MOHRE Labour Card and Contract Check: See What Your Employer Filed (2026)

You can check your UAE labour card status, see your registered employment contract, and verify your employer details in under five minutes using the MOHRE Smart App or the eServices portal at eservices.mohre.gov.ae. No appointment is needed and there is no fee.

Since the UAE Labour Law reform under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (effective February 2022), all labour cards are fully digital. There is no physical card to carry. What you see in the app is your authoritative employment record. If what is filed there does not match what your employer told you, the filed version wins.

What you can check	Where
Labour card / work permit status	MOHRE app or eservices.mohre.gov.ae
Registered employment contract	MOHRE app (download as PDF)
Employer name and establishment number	MOHRE app
Work permit expiry date	MOHRE app or UAE Pass app
Employment start date and salary	MOHRE app contract section

For residency-related checks (visa status, Emirates ID), see our UAE visa status check guide. For complaints and disputes, the MOHRE portal is your starting point.

This guide walks through every check you can run, with worked examples of three salary-dispute scenarios, the exact WPS escalation timeline that triggers in the background when your employer is late, and what to do when the contract MOHRE has on file is not the contract you signed.

These three terms get used interchangeably online but they are distinct things, and the distinction matters when you are filing a complaint or trying to understand what is wrong:

• Labour card (digital): The MOHRE record that confirms you are a legally employed worker in the UAE. Fully digital since 2022. Your Emirates ID number is now the primary reference.
• Work permit: The specific permit authorising you to work for a particular employer, in a particular role, under a particular establishment number. It has its own expiry date and is tied to your residency visa. When you change jobs, you get a new work permit, even if the labour card record persists.
• Employment contract: The document filed with MOHRE when you were hired (or amended). This is what governs your legal rights, salary, leave entitlements, and notice periods. The contract in the MOHRE system is the legally binding version, not a photocopy you may have at home.

Why this matters: if your employer filed a contract showing a lower salary than they verbally promised, the filed contract is what MOHRE enforces. If your private copy says AED 8,000 and the MOHRE filing says AED 5,500, the legal salary for dispute purposes is AED 5,500. Checking the MOHRE record is the first step in any dispute, before you talk to HR, before you write to a lawyer.

Mismatch is more common than people think

We see this regularly: candidates accept a job offer at one salary, sign a private offer letter, then later discover MOHRE has a different number on file. The reason is usually that the employer files the minimum salary required for visa eligibility (which keeps their MOHRE category cheaper) and treats the rest as "allowance" paid in cash or via a separate transfer. This is not legal and creates real problems at end-of-service when gratuity is calculated on the registered salary, not the actual one.

The fastest route is the MOHRE Smart App:

1. Download the MOHRE Smart App from the App Store or Google Play. Confirm it is the official MOHRE app (publisher should be Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation).
2. Log in with UAE Pass. UAE Pass is the mandatory authentication method. If you do not have UAE Pass set up, you will need to do that first (it requires a valid, unexpired Emirates ID).
3. Navigate to "My Labour Card" or "Employment Details" in the main menu.
4. Your work permit status, employer name, and permit expiry are displayed immediately on the dashboard.
5. To download your contract: Look for "Employment Contract" or "Contract Details" in the same section. You can view it on screen, take a screenshot, or download it as a PDF for your records.
6. Cross-check the salary field against what you actually receive. The contract should show the basic salary and any registered allowances. If your bank credits a different total, that is the gap.

Alternatively, use the eServices portal at eservices.mohre.gov.ae in a browser. The same UAE Pass login applies. The portal has more options than the app for filing complaints and making detailed inquiries.

The check itself takes under five minutes. If your information does not load, call the MOHRE hotline on 600590000 (24/7, multiple languages).

What "good" looks like on the screen

A healthy MOHRE record shows: a single active work permit, status Valid, employer name matching your offer letter, contract type Limited (fixed-term) with the correct duration, the salary you actually receive, and a work permit expiry date matching your residency visa expiry within a reasonable window. Anything that does not match needs explaining.

Here are three real-world patterns we see at Wathim, with the numbers and the escalation path each one needs.

