Subscribe unless the exemption clearly applies |
| Must an LLC manager live in the UAE? | Ministry of Economy: company law does not require it. RAKEZ requires it for its companies. | Follow the stricter rule of the licensing authority |
| Does the Federal Labour Law apply in free zones? | Two u.ae pages from 2026 disagree; DIFC and ADGM have their own laws | The zone’s regulations first; the Labour Law where the zone applies it |
| Is ILOE mandatory for free zone staff? | Not in ADGM. Elsewhere, press reports say optional; some advisers say mandatory; the insurer’s FAQ is general | Confirm with the zone for each hire |
| When did Dubai stop the residence sticker? | ICP: 11 April 2022. No GDRFA-specific announcement found; 2022 reports conflict | No Dubai date stated |
| Do owners count for Emiratisation targets? | Not addressed on MOHRE’s targets page | Checked with MOHRE for companies near the 20 or 50 employee lines |
What circulates online that is not true
| Claim | What is actually the case |
|---|---|
| “A partner visa is just an employment visa with a different title.” | On the mainland it is a different route: no work permit, no MOHRE contract, no WPS, no statutory gratuity. In some free zones the paperwork looks like employment because the zone is the sponsor. |
| “The partner visa requires AED 72,000 by law.” | No GDRFA or ICP card we could open states that figure for the partner’s own residence. The one official partner figure we found, AED 48,000, is on GDRFA’s family sponsorship card. |
| “Every shareholder gets the Green visa.” | Only with a paid share of at least AED 1 million, in an eligible legal form. Sole establishments are not on GDRFA’s list. |
| “The manager on my licence automatically gets a manager visa.” | There is no manager visa. A partner-manager keeps the partner route; a hired manager needs a MOHRE work permit and contract. |
| “Any founder can put ‘General Manager’ on their visa.” | For an employee that is a skill level 1 occupation needing an attested bachelor’s degree and a match with the company’s activity. A partner’s residence shows the partner or investor category. |
| “Investors don’t need a medical test.” | Everyone 18 and over needs it for residence, investors included. |
| “Visa stamping still means a sticker in the passport.” | ICP replaced the sticker with the Emirates ID from 11 April 2022. |
| “A partner visa lets you work anywhere.” | It covers work in your own company. Working for another business needs a MOHRE permit, and no permit type yet names partner visa holders. |
| “Free zone founders sign a MOHRE contract.” | Free zone staff are sponsored and permitted by the zone; any contract is the zone’s, not MOHRE’s. |
Investor, partner, manager and employee visas in practice: six cases
These cases are built from the situations we are asked about most often. They are illustrations, not client files: no names, and only published figures.
1. Two founders, one of whom will run the company
Situation: Two foreign nationals form a Dubai mainland LLC, 60% and 40%. The 40% partner will run it day to day. Assessment: Both are partners; neither needs a MOHRE work permit to work in the company. The 40% partner is appointed manager in the memorandum under Art. 83(1). Route: partner residences for both, confirmed with GDRFA at application; health insurance in place for each before issuance; no WPS file for either.
2. Hiring a general manager who owns nothing
Situation: A trading LLC hires an experienced general manager on a salary. Assessment: An employee. “General Manager” is skill level 1, so MOHRE needs an attested bachelor’s degree, and the occupation must fit the licence. Route: offer letter, protection insurance, work permit, entry permit or status change, contract within 60 days, ILOE, employer health insurance, medical, Emirates ID, residence, WPS. The licence is amended to name the manager.
3. The general manager is offered 10% of the company
Situation: Two years later, the owners give the general manager a 10% share. Assessment: Taking the share does not change the visa by itself. He can stay on his employment visa (keeping WPS, ILOE and accruing gratuity) or move to a partner residence. Route: if he moves, the licence and memorandum are amended, his work permit and residence are cancelled, a partner entry permit is issued, then a status change and new residence. The gratuity accrued as an employee is settled at cancellation.
4. A single-owner DMCC company
Situation: A consultant is the sole shareholder of a DMCC company with AED 50,000 share capital. Assessment: DMCC gives the “Investor” title to a sole shareholder and requires a share of at least AED 50,000. MOHRE is not involved. Route: DMCC’s residence workflow with the Investor title; e-signed contract and Company Employment Card as DMCC requires; three-year residence; not obliged to register in WPS as a shareholder.
5. A partner who wants to sponsor his family
Situation: A mainland partner holds a share worth AED 40,000 under the memorandum and wants to sponsor his wife and child. Assessment: GDRFA’s family card requires a partner’s share of at least AED 48,000 “as stated in the partnership agreement”. At AED 40,000 he does not meet it. Route: increase the share through a licence amendment, or sponsor on an employment basis that meets the salary rule. We check the current card before the amendment is filed.
