MOHRE Enquiry & Services UAE 2026: Complete How-To Guide

MOHRE enquiry services are among the most-used UAE government touchpoints — every employee and employer in the country interacts with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for labour contracts, work permits, complaints, and company status. This guide explains every MOHRE enquiry method available in 2026, what each service does, and how to resolve the most common issues — whether you're an employee checking your contract or a business managing labour compliance.

What MOHRE is and what it covers

MOHRE — the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — is the UAE federal authority governing private-sector labour relations. Formerly known as the Ministry of Labour (MOL), it was renamed to reflect its expanded mandate. The official portal is mohre.gov.ae.

MOHRE governs:

• Work permits and labour cards for private-sector employees
• Labour contracts (registration, amendment, cancellation)
• Wage Protection System (WPS) compliance
• Labour complaints and dispute resolution
• Emiratisation quotas and compliance
• Domestic worker contracts (with Tadbeer)
• Company labour files and establishment compliance

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (icp.gov.ae) handles the related residence visa side, while MOHRE handles the labour/work-permit side. The two systems link but serve different functions.

The MOHRE enquiry channels

There are four primary ways to make a MOHRE enquiry in 2026:

1. MOHRE website (mohre.gov.ae): Full self-service portal. Contract enquiry, work permit status, complaint tracking, company verification, and most transactional services. Available 24/7.

2. MOHRE smart app: Mobile app (iOS and Android) offering the same enquiry and service functions as the website, optimised for phone use. Most popular channel for individual users.

3. MOHRE call centre (80060): Toll-free within UAE. Human-assisted enquiries, complaint filing, and status updates. Extended hours including weekends.

4. Tas'heel service centres: Physical service centres handling transactional services (contract processing, work permit applications) plus enquiry support. Useful for complex transactions requiring document handling.

Most status enquiries are free and instant. Transactional services (issuing documents, processing applications) carry standard government fees.

How to check your labour contract

Your MOHRE labour contract is the official record of your employment terms registered with the ministry. To check it:

1. Go to mohre.gov.ae or open the MOHRE app
2. Navigate to Services → Contract Enquiry (or similar)
3. Enter your labour card / work permit number and personal details (or Emirates ID)
4. View contract details: type (limited/unlimited under the new labour law all contracts are fixed-term), start and end dates, registered salary, job title, and employer

Why this matters: the registered contract is the legally binding version. If your actual working conditions differ from the registered contract (especially salary), that discrepancy matters in any dispute. Always verify your registered contract matches your offer letter.

How to check work permit status

The work permit (sometimes called the labour card) authorises you to work for a specific employer. To check status:

1. Access mohre.gov.ae or the app
2. Select Work Permit Enquiry
3. Enter work permit number or Emirates ID
4. View status: active, under process, expired, or cancelled

Work permit status is critical when:

• Starting a new job (confirm permit issued before working)
• Changing employers (confirm old permit cancelled, new one issued)
• Renewing residence (work permit links to visa renewal)
• Leaving the country (confirm cancellation if employment ended)

How to check and file a MOHRE complaint

MOHRE handles labour disputes between employees and employers. Common complaints: unpaid salary, end-of-service non-payment, wrongful termination, contract violations.

To file a complaint:

1. Call 80060 or use mohre.gov.ae complaints section
2. Provide employment details and describe the issue
3. Receive a complaint reference number
4. MOHRE attempts amicable settlement (mediation)
5. If unresolved, referral to labour court

To check complaint status:

1. Use the complaint reference number
2. Check via portal, app, or 80060
3. View status: under review, in mediation, referred to court, or resolved

MOHRE's mediation resolves most disputes without court. The process is free at the mediation stage and designed to protect employee rights under UAE Labour Law.

How to verify a company's MOHRE status

Job seekers and business partners often need to verify a company's labour standing:

1. Access mohre.gov.ae company verification
2. Enter establishment number or company name
3. View: active status, labour file standing, work permit quota availability

This verification helps:

• Job seekers confirm a prospective employer is legitimate and compliant
• Businesses verify partners or suppliers
• Employees confirm their employer can legally sponsor their work permit

A company with a blocked or non-compliant labour file cannot issue new work permits — a red flag for job seekers.

