UAE Labour Ban Check for Pakistani Workers: Call 600590000, the 3 Causes of a 1 Year Ban and How to Contest It
Check a UAE labour ban on MoHRE's 600590000, open 8 am to 8 pm. The three causes of the one year ban, five exempt groups, how to contest it and when it ends.
To check a UAE labour ban, call the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) on 600590000, open 8 am to 8 pm UAE time (9 am to 9 pm in Pakistan). The UAE's one-year ban stops you getting a new work permit for 12 months. It applies in only three cases: you quit during probation without the employer breaching the contract, a "work abandonment" report against you was proven, or your permit was at a fake company that was cancelled. The year starts when you leave the UAE.
We read these rules on the UAE government portal, u.ae, on 9 November 2026. The page is provided by MoHRE and was last updated on 12 August 2026. A ban is a common fear for Pakistani workers who want to change jobs or return after a bad first contract. Most of them are not banned at all, so check before you turn down a new offer.
Three cases trigger the UAE one-year labour ban
MoHRE lists only three grounds. If none of them fits you, the one-year ban should not apply. Ending a contract normally, or having it end at the end of its term, is not one of them.
| Case | When it leads to a one-year ban |
|---|---|
| Quitting in probation | You end the contract during probation, and the employer had not broken its own obligations |
| Work abandonment | The employer files an absconding or abandonment report and MoHRE finds it valid |
| Fake company | Your work permit was at a fictitious establishment and it was cancelled |
The probation case has an important condition. If the employer broke the contract first, for example by not paying your wage, the u.ae page says the ban rule for probation does not apply. Keep proof, such as salary slips and messages, from the first week.
Five groups are exempt from the ban for work abandonment
The law lets some workers escape the ban even when an abandonment complaint is proven. MoHRE lists these groups on the u.ae page:
- workers sponsored on a family residence visa
- workers applying for a new permit with the same establishment
- workers with professional skill or knowledge levels the UAE needs
- holders of the UAE Golden Visa
- other job categories named by ministerial decision, based on the Cabinet's labour classification
Read the list carefully. The exemptions are written for the work abandonment case. The page does not say they cover a worker who quit during probation.
How to check if you have a UAE labour ban
MoHRE gives one clear route on the u.ae page: its call centre. The service works in several languages, and it also lists other official contact channels.
- Keep your passport number, Emirates ID number if you had one, and your old work permit or labour card number ready.
- Call MoHRE on 600590000 between 8 am and 8 pm UAE time. That is 9 am to 9 pm in Pakistan.
- Ask directly whether a work ban is recorded against you, which type, and the start and end dates.
- Ask whether the ban came from an employer complaint, and note the complaint number.
- Write down the name of the agent you spoke to and the date of the call.
The 600 number is a UAE number. If you are already back in Pakistan, ask a relative or friend in the UAE to call for you, or use MoHRE's other official channels listed on its website. Do not pay anyone on social media who offers to "check your ban" for a fee.
How to contest a UAE labour ban
You contest it by filing a grievance with MoHRE through its approved channels. The u.ae page says you must attach all documents that show the ban is wrong in your case.
Useful proof includes your contract, salary slips or bank statements showing unpaid wages, messages with the employer, and any complaint you filed before the employer filed its report. A worker who reported unpaid wages before an abandonment report was filed is in a stronger position. Filing early is the best protection, so file a MoHRE labour complaint as soon as wages stop.
When a UAE labour ban ends
The ban lifts on its own when its period ends. You do not need to apply. But the clock does not start on the day the ban is imposed. MoHRE says the ban period starts once the worker departs from the UAE.
So a worker who stays on in the UAE after the ban is imposed is not using up the year. Plan your exit date with this in mind. Count 12 months from your exit date, and keep your boarding pass or ticket as a record of it.
| Question | MoHRE's answer on u.ae |
|---|---|
| How long is the ban? | One year |
| When does it start? | When the worker leaves the UAE |
| Is it lifted automatically? | Yes, at the end of the period |
| How do I check it? | MoHRE call centre, 600590000, 8 am to 8 pm |
| How do I contest it? | Grievance to MoHRE with supporting documents |
The laws behind the ban
MoHRE lists three legal sources: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on employment relations, Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 that implements it, and Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022 on labour disputes and complaints. The UAE's termination page adds that Article 8 of Resolution 47 is the provision that sets the one-year bar.
Before you return on a new job, also check your residence and visa record. A ban on a work permit is separate from an immigration case, and the UAE visa status check on ICP or GDRFA shows what the immigration side holds on your passport.
Common questions
How do I check my UAE labour ban from Pakistan?
MoHRE's listed route is its call centre on 600590000. From Pakistan, ask someone in the UAE to call, or use MoHRE's other official channels.
How long is a UAE labour ban?
One year. The u.ae page says it starts when the worker leaves the UAE and lifts automatically at the end.
Does resigning after probation cause a labour ban?
Not under the three grounds MoHRE lists. The probation case covers quitting during probation when the employer had not broken the contract.
Can a Golden Visa holder get a labour ban?
Golden Visa holders are listed as exempt from the ban for a proven work abandonment complaint.
Can I remove a UAE labour ban early?
You can contest it with a grievance to MoHRE, with documents showing the ban is wrong. Otherwise it ends at the end of its period.
Does an absconding report always mean a ban?
Only if MoHRE finds the report valid after reviewing it, and only if you are not in an exempt group.
Last checked 9 November 2026 against the u.ae pages on the one-year work permit ban and on terminating employment contracts, both provided by MoHRE.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
