UAEAlso: Ministry of Labour, MoL UAE, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation)

MOHRE is the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which regulates the private-sector labour market, issues work permits and labour contracts, and handles labour complaints and disputes.

Go to mohre.gov.ae (official)MOHRE portal guide →

At a glance

Type: Federal Government Ministry
Country: United Arab Emirates
Handles: Work permits, electronic labour contracts, Wage Protection System, Emiratisation, labour dispute resolution (mainland private sector)
Main portal: mohre.gov.ae
Mobile app: MOHRE UAE (iOS and Android)
Official website: https://www.mohre.gov.ae

Short answer

MOHRE is the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which runs work permits, labour contracts and complaints for mainland private-sector staff. Use the official mohre.gov.ae site or the MOHRE UAE app to check your permit, file a complaint or follow an application, or call 600 590000. This page shows each task step by step, with centres, a problems table and contact details.

What is MOHRE?

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) is the UAE federal ministry that governs private-sector employment across the country. It regulates the relationship between mainland private-sector employers and their employees, sets and enforces labour standards, manages work permits, and drives the national policy of increasing the proportion of UAE nationals (Emiratisation) employed in the private sector.

MOHRE was formerly called the Ministry of Labour. While the name changed, its functions expanded to include stronger Emiratisation mandates and a broader digital service offering. It remains the central authority for work permits, employment contracts, and labour dispute resolution in the mainland private sector.

What MOHRE handles

Work permits (labour cards) for mainland private-sector employees
Registration and filing of electronic employment contracts
Wage Protection System (WPS) compliance monitoring to ensure salaries are paid on time and through approved channels
Emiratisation quotas and compliance reporting for employers
Labour dispute mediation and complaint resolution
Domestic worker regulation, jointly with the Tadbeer centre network
Establishment registration and ongoing compliance for private businesses

Free-zone employees are generally regulated by their own free-zone authority such as JAFZA, DIFC, or DMCC, rather than MOHRE. Confirm which body governs your employment contract before directing a query or complaint.

How to use MOHRE services

MOHRE provides services through its portal at mohre.gov.ae and the MOHRE UAE mobile app (iOS and Android), as well as through the Tasheel service-centre network for employer transactions and Tawjeeh orientation centres for new employees. Key steps for common use cases:

To check your labour contract or work permit: log in to the MOHRE app or portal using your Emirates ID number and view the registered contract and work permit details.
To file a labour complaint: open the MOHRE app or portal, select the complaint service, and submit details of the issue. MOHRE will attempt mediated resolution before escalating to the Labour Court if needed.
For work-permit applications (employers): submit through a Tasheel service centre or the MOHRE portal, providing the trade licence, the employee's passport, and other required documents. Confirm current fees and document requirements before applying.
To estimate gratuity: use MOHRE's built-in gratuity calculator on the portal, entering your contract type, start date, and basic salary.

What expats use MOHRE for

Expatriate employees rely on MOHRE mainly to verify that their labour card and employment contract are correctly registered, understand their entitlements under UAE labour law (gratuity, annual leave, notice periods), and lodge complaints if their employer withholds wages, delays gratuity, or imposes unlawful conditions.

Employers use MOHRE to register work permits, file contracts, and maintain Emiratisation compliance. A lapsed work permit or unregistered contract can affect the employee's residence visa renewal and the employer's ability to process new hires. Labour rules on gratuity calculations, notice periods, and annual leave have evolved over time, so always confirm your current entitlements on the official MOHRE portal.

What MOHRE does for you, in practice

MOHRE is the federal ministry behind your work permit, your registered job contract, your salary monitoring and any labour complaint, but only if you work for a mainland private-sector employer. The official site is mohre.gov.ae. Wathim is an independent guide and is not MOHRE.

Most people search "MOHRE UAE" because they want one of five things. The table shows where each one is done, so you can skip to the right section.

