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If you are planning to start a business in Dubai or elsewhere in UAE, it is important to understand the concept of the UAE visa quotas. As your business grows, you will likely need to hire employees but the number you can hire is not arbitrary. In the UAE, the number of employees a company can sponsor is determined by several factors, one of the most important being the visa quota.
A visa quota simply refers to the number of work visas your company is allowed to sponsor under its current trade license. This quota depends on key aspects of your business, such as the size of your office space, the nature of your business activity, and the category of labour.
But do not worry, it is not as complicated as it might seem. In this article, we will walk you through what a UAE visa quota is, how it works, how to increase it, and everything else you need to know to manage it effectively in the year 2025.
Did you know that in UAE there is a link between your office space and your hiring capacity. Which means your office space is not just a place to work but it also impacts your company’s ability to hire, how many employees you can bring on board.
Whether you run a business on the mainland or in one of Dubai’s free zones, both jurisdictions follow the concept of a visa quota. Visa quotas determine how many employee visas your company can apply for under its current business license.
UAE visa quotas are regulated by MoHRE for mainland companies and by the respective regulatory authority for free zone companies.
Let us look at the types of visas and whether they occupy a slot in your company’s visa quota:
| Visa type | Description | Included in quota |
|---|---|---|
| Investor/partner visa | Issued to company’s owner or shareholder | Yes |
| Employee visa | Issued to salaried staff under company’s sponsorship | Yes |
| Family visa | Businessman can sponsor his family | No |
| Golden visa | 10 year residency permit issued based on investment or talent | No |
In the mainland, MoHRE regulates visa quotas. All businesses registered on the mainland are receive a limited number of visas initially, which can be further increased if the company wishes to hire more staff.
Visa quota rules 2025 applicable in mainland:
High-priority sectors typically include industries such as technology, healthcare, and logistics.
Yes, you must demonstrate that you have adequate workspace. Mainland authorities do not accept flexi desks, so you must secure a physical office to obtain even a single visa. Generally, most authorities allocate one visa for every 9 square meters of office space.
Here are some other rules related to visa quotas in 2025 for mainland:
If your office space limits the number of employee visas you can get, you have options to increase your UAE visa quota. You can apply for additional quotas through Tasheel centers or the MoHRE e-portal. You can expand your visa quota by the following means:
Documents needed: Valid trade license, latest lease agreement of office space, Taqeem report (workplace assessment), and reason for expansion, such as new contracts.
Note: Your visa quota will not automatically increase by expanding office space, you must still submit a formal request. If your need is legitimate and you have a good compliance record, you can obtain approval for a visa quota expansion within a few days.
In free zones, the respective free zone authority manages visa quotas. Also, the visa quota is directly linked to the size of your rented space.
Visa quota rules 2025 applicable in freezones:
Please note that each free zone will have its own regulations for visa quotas, and these are subject to variation.
Companies in free zones can increase their UAE visa quotas by either:
Once you reach the visa quota limit, further visa processing will be automatically restricted. This measure helps the UAE government prevent overcrowded workplaces and the operation of shell companies.
If you ignore this and apply for new visas after fully utilizing your visa quota, the following situations may arise:
As a company owner, thinking in advance about your Dubai visa quota can be one of the smartest steps you take. So, whenever you start a business, you must choose your license package, office size, and jurisdiction based on your current needs as well as your future expansion plans.
Visa quota extension is not an overnight or instant process, it takes time, and any delay can cost you key hires and contracts. This can ultimately affect your business operations. Here are some key points to remember to prevent such situations:
Here are the key differences between the mainland company visa quota and freezone company visa quota:
| Aspect | Mainland | Freezone |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | MoHRE, DED and GDRFA | Freezone Authority and GDRFA/ICP |
| Quota basis | Based on office space, compliance history and business activity | Primarily based on office space |
| Flexi desks | Flexi desks not sufficient | Flexi desks are accepted |
| Diversity rules | 20% of work visas must be allocated to different nationalities | No such requirement |
| Emiratization | Mandatory for companies with 50+ skilled workers | Not currently enforced as on date |
Understanding and planning your visa quota in the UAE is a critical aspect of doing business in the Emirates. It is not just about hiring talent, it is about aligning your office space, compliance requirements, and growth strategy to ensure your business operations run as smoothly as possible.
Whether you are a sole establishment or a company with 50+ shareholders, you must proactively manage your visa quota. In fact, it should be a part of your initial business plan, just like your marketing or financial strategy.
At Dubiz Business Setup, we offer immigration services to companies that speak beyond excellence. By managing your visa related affairs, we free up your time so you can focus on your business operations. We help with:
Need any assistance with business setup in Dubai? Contact us today:
📞 Call: +971 56 369 5485
💬 WhatsApp: +971563695485
📧 Email: info@dubiz.co
Note: Please note that information contained in this blog is subject to changes made by the government.
Dubai visa quota approval generally takes 3 to 5 working days, depending on the completeness of documents and whether it is for a new entry-level quota or an expansion request.
Visa allocation, also called UAE visa quotas, is the specific number of work visas a company is allowed to sponsor for its foreign employees. It depends on factors such as office space, company size, and type of business activity.
A Taqeem report is a workplace inspection report, prepared after inspection by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). It shows a company’s compliance with labour laws and regulations, such as work safety, health conditions, and employee accommodation.
The number of visas you can get with a flexi desk depends on the free zone. For example, in DMCC, it can be up to 3 visas, while in Dtec, it can be up to 2 visas.
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