MOHRE vs MOL — clearing the confusion

A frequent source of confusion: "MOL enquiry" and "MOHRE enquiry" are the same thing. The Ministry of Labour (MOL) was renamed the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) to reflect its broader mandate. Older websites, documents, and habits still reference "MOL" — but all services now run through MOHRE channels. If you're searching "MOL enquiry," you want MOHRE.

Common MOHRE services beyond enquiry

Beyond status enquiry, MOHRE handles:

Work permit issuance and renewal: Employer-initiated, processed through MOHRE for new hires and renewals.

Contract registration and amendment: All employment contracts must be registered. Amendments (salary change, role change) processed through MOHRE.

Contract cancellation: When employment ends, the contract must be cancelled within prescribed timelines.

Wage Protection System (WPS): Employers must pay salaries through WPS-compliant channels. MOHRE monitors compliance.

Labour ban management: Historically MOHRE managed labour bans; current rules have largely removed automatic bans, but MOHRE handles related matters.

Emiratisation compliance: MOHRE tracks Emiratisation quotas for companies above certain sizes and manages related programs.

For employers — MOHRE compliance essentials

Businesses interact with MOHRE constantly. Key compliance areas:

Work permit management: Issue permits for all foreign employees. Maintain quota based on company size and activity.

Contract registration: Register all employment contracts. Keep them current with actual terms.

WPS compliance: Pay all salaries through Wage Protection System. Non-compliance triggers penalties and quota suspension.

Timely cancellations: Cancel departing employees' permits within 30 days to avoid penalties.

Emiratisation: Companies with 50+ employees face Emiratisation targets (currently rising annually). Non-compliance triggers financial penalties.

Establishment card maintenance: Keep the company labour file active and compliant.

Failure in any of these areas can block a company's ability to sponsor new work permits — directly affecting hiring and growth.

How MOHRE links to your residence visa

MOHRE (work permit) and ICP/GDRFA (residence visa) are linked but separate. The typical sequence for a new employee:

1. MOHRE work permit / labour approval (the right to work)
2. Entry permit via ICP (the right to enter)
3. Medical fitness and Emirates ID
4. Residence visa stamping via GDRFA/ICP (the right to reside)
5. Labour contract registration with MOHRE

When you leave a job, both must be cancelled: MOHRE work permit and the residence visa. Checking MOHRE status confirms the labour side; checking ICP confirms the residence side.

Common Mistakes people make with MOHRE

Mistake 1: Not verifying the registered contract. Your actual terms may differ from what's registered. Always check the registered contract matches your offer — especially salary, which matters in disputes.

Mistake 2: Assuming MOL and MOHRE are different. They're the same. Don't waste time looking for separate "MOL" services.

Mistake 3: Working before the permit is active. Starting work before the work permit is issued creates legal exposure. Confirm active status first.

Mistake 4: Missing complaint deadlines. Labour complaints have practical timelines. File promptly when issues arise rather than waiting.

Mistake 5: Employers missing cancellation windows. Late work permit cancellation triggers penalties and quota issues. Cancel within 30 days of employee departure.

Mistake 6: Ignoring WPS compliance. Salary payment outside WPS creates compliance violations. Use compliant channels.

What changes for free zone vs mainland

Free zone employees: the labour relationship is often managed by the free zone authority rather than MOHRE directly (DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, etc. each have their own labour systems), though federal labour law still applies. Some free zones integrate with MOHRE; others maintain separate systems.

Mainland employees: managed directly through MOHRE for work permits, contracts, and compliance.

For most mainland businesses and employees, MOHRE is the primary labour authority. Free zone entities should confirm whether their zone uses MOHRE or its own labour system.

Step-by-step: every common MOHRE enquiry walkthrough

Because MOHRE serves millions of users with different needs, here are detailed walkthroughs for the most common enquiries people perform.

Checking your labour card / work permit number. If you don't know your work permit number, you can find it on your labour contract, your residence visa documentation, or by contacting your employer's PRO. Once you have it, the MOHRE app and website both accept it as the primary lookup key. The number links all your labour records — contract, permit, complaints, and history. Keep it accessible because you will need it repeatedly throughout your UAE employment.

Verifying salary as registered in WPS. Your salary registered with MOHRE through the Wage Protection System should match your employment contract. To verify, check your contract enquiry which shows registered basic salary and allowances. This matters enormously in any dispute because the registered figure is the legally recognised amount. Employees sometimes discover their registered salary is lower than their actual agreed salary, which creates problems if they later need to prove their true earnings for end-of-service calculations, loan applications, or family visa income thresholds.