Persona 1: Ahmed, full salary, two weeks late

Ahmed earns AED 9,000/month and the payroll usually credits on the 1st. This month it is now the 15th and nothing has come in. He checks MOHRE: contract is correct, salary AED 9,000, work permit active. He checks his bank: no inbound transfer. By the time he is reading this, the employer has already triggered the WPS automatic escalation:

• Day 5 late (around 6 March): MOHRE auto-suspended new work permit issuances for the employer.
• Day 11 late (around 12 March): Financial fines and a Third Category reclassification for the company.
• Day 16 late (16 March, the day after he checks): Labour dispute auto-registration triggers.

Ahmed does not need to file anything for the first two. By day 16 he should file a formal complaint to accelerate the process and create a paper trail. Action: open MOHRE app, Services for Employees, Labour Complaint, attach contract + bank statements showing missed credit. Case number issued the same day.

Persona 2: Priya, contract mismatch, AED 2,500 gap

Priya was hired at "AED 7,500/month all-in." MOHRE shows the registered contract as AED 5,000 basic, no allowances. Her bank receives AED 5,000 via WPS plus AED 2,500 in cash from HR each month. Over a year that is AED 30,000 in unregistered salary. The problems start when she resigns: gratuity is calculated on AED 5,000, not AED 7,500. On a four-year contract, the gratuity gap alone is roughly (21 days basic / 30) x AED 2,500 x 3 years + (30 days / 30) x AED 2,500 x 1 year = AED 5,250 + 2,500 = AED 7,750 lost gratuity.

Action: raise the mismatch with HR in writing first. If they refuse to amend the MOHRE filing, file a formal complaint. Since January 2024, MOHRE can issue final enforceable decisions for claims up to AED 50,000 without needing the Labour Court. AED 7,750 lost gratuity sits well under that ceiling.

Persona 3: Yusuf, free-zone employee, wrong portal

Yusuf works for a DIFC company. He logs into MOHRE and finds no record. He assumes something is wrong. Actually, free-zone employment is regulated by the free-zone authority (DIFC in this case), not MOHRE. His "labour card" is the DIFC employment record. He needs to check his contract through the DIFC Client Portal, not MOHRE. Salary disputes go to the DIFC Employment Tribunal, not MOHRE mediation. Action: confirm with HR which authority governs the contract, then access the right portal.

Hold these three patterns in mind. The next sections walk through the mechanisms each scenario relies on.

The UAE's Wage Protection System (WPS) records every salary payment made to private sector workers. When you check MOHRE, you can see the salary in your registered contract. What WPS tells you, indirectly through the escalation engine, is whether those payments are being made on time and at the registered amount.

The WPS escalation timeline (effective 1 June 2026)

Days late (from 1st of month)	Automatic consequence for the employer
5 days	MOHRE suspends new work permit issuances for the establishment
11 days	Financial fines + Third Category reclassification
16 days	Labour dispute registration triggered
21 days	Asset attachment + possible Public Prosecution referral

The first two steps happen in the background without you doing anything. They are designed to put commercial pressure on the employer before the situation becomes a formal dispute. By day 16, filing a complaint accelerates the process and ensures you are on the official record as the affected employee.

Worked example: under-paid not unpaid

A more subtle pattern than non-payment is consistent under-payment. The contract says AED 5,000. The WPS records show AED 4,500 credited every month. That AED 500 monthly delta is a violation. Over 12 months it is AED 6,000 of unpaid salary, well within MOHRE's AED 50,000 enforceable decision limit. Document each month's bank statement and the matching WPS slip from the MOHRE app, and file a complaint.

For related residency services, see UAE work permit services and UAE residency visa services.

