Second Job in the UAE: Part-Time Work Permit Costs AED 600 and a Fine Hits the Employer
Want a second job in the UAE? The government page lists a one-year part-time permit with AED 100 and AED 500 fees, and a AED 50,000 fine on firms that skip it.
Short answer: You can hold a second, part-time job in the UAE, but only with a permit. The UAE government page lists a part-time work permit valid for one year, with an AED 100 application fee and an AED 500 approval fee. A company that hires you without one faces a fine of AED 50,000.
A Pakistani accountant in Sharjah finishes at five. A shop in Dubai would pay him for evening bookkeeping. The extra income is real, and so is the risk if he simply says yes. The permit is what separates a second income from a labour violation.
We read the UAE government page on working for two employers at one time on 12 October 2026. We did not apply for a permit, because that needs a real work visa.
The labour law allows a part-time job beside a full-time one
The page says the UAE Labour Law has provisions that let an employee hold a part-time job along with a full-time one, subject to conditions. The key limit is time: part-time work for another company must be for less than eight hours a day.
The page describes working in another company at the same time as the current company, on a part-time basis, for less than eight hours per day.
Your own contract may also limit outside work, so read it first. If a dispute with either employer starts, a worker can file a MOHRE labour complaint without a lawyer.
The permit costs AED 600 in total and lasts one year
The page lists a part-time work permit valid for one year. The fees are an application fee of AED 100 and an approval fee of AED 500. Added together, that is AED 600 for the permit, if the page's figures are current.
| Item | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Permit validity | One year |
| Application fee | AED 100 |
| Approval fee | AED 500 |
| Hours at the second job | Less than eight hours per day |
| Fine on a company that hires without a permit | AED 50,000 |
The page does not say who pays the fees, you or the new employer, and it does not say how long approval takes. Ask the employer who will file the application, and ask for the receipt.
Work visa and family visa holders can both apply
The page says work visa holders can apply. That covers Emiratis, other GCC nationals and expatriate employees. Family visa holders can apply too, if they are aged 18 to 65 and have a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the sponsor. An NOC is a signed letter saying the sponsor has no objection.
That second route matters for a Pakistani spouse on a family visa who wants to work. The sponsor's NOC is the document that starts it. If the visa itself is in doubt, read how a UAE visa from Pakistan is applied for and tracked first.
- Check your main employment contract for any limit on outside work.
- Agree the part-time job, hours and pay with the second employer in writing.
- Get an NOC from your sponsor if you are on a family visa.
- Ask the second employer to apply for the permit, or find out who files it.
- Pay the AED 100 application fee and the AED 500 approval fee.
- Start work only after the permit is approved.
Skilled workers have a separate part-time contract route
The page describes a part-time contract system from 2018. Skilled workers with university degrees or two to three year technical diplomas can take several part-time jobs without the approval of the original or other secondary employers. They must still take a permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
So the degree or diploma route removes the need for your first employer's approval. It does not remove the permit. The page does not list the documents for this route, and we did not find them on the pages we read, so check them with MoHRE.
Working without the permit lands the fine on the hiring company
The page says that if an expatriate is caught working for another company without an official permit, a fine of AED 50,000 is applied to the hiring company, with other penalties for repeat offences. The page does not state a penalty for the worker.
That does not make it safe for the worker. The page lists "other penalties" for repeat offences without naming them, so an unpermitted second job carries a risk you cannot measure. A Pakistani stuck in a dispute abroad can find Foreign Office and embassy help through the numbers we list.
Common questions
Can I do a second job in the UAE?
Yes, with a part-time work permit. The UAE government page says the Labour Law allows a part-time job beside a full-time one, subject to conditions.
How much is the part-time work permit?
The page lists AED 100 as the application fee and AED 500 as the approval fee, for a permit valid for one year.
Can a family visa holder work part-time?
Yes, if aged 18 to 65 and with an NOC from the sponsor, according to the page.
Do I need my first employer's permission?
Not if you are a skilled worker with a university degree or a two to three year technical diploma under the 2018 part-time contract system. You still need the MoHRE permit.
What happens if I work without a permit?
The page says the hiring company is fined AED 50,000, with further penalties for repeat offences. It does not state a penalty for the worker.
How many hours can I work at the second job?
Less than eight hours per day, according to the page.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the UAE government page on working for two employers at one time on 12 October 2026. Fees and conditions change by ministerial decision, so confirm them on MoHRE's own service page before you apply.
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.