6. An investor weighing the Green route
Situation: An investor is putting AED 1.2 million into an existing Dubai LLC and wants to stop renewing every two years. Assessment: The contribution meets GDRFA’s AED 1 million paid-share condition and the LLC is an eligible form. Route: Green partner-investor entry permit or status change, then a five-year residence with a 180-day grace period, keeping the share at or above AED 1 million for as long as the residence relies on it.
How to verify every rule in this guide
| Rule or figure | Where to check it |
|---|---|
| Worker, employer and work permit definitions; scope; exclusions; permit requirement | Federal Decree-Law 33/2021, Arts. 1, 3 and 6 (MOHRE’s published text with amendments) |
| Fines for employing without a permit | Decree-Law 33/2021, Art. 60, as amended by Decree-Law 9/2024 |
| Permit types | Cabinet Resolution 1/2022, Art. 6(1); MOHRE service cards |
| Owners’ personal number on the MOHRE file | MOHRE: Issuance of Establishment Card; Updating the Establishment File |
| Hiring sequence | MOHRE awareness guide for new employers |
| Contract within 60 days | MOHRE: Issuance/Renewal of Employment Contracts |
| Skill levels and degree rules; occupation change | u.ae skill levels page; MOHRE overseas recruitment and modification service cards |
| LLC managers; no residence requirement | Decree-Law 32/2021, Arts. 83 and 85; Ministry of Economy investment FAQ |
| Green partner and investor conditions and fees | GDRFA: Green visa issuance (investor/partner); Issuing green residence permit (partner investor); ICP: Issuing Residency Permit |
| Employee residence validity and grace period | GDRFA: Issuing residence permits for the private sector |
| Partner family sponsorship, AED 48,000 | GDRFA: Issuing an entry visa for residence without work – Family |
| Sticker replaced by Emirates ID | ICP news release, 5 April 2022 |
| Medical test from 18 | dubai.ae medical fitness page; GDRFA renewal cards |
| Health insurance | ISAHD (Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013); MOHRE news, 16 December 2024 |
| ILOE exemption | Decree-Law 13/2022, Art. 3; iloe.ae |
| WPS | MOHRE WPS page (Ministerial Resolution 340 of 2026) |
| Free zone titles, share minimums, validity | DMCC residence visa guideline and knowledge bank; JAFZA visa guides; Meydan FAQ; RAKEZ FAQ and service card; IFZA visa form and guide |
| Free zone sponsorship; DIFC; ADGM | u.ae working in and recruiting in free zones; DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019; ADGM Employment Regulations 2024 and EAO FAQs |
What we will and will not do
- We will look at your ownership, management and licensing together and tell you in writing which route fits each person; check the current GDRFA, ICP or zone requirement for your company before a share structure is fixed; prepare and file the licence amendments, establishment cards, entry permits, status changes, work permits, contracts, medicals, Emirates ID and residence; and tell you when a question belongs with a lawyer or tax adviser.
- We will not put a non-owner on a partner visa or give an employee a “partner” title to avoid MOHRE, WPS or ILOE; register a job title the person’s qualifications or the company’s activity do not support; act as a nominee shareholder or manager; or promise an approval that only GDRFA, ICP, MOHRE or a zone can give.
Related guides
- UAE visa types: every entry and residence visa
- Work permit types in the UAE: all MOHRE permits
- UAE employment contract types
- Establishment card UAE
- UAE employment visa cost, line by line
- Trade licence amendment in Dubai
- Types of companies in Dubai mainland
- Professional licence in Dubai
- Golden visa eligibility criteria
- Family visa salary requirement in Dubai
- Free zone vs mainland visa
- UAE residence visa grace period
Checked against official sources on 28 September 2026: Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 and Cabinet Resolution 1/2022 (MOHRE’s published texts), Decree-Law 32/2021 (Ministry of Economy’s published text), Decree-Law 13/2022 (u.ae), MOHRE service cards and its new employers’ guide, GDRFA and ICP service cards, the ICP sticker notice, dubai.ae, ISAHD, u.ae, and the published guidance of DMCC, JAFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ, IFZA, SHAMS, DIFC and ADGM. The Labour Law and ILOE texts we used carry the note “This is not an official translation”. uaelegislation.gov.ae, GDRFA’s FAQ and Invest in Dubai could not be opened on that date. Your authority’s decision on your file is final.
Investor, partner, manager and employee visas: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an investor visa and a partner visa in the UAE?
Both sponsor you through your own company rather than as an employee. In free zones such as DMCC, Meydan and RAKEZ, “Investor” is the title for a sole shareholder and “Partner” for a shareholder in a company with several owners. GDRFA and ICP use the combined label “investor/partner” and do not define the two separately.
Does a partner need a MOHRE labour contract in the UAE?