What you want	Where you do it	Section below
Check your work permit or contract	MOHRE app or website, or ask the employer's PRO	Check your labour card and contract
File a complaint against an employer	MOHRE app, website or the call centre	File a labour complaint
Apply for or renew a work permit (employer)	MOHRE portal or a Tasheel centre	Work permits and Tasheel centres
Calculate gratuity or notice pay	MOHRE gratuity calculator or our free tools	Gratuity, leave and notice
Phone or chat with someone	Call centre 600 590000	Contact MOHRE

If you work in a free zone such as DMCC, JAFZA or DIFC, your free-zone authority usually handles permits and disputes instead. Read the labour card explanation and check which body is printed on your contract before you start a MOHRE complaint.

How to check your labour card, work permit and contract

Checking your status takes a few minutes and is worth doing every time you change job, renew a visa or get a new contract. A permit that does not match your real job is one of the most common reasons a visa renewal gets stuck.

Steps

Open the MOHRE app or the portal at mohre.gov.ae.
Log in with your Emirates ID details or UAE Pass, depending on what the service screen offers.
Open the service that shows your work permit and contract details.
Compare the employer name, job title, salary and contract end date with your signed contract.
If anything is wrong, take a screenshot and send it to your employer's HR or PRO team in writing.

What each field should match

Field	Should match	If it is wrong
Employer name	The company on your offer letter	Ask HR to correct the establishment link
Job title	The title in your signed contract	Employer must amend through MOHRE
Salary	The total in your contract	Raise it in writing, then use a complaint if ignored
Contract type and end date	Your signed contract	Employer must correct or re-register

Our step-by-step labour card and contract check guide shows the screens in order. If your employer refuses to fix a wrong record, see the plain explanation of what to do when an employer will not cancel or correct your visa.

How to file a labour complaint with MOHRE

You file a complaint when your employer withholds salary, delays gratuity, cancels you unfairly or refuses to hand over documents. MOHRE's own service pages state that its complaint services have no fee for the filing itself, and that its call centre on 600 590000 is available 24 hours a day.

Steps

Collect your evidence first: contract, offer letter, payslips, bank statements showing salary dates, chat messages and any resignation or termination letter.
Open the MOHRE app or the website and choose the labour complaint service.
Enter your details, your employer's establishment details and a short, factual description of the problem with dates and amounts.
Upload your evidence and submit. Keep the reference number you receive.
MOHRE contacts both sides and tries to settle the dispute by mediation.
If mediation fails, MOHRE refers the case onward, normally to the labour court. You may then need a lawyer or a case filing through the court system.

Which complaint fits your problem

Problem	Evidence that helps most	Related guide
Unpaid end-of-service gratuity	Contract, last working day, final payslip	Unpaid gratuity and MOHRE
Unpaid maternity leave	Medical certificate, leave request, payslips	Maternity leave complaint
Employer will not cancel your visa	Resignation letter, notice date, messages	Employer will not cancel
Absconding report filed against you	Proof you were still working, entry and exit records	Absconding report guide
A ban on your permit	Ban letter, reason, contract history	Labour ban removal

Write the complaint calmly and stick to dates and numbers. Do not sign any settlement paper that says you received money you did not receive.

Work permits, Tasheel centres and employer services

If you are an employer or a PRO, MOHRE's employer services cover work permit applications and renewals, contract registration, permit cancellation, establishment records and Emiratisation reporting. These can be done on the portal or through a Tasheel centre, which is a licensed counter that submits the transaction for you.

Portal or Tasheel centre: which one

Choose	When
MOHRE portal or app	You have the establishment login, the documents are digital and the transaction is standard
Tasheel centre	You need help, a document needs checking, or the system asks for an in-person step
Tawjeeh centre	A new employee needs the orientation session linked to the work permit

Typical documents for a new work permit are the establishment licence, the employee's passport, the signed offer or contract and the entry permit or visa status. The exact list depends on the visa type, so confirm it on the service page on mohre.gov.ae before you go.

