VoxxArrive · Jurisdiction
Hiring & onboarding in DMCC: visas, contracts, gratuity
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre is a non-financial Dubai free zone, so - unlike DIFC and ADGM - it applies the UAE federal labour law (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021) alongside the DMCC Free Zone Rules and Regulations, rather than a bespoke common-law employment code. The free zone authority itself sponsors employees, issuing visas through GDRFA Dubai rather than via the MOHRE work-permit system.
What's different
- As a non-financial free zone, DMCC applies the federal UAE labour law (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021) together with the DMCC Free Zone Rules and Regulations - there is no separate DIFC/ADGM-style employment statute and no common-law court; substantive rights (gratuity, notice, leave, working hours) track the federal law.
- End-of-service benefit is the standard federal gratuity - there is no mandatory DEWS-style savings scheme as in DIFC.
- The DMCC free zone authority (not the individual employer) sponsors the employee's residence visa; work permits are handled through DMCC rather than MOHRE.
- The residence visa follows the standard three-step Dubai process: entry permit, then medical fitness test, then the residence-visa stamp/Emirates ID, all processed through DMCC and GDRFA Dubai.
Which onboarding steps this affects
This affects 20 of the 57 onboarding tasks, concentrated in the Pre-boarding, Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, Month 3+ phases. Work through them in the live demo to see the compliance-readiness score respond as each is ticked off.
Your task slice
20 of the 57 onboarding tasks apply here.
Verify MOHRE establishment card is active and labour quota is available for the role
Establishment card / labour quota confirmation
Issue MOHRE-standard job offer letter and obtain the employee's signed copy
MOHRE job offer letter (signed)
Apply for the MOHRE work permit (labour card) via Tasheel/MOHRE portal
Work permit approval
Apply for entry permit (e-visa) or initiate in-country status change
Entry permit (60-day validity)
Collect and attest pre-boarding documents (passport, photos, degree/qualification attestation)
Attested document pack
Prepare fixed-term employment contract aligned to the signed offer
Employment contract (draft)
Define working hours, overtime, and weekly rest-day terms in the contract
Employee signs the employment contract on Day 1
Signed employment contract
Collect original passport and entry permit for residence visa processing
Book and complete medical fitness test at an approved centre (communicable-disease screening)
Medical fitness certificate
Submit residence visa application to GDRFA/ICP after medical and EID biometrics
Complete residence visa stamping / e-visa linking to the passport
Residence visa
Register the signed employment contract with MOHRE within the statutory deadline
MOHRE-registered labour contract
Confirm health insurance activation is linked to the residency file
Verify residence visa and Emirates ID are fully issued (post-entry chain within 60 days)
Confirm gratuity/end-of-service accrual tracking has started in payroll
Assemble audit-ready employee compliance file (contract, visa, EID, insurance)
Employee compliance file
File original Emirates ID and residence visa copies in the personnel record
Issue confirmation-of-employment letter on passing probation
Confirmation letter
Confirm health insurance validity aligns with residency expiry
Some figures on this page vary by jurisdiction, zone or nationality, or could not be independently confirmed from a public source at time of writing - confirm the current figure with the regulator before relying on it.
Sources
Frequently asked
Which labour law governs DMCC employees?
DMCC is a non-financial free zone, so employment is governed by the UAE federal labour law (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021) together with the DMCC Free Zone Rules and Regulations. Unlike DIFC or ADGM, there is no standalone free-zone employment statute or common-law court.
Does DMCC have a DEWS-style end-of-service scheme?
No. End-of-service benefit in DMCC follows the standard federal gratuity model rather than a mandatory funded savings scheme. DEWS is specific to the DIFC financial free zone.
Who sponsors a DMCC employee's visa?
The DMCC free zone authority sponsors the employee, not the mainland MOHRE system. The company applies through the DMCC portal and GDRFA Dubai, and the employer bears the visa costs.
What are the steps to get a DMCC residence visa?
It is a three-step process: obtain the entry permit, complete the mandatory medical fitness test after activation, then have the residence-visa stamp placed in the passport and obtain the Emirates ID - all handled through DMCC and Dubai immigration.