Once you have checked your MOHRE record, your next action depends on what shows up. This is the operating logic:

What MOHRE shows	What you are actually being paid	Best next step
Contract correct, salary matches	Same, on time	Nothing. Keep records.
Contract correct, salary matches	Late but eventually paid	Wait, but file complaint if pattern repeats 2+ months
Contract correct, salary matches	Underpaid every month	File complaint immediately, attach bank statements
Salary lower than your offer letter	Cash top-up makes up the gap	Request HR amend MOHRE filing; if refused, complaint + recover gratuity gap
Work permit expired	You are still working	Escalate to HR immediately; you are technically working illegally
No record found	Free-zone employer	Use the free-zone portal (DIFC, JAFZA, etc.)
Different employer name shown	You work for company A	Possible secondment or proxy hire; verify with HR in writing

Filing a complaint through MOHRE is free of charge through every channel. Here is the process:

1. Log in to the MOHRE app or eServices portal using UAE Pass.
2. Navigate to "Services for Employees" then "Labour Complaint." Alternatively, call 600590000 directly and a multi-language officer will open the case for you.
3. MOHRE automatically pulls your employment record using your Emirates ID and work permit number. You do not need to enter most details manually.
4. Submit your complaint with supporting documents: your employment contract (the MOHRE PDF version), payslips, bank statements showing salary received or not received, and any written correspondence with HR.
5. Receive a case number immediately. Save this. Every future call references this number.
6. MOHRE notifies both you and your employer and attempts mediation within 14 working days.
7. If unresolved: the case is referred to the Labour Court. You have 14 days from MOHRE's referral approval to register with the court. The MOHRE-issued referral is what makes the court case admissible.

The AED 50,000 fast-track

Since January 2024, MOHRE can issue final enforceable decisions for claims up to AED 50,000 without court involvement. For smaller salary disputes, gratuity gaps, and notice-period back-pay, you may not need to set foot in a court at all. The MOHRE decision is enforceable directly. This is one of the most significant labour-law changes of the past five years for ordinary employees and is dramatically underused.

Hotlines and channels

MOHRE hotline: 600590000 (24/7, multi-language). WhatsApp: 600590000. Complaints hotline for wage claims specifically: 80084. All channels are free.

The traditional "labour ban" that prevented job-switching was largely abolished by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Unlimited contracts no longer exist. Every contract is now fixed-term, typically two years, with renewable status.

What remains in 2026:

• MOHRE work permit suspension: This affects the employer's file when WPS or wage compliance is violated, not just the individual employee. Suspended employers cannot hire new workers until the file is cleared.
• Individual one-year ban: If you resign without serving your contractual notice period, you may face a one-year work permit ban. This can be lifted with your original employer's written approval (a clean release letter, in practice).
• Travel bans (separate): These are court-issued and checked through Dubai Police or the equivalent emirate authority, not MOHRE. If you suspect a travel ban (typically tied to civil cases or unpaid debt), check it separately.

How to check labour ban status

Open the MOHRE Smart App; the dashboard flags any active ban or restriction. Alternatively, call 600590000 with your Emirates ID, or use the MOHRE Transactions Inquiry Service with an application reference number if you have one.

Edge case: probation period exits

If you leave during probation, the ban rules are different and can vary by contract duration. A typical clause: leaving during probation to join another UAE employer may trigger a refund of recruitment costs and a 6-12 month ban. Read your contract's probation clause before resigning during probation.

If you work for a company registered in a UAE free zone, your employment is regulated by that free zone authority, not MOHRE. This is a major point of confusion and the most common reason people see "no record found" on the MOHRE app.

Examples of major free zones with their own employment frameworks:

• DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre): Governed by DIFC Employment Law. Disputes go to the DIFC Employment Tribunal.
• ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market): Own employment regulations and court.
• JAFZA, DAFZA, TECOM, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Healthcare City, Sharjah Airport Free Zone: Each has its own authority and complaint process.

How to tell which applies to you

Check your employment visa stamp; it will indicate the issuing authority. Free zone companies typically have a free-zone abbreviation in their trade licence number. Your offer letter should also state the governing law clause. When in doubt, ask your HR department in writing which regulatory authority governs your contract and which portal you should use for record checks.

What free-zone employees lose by not being on MOHRE

The WPS auto-escalation engine does not apply identically. The AED 50,000 MOHRE fast-track decision is not available. Free-zone tribunals have their own procedures, fees, and timelines. Some are excellent (DIFC has a strong reputation); others are less developed. Know which one applies to you before you have a problem.