Examples of Tasheel centres on our site include Tasheel Al Karama, Tasheel Al Qusais, Tasheel Sharjah Al Sajaa and Tasheel Mussafah. Opening hours and fees at each centre change, so check the centre page and call before a long trip.

For the difference between Tasheel, Amer, Tasjeel and Tadbeer, read which centre does what. To compare the cost of doing it yourself with paying a PRO, see in-house vs outsourced PRO costs. The wider work permit entry explains the permit itself.

Gratuity, leave, notice and salary protection

Most MOHRE complaints start with a resignation that goes wrong. Before you hand in a notice, check three numbers: your gratuity, your unused leave and your notice period. The rules sit in the UAE labour law and are summarised on MOHRE's site, but they have changed in recent years, so confirm the current wording on mohre.gov.ae.

Item	What decides it	Where to check
End-of-service gratuity	Basic salary, years of service, how the contract ends	UAE gratuity calculator
Unused annual leave	Leave balance and your daily wage	Leave encashment rules
Notice period and leave pay	Your contract and the law	Leave, salary and notice calculator
Probation	Contract wording, resignation timing	Probation period rules
Sick leave	Medical certificate and days taken	Sick leave rules

Before you resign

Read your contract for the notice period and any early-exit conditions.
Check whether a job change needs a no objection certificate, using our NOC and job change guide.
Ask for a written final settlement figure so a later complaint has something to compare against.
Do not stop working without a notice. An unlawful stop can lead to an absconding report.

The glossary entry on end-of-service gratuity explains the concept, and the GCC gratuity comparison helps if you are moving between countries.

How to contact MOHRE

Use only the channels printed on the official site. MOHRE's service pages list these:

Channel	Detail	Good for
Call centre	600 590000, listed as available 24 hours a day	Questions, following up a complaint or permit
Tawasul	171, listed on MOHRE service pages	General government contact line
Website	mohre.gov.ae	Services, inquiries, complaint forms
MOHRE app	MOHRE UAE, on iOS and Android	Complaints, status, contract details

Numbers for other labour advice lines appear on many blogs but we could not confirm them on an official MOHRE page, so we do not list them. If you need another number, use the contact page on mohre.gov.ae. Never send your Emirates ID or passport scan to a number you found in a social media comment.

For a status question on a visa rather than a labour matter, the right body is usually ICP or GDRFA, not MOHRE. Our MOHRE portal page lists the main login links in one place.

Salary protection and Emiratisation

Two MOHRE terms come up often in job offers and HR emails. Both are mainly employer duties, but they affect you.

Wage Protection System

The Wage Protection System, or WPS, requires private-sector employers to pay salaries through approved banks or exchange houses so that MOHRE can see when pay is late. If an employer keeps missing payments, MOHRE can restrict its ability to process new permits. As an employee, your best protection is simple: be paid by bank transfer, keep your statements, and note the date each month's pay arrives. Those dates are the first thing a complaint officer will ask for.

Emiratisation

Emiratisation is the national policy of raising the share of UAE nationals employed in the private sector. Employers above certain sizes have to meet targets and report them to MOHRE. For an expat employee this is rarely a direct issue, but it explains why some roles are advertised only to UAE nationals and why employers sometimes restructure teams. If you are told your role is ending because of Emiratisation, ask for the notice and the settlement in writing and check them against the gratuity figures above.

Employers with household staff deal with a different network. The Tadbeer centres handle domestic worker contracts, and our Tadbeer cancellation and refund guide covers what you can claim back.

Common MOHRE problems and quick fixes

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
Cannot log in to the app	Emirates ID or phone number out of date	Update your details, try UAE Pass, or use the website
No work permit shown	Permit not issued yet, or you are in a free zone	Ask HR for the transaction number and confirm the governing authority
Job title is wrong	Employer registered a different title	Ask the employer to amend it through MOHRE, and keep the written request
Salary not paid on time	Employer outside the payroll system rules	Document the delay, then file a complaint
Cannot start a new job	Active ban or unfinished cancellation	Check the ban, then read ban removal and grievance
Visa renewal blocked	Unpaid fine or lapsed permit	Check ILOE fine blocks and clear it

If you are stuck after cancellation

A cancelled work permit starts a limited grace period for you to leave, change status or find a new job. Our grace period guide explains the clock. Your residence status is handled by ICP in most emirates, so do not assume MOHRE can extend it.

