Yes, you can take part time jobs in Dubai legally, but only with the right permit. UAE labour law (Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021) says nobody may work without a valid work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). For most people the answer is a part time work permit, applied for by the company that hires you. Below are the 10 legal routes, who each one suits, and what happens if you skip the permit.
We checked the rules on the official u.ae list of work permit types and the MoHRE part-time permit page on 23 October 2026. Fees can change, so treat every figure as approximate for 2026.
Find your route
Your visa decides which part-time route you can use
Start with your situation at the top of each box, then follow the arrow.
I have a full-time job
→ Part-time work permit
Your new employer applies. Your main employer gives a no-objection letter.
I live here on a family visa
→ Family sponsorship permit
Employer applies, your sponsor signs a no-objection letter.
I am 15 to 18
→ Juvenile or student permit
Short hours, no night work, a parent agrees.
I want to give private lessons
→ Private teacher permit
Free, two years, you apply on the MoHRE app.
I want clients, not a boss
→ Freelance permit or own licence
You apply yourself and invoice in your own name.
I work for a company abroad
→ Virtual work visa
Proof of remote work and USD 3,500 a month.
I am on a visit visa
→ No legal route
Visitors cannot work in the UAE, not even for one day.
I hold a Golden Visa
→ Golden Visa holder permit
Still needed. The hiring company applies.
One rule for every route: the permit comes first, the first working day second.
Source: u.ae work permit types, MoHRE and GDRFA service pages, checked 23 October 2026.
Can you work part time in Dubai?
You can work part time in Dubai if you already live in the UAE on a valid residence visa and your new employer gets a permit for you. The key points:
- The employer applies, not you. The application must come from the company's authorised signatory.
- You must be 18 or older, except on the juvenile and student permits below.
- The job must match the company's licence. A software firm cannot hire you as a chef.
- A visit visa is not enough. Tourists and people on a visit visa cannot work at all, not even for a day.
The 10 legal routes to part time jobs in Dubai
1. A second job next to your full-time job
This is the most common route to part time jobs in Dubai. You keep your main job and your new employer gets you a part time work permit. MoHRE lists it as valid for one year, issued in about two working days. The federal fee on the MoHRE page is AED 50, plus a business centre charge of up to AED 72 (2026). Some older pages still quote AED 600. The MoHRE page also asks for a no-objection letter from your current employer, so tell your main employer first.
2. A part-time contract as your only job
You do not need a full-time job to work part time. Under Ministerial Decision 31 of 2018, skilled workers can sign part-time contracts with one or more employers. Skilled here means a university degree, or a two or three-year technical diploma. Each employer needs its own part time work permit for you.
3. On a family visa, with your sponsor's approval
If your husband, wife or parent sponsors your visa, you can still work. MoHRE has a work permit for a resident on family sponsorship, valid for two years. For a part-time job, u.ae says you also need a no-objection letter (NOC) from your sponsor. Our guide on how the Dubai family visa works explains who can sponsor whom.
4. Students from age 15: the student training permit
Students already living in the UAE can work from age 15 under the student training and employment permit. It is short: u.ae lists it as valid for three months, which suits summer jobs and work experience. The employer applies, and a parent must agree.
5. Teenagers aged 15 to 18: the juvenile work permit
For a longer job, teens can work on a juvenile work permit, valid for one year. The rules protect young workers: no night shifts, no overtime and no dangerous work. Gulf News reports the limit as six hours a day. The guardian's written consent is part of the file.
6. Private tutoring with the free tutor permit
Private lessons are one of the easiest part time jobs in Dubai to make legal. MoHRE's private teacher work permit is free and valid for two years, under Ministerial Resolution 710 of 2023. Schoolteachers, office workers, unemployed people, university students and school students aged 15 to 18 can apply on the MoHRE app. If you are employed, expect to need a no-objection letter from your employer. Tutoring without the permit can lead to fines.
7. Freelancing on a MoHRE freelance permit
MoHRE's freelance work permit lets you sell your services to companies and people without being their employee. It also covers people on a self-sponsored residence visa. This suits designers, writers, trainers and consultants who want flexible hours. MoHRE does not list one fixed fee for every case, so check the current cost when you apply.
8. Your own small business licence
If you want to work for many clients and grow, a licence of your own may fit better than a permit. A sole establishment or a free zone freelance licence lets you invoice in your own name. Our sole establishment and freelance permit comparison shows which one fits your plans and budget.
9. Remote work for a company abroad
You can live in Dubai and work for an employer outside the UAE on the virtual work visa. Dubai's immigration office (GDRFA) asks for proof of remote work for a foreign company and a monthly income of at least USD 3,500. The GDRFA virtual work visa page lists a fee of AED 200 plus VAT, with extra charges if you apply from inside the UAE. The visa runs for one year and can be extended. Our article on the Dubai remote work visa for digital nomads compares it with the freelance options.
10. Golden Visa holders
A Golden Visa gives you a long residence, but it does not replace a work permit. A company that hires you still applies for the Golden Visa holder work permit, valid for two years. The upside: you are not tied to one sponsor, so changing or adding work is simpler.
Permit lengths
From three months to two years: how long each permit lasts
Bar length shows how long the permit is valid. The colour shows who files the application.
The quickest and cheapest: the private teacher permit. It is free, lasts two years and you apply for it yourself.
Source: u.ae work permit types, MoHRE and GDRFA service pages, checked 23 October 2026. The freelance permit is left out: its length varies.
What the part time work permit costs and who pays
| Route | Permit | Valid for | Who applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second job | Part-time work permit | 1 year | New employer |
| Part-time contract | Part-time work permit | 1 year | Each employer |
| Family visa | Family sponsorship work permit | 2 years | Employer, sponsor NOC |
| Students from 15 | Student training permit | 3 months | Employer |
| Teens 15 to 18 | Juvenile work permit | 1 year | Employer |
| Tutoring | Private teacher permit (free) | 2 years | You |
| Freelancing | Freelance work permit | Varies | You |
| Remote for abroad | Virtual work visa | 1 year | You |
| Golden Visa | Golden Visa holder permit | 2 years | Employer |
The company pays for its own employee permits. A full work permit costs between AED 250 and AED 3,450 a year depending on the company's MoHRE class, says u.ae.
What happens if you work without a permit
Working without a permit is risky for both sides. Since 2024, an employer who hires workers without a proper permit faces a fine of AED 100,000 to AED 1 million, as the UAE news agency WAM reported. The same fines apply to guardians who let minors work against the law. For you, an illegal job can mean trouble with your visa and no protection if you are not paid.
Be careful with "cash in hand" offers and jobs that ask you to pay for a visa. If you want extra income without an employer, our guide to earning side income in Dubai covers referral programmes. If you want more pay rather than more hours, see our list of well-paid jobs for expats in Dubai.