Not to work in their own mainland company on a partner or investor residence. The Labour Law’s work permit and contract rules apply to workers the Ministry authorises to work under an employer’s direction. Partners are registered on MOHRE’s establishment file with a personal number instead. A partner who chooses an employment visa in their own company does need the permit and contract.
Does a manager need a work permit in Dubai?
It depends on who the manager is. A partner who manages the company keeps the partner route and needs no work permit for that. A hired manager who owns no shares is an employee and needs a MOHRE work permit and contract; manager titles are skill level 1, which needs an attested bachelor’s degree.
Is there a “manager visa” in the UAE?
No. “Manager” is a role in company law, recorded in the memorandum and on the licence. The person is sponsored either as a partner or as an employee. Some free zones, such as SHAMS, use “Manager” as a visa designation, but it is still a job title within the zone’s own process.
What is the minimum share for a partner visa in Dubai?
No GDRFA card we could open on 28 September 2026 publishes one for the standard partner residence. GDRFA’s family sponsorship card requires a partner sponsor’s share of at least AED 48,000. The Green route needs a paid share of AED 1 million. Free zones such as DMCC, JAFZA and Meydan set AED 50,000. Figures like AED 72,000 come from secondary sources.
How long is a partner or investor visa valid?
The Green partner or investor residence is five years and renewable. DMCC and JAFZA founder visas are three years, IFZA’s two. The standard mainland partner residence is commonly issued for two years in practice, but no official card states its period.
Do investors and partners need a medical test and Emirates ID?
Yes. The medical fitness test applies to everyone 18 and over coming for residence, investors included, and the Emirates ID is now the proof of residence. Health insurance is also required; in Dubai, where no employer provides cover, the sponsor is responsible for it.
What does visa stamping mean now that there is no sticker?
ICP stopped issuing the residence sticker from 11 April 2022, and the Emirates ID proves residence. “Stamping” now means the residence issuance: entry permit or status change, medical, Emirates ID biometrics, health insurance and the residence permit, completed within 60 days of entry.
Can a partner visa holder work for another company?
No official source answers this. The partner route covers work in your own company. MOHRE’s permit types do not name partner or investor holders, and the part-time permit requires a no objection letter from a current employer, which a partner does not have. Get MOHRE’s written confirmation first.
Are company owners exempt from ILOE unemployment insurance?
The ILOE law exempts “Investors (Business owners who own the entire business and manage it themselves)”, and the insurer describes them as “owners of companies they work at”. A minority partner on an employment permit is not clearly covered by either wording, so we advise subscribing unless the exemption plainly applies.
Do partners get end-of-service gratuity?
Not as partners. Gratuity is a worker’s entitlement under the Labour Law. A shareholder who holds an employment visa in their own company accrues gratuity on that employment like any employee.
Can an employee become a partner without leaving the UAE?
Yes. The share is added by a licence amendment, the employment work permit and residence are cancelled, a partner entry permit is issued, and a status change is filed from inside the country (AED 500), followed by medical, Emirates ID and the new residence.
Do free zone investors need a MOHRE work permit?
No. Free zone staff, founders included, are sponsored and permitted by the zone. ICP asks for a MOHRE work permit only where the sponsor is subject to the Labour Law. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, and ADGM issues its own work permits.
- MOHRE: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its amendments
- MOHRE: Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (Executive Regulations)
- MOHRE: Issuance of Establishment Card
- MOHRE: Awareness guide for new employers
- MOHRE: Issuance/Renewal of Employment Contracts
- MOHRE: Modification of Work Permits / Employment Contracts
- MOHRE: Part-time work permit
- MOHRE: Work permits of Golden visa holders
- MOHRE: Health insurance package for private sector employees, 16 December 2024
- Ministry of Economy: Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 (Commercial Companies)
- Ministry of Economy: Investment FAQs
- GDRFA Dubai: Green visa issuance (investor/partner)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing green residence permit (partner investor)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing residence permits for the private sector
- GDRFA Dubai: Status amendment
- GDRFA Dubai: Entry visa for residence without work (family)
- ICP: Issuing Residency Permit
- ICP: Residence sticker replaced by the Emirates ID
- u.ae: Green visa
- u.ae: Working in free zones
- dubai.ae: Medical fitness for residence visa
- ISAHD (Dubai Health Authority): Health insurance FAQ
- ILOE: Involuntary Loss of Employment insurance
- DMCC: New employee residence visa guidelines
- JAFZA: Issuing a visa for JAFZA companies
- Meydan Free Zone: FAQs
- RAKEZ: FAQs
- ADGM: Employment Regulations 2024 FAQs
MIRDXB PRO is a private PRO services and document-typing company acting solely on the written authorisation of its clients. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official agent of MOHRE, ICP, GDRFA Dubai, Amer, Tasheel or any free zone authority. Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the relevant authority and can change without notice; this guide is general information, not legal advice.
