ABU DHABI (Kashmir English): The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has removed the requirement to submit supporting documents for 13 categories of work permits as part of its government-wide “Zero Bureaucracy” initiative, a move aimed at simplifying recruitment and employment procedures for businesses and foreign workers.
According to details, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has introduced the reforms to reduce paperwork, speed up permit processing and improve the efficiency of the labour market.
Reports from Gulf media say the information required in application forms for the affected permits has been reduced by between 75 and 97 per cent. The processing time for issuing permits has also been significantly shortened.
The change is expected to make recruitment and employment procedures easier for foreign workers, including Pakistani nationals. According to the supplied report, around 30,000 Pakistanis obtain UAE visas every month.
The 13 permit categories covered by the reform include recruitment from abroad, employment transfers, Golden Residency holders, freelance workers and residents sponsored by their families.
Other categories include part-time, temporary and mission work permits, private tutoring permits, student training and employment permits, juvenile work permits for individuals aged 15 to under 18, permits for Emirati and GCC citizens, and national trainee permits.
All 13 services are available through MoHRE’s unified digital channels, allowing employers to submit applications online without uploading the previously required supporting documents.
The ministry said the reforms are intended to support private-sector businesses, safeguard workers’ rights and improve labour-market efficiency. It has also announced another phase of reforms to further simplify procedures and expand digital services.