Tracking a new work permit application. When you start a new job, your employer initiates the work permit application. You can track progress through MOHRE enquiry using the transaction number your employer provides. Status moves through stages: initial approval, payment, then issuance. Knowing the status helps you plan your start date and coordinate with residence visa processing which follows work permit approval.

Checking labour ban status. While the UAE has largely moved away from automatic labour bans under recent labour law reforms, some situations still involve restrictions. If you are concerned about any restriction on your ability to take a new job, a MOHRE enquiry or call to 80060 clarifies your status. Most employees today can move between jobs freely after proper cancellation, but verifying removes uncertainty.

Confirming contract type and duration. Under the current UAE Labour Law, all employment contracts are fixed-term (the old unlimited contract category was phased out). Your contract enquiry shows the term, renewal status, and end date. Understanding your contract type matters for resignation notice periods, end-of-service calculations, and renewal planning.

Verifying your employer can sponsor you. Before accepting a job, verifying the company's MOHRE standing protects you. A company with a blocked labour file cannot issue valid work permits, which would leave you in an irregular situation. The company verification enquiry confirms the employer is active and compliant before you commit.

MOHRE digital transformation and UAE Pass integration

The UAE government has invested heavily in digital transformation, and MOHRE services increasingly integrate with UAE Pass, the national digital identity system. UAE Pass authentication lets users access MOHRE services with a single secure login rather than entering details repeatedly. This integration streamlines enquiries and transactions significantly.

For individuals, UAE Pass integration means you can authenticate once and access your complete labour record, submit complaints, and track applications without repeated logins. For employers, integrated authentication streamlines bulk work permit management, contract processing, and compliance reporting.

The trend toward digital self-service continues to reduce the need for physical Tas'heel centre visits for routine matters. Complex transactions still benefit from in-person service, but status enquiries, simple applications, and tracking are increasingly handled entirely through digital channels. This shift makes MOHRE services more accessible and reduces processing friction across the system.

How MOHRE compliance affects business growth

For businesses, MOHRE compliance is not merely administrative box-ticking — it directly enables or constrains growth. A company in good MOHRE standing can issue work permits up to its quota, hire freely, and sponsor employee visas smoothly. A company with compliance issues faces blocked quotas, inability to hire, and cascading operational problems.

The key compliance levers that affect growth capacity include maintaining WPS compliance so salaries flow through proper channels, keeping the establishment labour file active and current, meeting Emiratisation targets for companies above the threshold size, cancelling departed employees' permits promptly to free quota and avoid penalties, and registering all contracts accurately to avoid disputes.

Companies that treat MOHRE compliance as a core operational function rather than reactive paperwork consistently maintain cleaner labour files and avoid the growth-blocking problems that catch less-disciplined operators. The cost of proactive compliance is minimal; the cost of compliance failures — blocked quotas, penalties, inability to hire during growth phases — can be severe.

For growing businesses, the Emiratisation dimension becomes increasingly important. Companies with 50 or more employees face annual Emiratisation targets that rise each year. Meeting these targets requires planning, recruitment effort, and sometimes partnership with Emiratisation support programs. Non-compliance triggers financial penalties that scale with the shortfall. Businesses planning growth past the 50-employee threshold should build Emiratisation planning into their workforce strategy early rather than scrambling to comply reactively.

Domestic worker enquiries through MOHRE and Tadbeer

MOHRE also oversees domestic worker employment, though the recruitment and day-to-day management runs through the Tadbeer service centre framework. Sponsors of housemaids, drivers, nannies, and other domestic workers can use MOHRE-linked channels to verify domestic worker contracts, check compliance, and access dispute resolution.

The domestic worker framework operates under specific federal law protecting both sponsor and worker. Enquiries about domestic worker contract status, salary compliance, and dispute resolution route through Tadbeer centres and MOHRE-linked systems. Sponsors managing domestic workers benefit from understanding these channels for ongoing relationship management and any issues that arise.

Understanding the UAE Labour Law context behind MOHRE

MOHRE administers the UAE Labour Law, and understanding the law helps you interpret your MOHRE records correctly. The current labour law framework, substantially updated in recent years, governs the employment relationship for private-sector workers. Key provisions that show up in your MOHRE records include the shift to fixed-term contracts (the old unlimited contract type was phased out, so all contracts now have defined terms), defined notice periods for resignation and termination, end-of-service gratuity calculations based on tenure and basic salary, regulated working hours and leave entitlements, and protections against arbitrary dismissal.

