UAE Lists 13 Types of Work Permits for Foreign Nationals Including Freelance and Golden Visa Holders
The UAE has unveiled 13 categories of work permits for foreign workers, covering roles from freelancers to students and golden visa holders.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 21, 2026
2 min read
The United Arab Emirates government has released an official list detailing 13 distinct work permit categories available to foreign nationals seeking employment in the country.
The permits address a wide spectrum of employment scenarios, including:
- Recruitment of workers from abroad
- Transfer of existing non-UAE workers between employers
- Temporary and mission-specific work
- Part-time employment
- Juvenile and student training permits
- Work permits for residents on family sponsorship
- Special permits for UAE/GCC nationals and golden visa holders
- Freelance and private teacher permits
This comprehensive framework aims to accommodate various worker profiles, such as independent freelancers, students undergoing training, and long-term residents under the golden visa program.
Additionally, the UAE is introducing a structured job classification system with nine professional levels to clarify employment standards and salary expectations for foreign workers.
Foreign nationals planning to work in the UAE are advised to carefully review the permit types to identify the most suitable category before applying.