Multiple part-time work permits

The 2022 law reform legalised holding multiple part-time work permits, with employer consent. If you legitimately have two MOHRE-registered roles, the app shows both. If you have a side job that is not registered, you are technically violating the work permit terms and can be fined.

Domestic workers (Tadbeer)

Domestic workers are governed by Federal Law No. 9 of 2022 and processed through Tadbeer centres, not standard MOHRE flows. Complaints and contract checks for nannies, drivers, cooks and housekeepers go through Tadbeer; the MOHRE Smart App will not show their record.

Project visa / temporary work permits

Short-term project-based permits show up on MOHRE with a fixed end date matching the project. If yours shows expired but you are still on the project, the contractor should have applied for an extension; press them or risk working illegally.

End-of-service: what MOHRE confirms

At end-of-service, MOHRE shows the formal cancellation of the work permit. Your gratuity is calculated on the registered basic salary, not the actual paid total. Before signing the cancellation paperwork, verify the gratuity number against the MOHRE-registered salary and the number of completed service years. A worked example: AED 5,000 basic, 4 years of service, gratuity is (21 days x 5,000/30 x 3 years) + (30 days x 5,000/30 x 1 year) = AED 10,500 + 5,000 = AED 15,500. If HR offers less, that is a complaint trigger.

Suspension vs termination

If you are suspended pending investigation, the work permit usually stays active. If you are terminated, the cancellation flow starts. Verify which one your employer has actually filed in MOHRE before you accept their characterisation of your status.

Unpaid notice period

If you served notice and were not paid for the period, that is a recoverable salary claim through MOHRE. The registered salary times notice period days divided by 30 is the floor figure. Common situation, often resolved through mediation without a full complaint.

"Honorarium" or commission disputes

If commission was promised but not registered in the contract, it is harder to recover. MOHRE enforces what is filed, not verbal promises. Get commission structures written into the registered contract amendment or accept that they sit outside the formal protection regime.

UAE Pass login not working

UAE Pass requires your Emirates ID to be active and linked. If your Emirates ID is expired, you will not be able to authenticate. Renew the Emirates ID first. See our Emirates ID renewal guide for the steps and fees.

Contract in the system does not match what you signed

This is one of the most common issues we see. The document in the MOHRE system is what the employer submitted to the ministry. If it differs from the contract you have at home, raise this with your employer in writing first (email, with both versions attached). If they refuse to amend the MOHRE filing, it becomes part of a formal MOHRE complaint and the discrepancy itself strengthens your case.

Work permit shows as expired but you are still employed

Your employer should have renewed the work permit before it expired. This is their responsibility, not yours. Contact HR immediately and request the renewal proof. An expired work permit also blocks your residency visa renewal and technically means you are working without a valid permit, which is a violation for both parties.

Cannot find your record in MOHRE at all

If you work for a free zone company, your record will not appear in MOHRE; that is expected. Otherwise, check that you are logging in with the Emirates ID linked to your employment, not, say, a dependent EID. If neither applies, call 600590000 with your Emirates ID and work permit number ready.

Employer is not responding to MOHRE mediation

MOHRE escalates unresponsive employer cases automatically. If the employer misses the mediation window, MOHRE can issue enforceable decisions (for claims under AED 50,000) or refer the case to the Labour Court. Keep your case number safe and stay reachable; mediators call.

Salary credited to wrong account

If WPS is sending to an old bank account you closed, the employer needs to update the WPS-linked account through their bank. Provide them with the new account details in writing and follow up. Delays here are technically WPS violations after the standard window.

Checking your MOHRE record is easy. Acting on what you find, especially if there is a contract mismatch or a complaint to file, is where it gets complicated. Wathim works with expats across the UAE on exactly these situations.

Whether you need help navigating the complaint process, calculating gratuity gaps, understanding your rights under the 2022 labour law reforms, or resolving a work permit issue alongside a visa renewal, contact us and describe what you are dealing with.

Related reading: checking your UAE visa status, renewing your Emirates ID, the UAE overstay fines guide, and the UAE services hub for everything in one place.