Frequently asked questions

Does MOHRE cover free-zone employees?

Generally no. Employees working in UAE free zones (such as JAFZA, DIFC, DMCC, or Abu Dhabi free zones) are usually regulated by their respective free-zone authority rather than MOHRE. This means their work permits, labour disputes, and contract registration follow free-zone rules. However, some employees may hold a mainland MOHRE work permit while physically working in or near a free zone. Check your employment contract to confirm which authority governs your situation.

How do I file a labour complaint with MOHRE?

You can file a complaint through the MOHRE UAE app or the mohre.gov.ae portal by selecting the complaint or dispute service. You will need to provide your Emirates ID, your employer's details, and a description of the issue. MOHRE will first attempt mediation between you and your employer. If that fails, the case can be referred to the UAE Labour Court. There is no fee to file a complaint.

How do I verify my work permit and labour contract details?

Log in to the MOHRE UAE app or the mohre.gov.ae portal using your Emirates ID number. Your registered work permit, job title, employer name, and contract details should be visible. If the information does not match your actual employment contract, raise the discrepancy with your employer's HR or PRO team, as mismatches can cause complications during visa renewals.

What is the Wage Protection System (WPS) and how does it affect me?

The Wage Protection System (WPS) is a MOHRE-run electronic salary monitoring system that requires private-sector employers to pay employees' salaries through approved banks or exchange houses within a set timeframe each month. If an employer repeatedly delays or skips WPS payments, MOHRE can suspend the employer's ability to process new work permits or visas. Employees can check whether their salary transfers are being reported correctly through the MOHRE portal.

How is end-of-service gratuity calculated under UAE labour law?

Gratuity is calculated based on your basic salary, years of service, and contract type (limited or unlimited). The general rule is 21 days of basic salary per year for the first five years, then 30 days per year beyond that, capped at two years' total basic salary. Deductions may apply if you resign before completing certain service thresholds. Use the MOHRE gratuity calculator on mohre.gov.ae to estimate your entitlement, and confirm the current rules on the portal as they are subject to legislative updates.

What is the MOHRE phone number?

MOHRE's own service pages list the call centre as 600 590000, available 24 hours a day, and 171 for Tawasul. Use these or the contact page on mohre.gov.ae. Be careful with other numbers posted on blogs and social media, because many are outdated or not confirmed on the official site.

Is MOHRE the same as the Ministry of Labour?

Yes in practice. The Ministry of Labour was renamed the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. People still search for the old name and for MoL UAE, but the services, the portal at mohre.gov.ae and the app are the same body. It covers mainland private-sector employment, not most free zones.

Does MOHRE Dubai have a separate office?

MOHRE is a federal ministry, so there is one authority for all emirates. Services in Dubai are used through the same app and portal, and in person through licensed Tasheel centres rather than a separate Dubai ministry. Check the centre page for the branch you plan to visit.

How long does a MOHRE complaint take?

It depends on the type of case and whether your employer responds. MOHRE first tries mediation between you and the employer. If that does not settle it, the case moves to the labour court. Keep your reference number and check the status on the app or by calling 600 590000.

Can I resign during probation and what does MOHRE say?

Resignation during probation is allowed under UAE labour law, but notice rules and any recruitment cost refund depend on your contract and when you resign. Because the rules changed over the years, read our probation guide and confirm the current wording on mohre.gov.ae before you submit a resignation.

Looking for the MOHRE portal itself?

This page explains what MOHRE means. If you came here to use the service, our MOHRE portal guide covers registration, the services it offers and the fixes for the usual login and verification errors.

Open the MOHRE portal guide

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