MoHRE Expat Labor Rights Framework 2026
UAE Expat Employee Benefits & Packages
Complete guide to expat employment compensation — statutory vs contract benefits, relocation allowances, annual home flight tickets, health insurance mandates, and housing allowances (HRA).
Understanding UAE Expat Compensation
The UAE is home to over 8.5 million expatriate workers. Expat employment contracts are governed by **Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021**, which mandates specific baseline entitlements alongside market-standard corporate relocation allowances.
Compensation packages are generally split into **Basic Salary** and **Allowances** (Housing, Transport, Utilities, Schooling).
Statutory vs Market-Standard Expat Benefits
| Benefit Type | Legal Status | Standard Rate / Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Visa & Emirates ID Fees | Mandatory (Employer Pays) | Employer MUST cover 100% of recruitment, visa, & medical test fees |
| Health Insurance Coverage | Mandatory by Law | Covered by employer (DHA compliant in Dubai; DOH + Dependents in Abu Dhabi) |
| Annual Paid Leave | Mandatory by Law | 30 calendar days paid annual leave for each year of completed service |
| Annual Return Airfare Ticket | Statutory / Contract standard | 1 return economy ticket per year to home country for employee (& family if agreed) |
| Housing Allowance (HRA) | Standard Package Element | Typically 25% to 35% of total gross salary package (or company provided housing) |
| Child Schooling Allowance | Executive Contract Benefit | AED 15,000 – 45,000 per child per year for up to 3 children (common in senior roles) |
| End of Service Gratuity | Mandatory by Law | 21 days basic/yr for yrs 1-5; 30 days basic/yr thereafter (or DEWS savings scheme) |
Relocation Package Allowance Items
When relocating to the UAE from abroad, corporate offers typically include:
- ✈️ Initial One-Way Relocation Flight Tickets for employee & family
- 🏨 Temporary Hotel Accommodation (typically 14 to 30 days upon arrival)
- 📦 Shipment & Freight Allowance for personal household belongings
- 💵 Relocation Disturbance Allowance (one-off cash payment for setup costs)
Protection Against Illegal Deductions
- 🚫 Visa Cost Deductions Prohibited: Employers cannot deduct visa fees from salary
- 🚫 Passport Retention Prohibited: Employers cannot hold employee original passports
- 🚫 Training Expense Clawbacks: Employers cannot charge fees if employee resigns
Frequently Asked Questions
Mandatory benefits include: visa/Emirates ID costs covered by employer, mandatory health insurance, 30 days paid annual leave, repatriation flight home, and End of Service Gratuity.
Packages typically include Basic Salary (60%), Housing Allowance / HRA (25-30%), Transport Allowance (10-15%), Annual Airfare Ticket, and Child Schooling Allowance for senior roles.
No. Employers are strictly prohibited from charging employees for visa fees, medical tests, or Emirates ID costs under MoHRE regulations and Labor Law 33/2021.
💼 UAE Labour Laws & Employment Rights Guide →🏥 UAE Mandatory Health Insurance Rules Guide →💰 End of Service Gratuity & Savings Scheme →
MoHRE Expat Portal
• MoHRE Labor Rights Portal: mohre.gov.ae
• MoHRE Toll-Free Helpline: 600 590 000