When you check your MOHRE contract, the terms you see should align with these legal protections. If your registered contract shows terms that violate the labour law — for example, a notice period shorter than the legal minimum, or salary terms that don't match your agreement — that discrepancy is significant and worth addressing before it becomes a dispute. The MOHRE enquiry function gives you visibility into the legally registered version, which is what matters in any formal proceeding.

The labour law also defines the dispute resolution process that MOHRE administers. When a labour dispute arises, MOHRE first attempts amicable settlement through mediation. This mediation stage is free and resolves the majority of disputes without court involvement. If mediation fails, the case proceeds to the labour court. Throughout this process, your MOHRE complaint record tracks the status, giving you visibility into where your case stands.

MOHRE for job seekers — due diligence before accepting offers

Job seekers can use MOHRE enquiry tools for valuable due diligence before accepting employment offers. Verifying a prospective employer's MOHRE standing protects you from accepting a job with a company that cannot legally sponsor your work permit or that has compliance issues.

Before accepting an offer, verify the company is active in the MOHRE system, confirm it has work permit quota available, and where possible understand its compliance standing. A company with a blocked labour file cannot issue valid work permits, which would leave you unable to work legally even after accepting the offer. This due diligence is especially important when dealing with smaller or newer companies where compliance standing is less certain than with established employers.

Job seekers should also understand that the offer letter and the registered MOHRE contract should match. After joining, verify your registered contract reflects the agreed terms — particularly salary, job title, and contract duration. Discrepancies between your understanding and the registered contract create problems that are far easier to address early than after a dispute arises.

The Wage Protection System and your salary

The Wage Protection System (WPS) is a central MOHRE-administered mechanism ensuring employees receive their salaries on time through traceable banking channels. Under WPS, employers must pay salaries through approved channels that MOHRE monitors, creating an audit trail that protects employees from non-payment or delayed payment.

For employees, WPS means your salary should arrive predictably through proper channels, and the registered amount creates a record. If your employer pays partially in cash outside WPS, or delays WPS payments, these are compliance issues you can raise with MOHRE. The WPS record also serves as proof of income for purposes like loan applications, family visa sponsorship income thresholds, and end-of-service calculations.

For employers, WPS compliance is mandatory and monitored. Failure to pay salaries through WPS, or persistent delays, triggers penalties and can lead to work permit quota suspension — directly blocking the company's ability to hire. Maintaining clean WPS compliance is therefore not just an employee protection measure but a core requirement for business continuity and growth capacity.

What to do next

If you're an employer managing MOHRE compliance — work permits, contracts, WPS, Emiratisation, cancellations — getting it right protects your ability to hire and grow. We help businesses set up compliant labour systems from day one and resolve compliance issues that block work permit quotas. A 20-minute call clarifies your specific MOHRE compliance needs and how to keep your labour file clean.

For employees, MOHRE enquiry services give you transparency into your own employment record. Use them to verify your contract matches your terms, confirm your work permit is active, and track any complaints. Knowledge of your registered status protects your rights under UAE Labour Law.

The MOHRE system is comprehensive and well-documented through mohre.gov.ae and the MOHRE app. Most enquiries resolve instantly through self-service. For complex matters, the 80060 call centre and Tas'heel centres provide human-assisted support. The framework is designed to serve both employees and employers transparently.

For businesses building or scaling UAE operations, MOHRE compliance is not optional administrative overhead — it directly determines your ability to hire, sponsor visas, and grow. Treating MOHRE compliance as a core operational discipline rather than an afterthought consistently produces smoother operations than reactive compliance under pressure. Plan your labour systems properly from the start and the MOHRE relationship supports rather than constrains your business growth across the multi-year operations that successful UAE businesses sustain.

The MOHRE enquiry tools exist to give both parties — employees and employers — transparency into the labour relationship. Use them proactively. Verify status regularly. Address issues promptly. These habits consistently produce better outcomes than discovering problems only when they become urgent. Whether you are an individual checking your own contract or a business managing dozens of work permits, the MOHRE channels described in this guide give you the visibility and control needed to manage UAE labour matters effectively in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

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