Employing minors
Children below the age of 15 are prohibited from being employed in the UAE. Those between the ages of 15 and 18 years are allowed to work, subject to several conditions, and after getting juvenile work permits. Students aged 15 years and above are allowed to work and get trained at operating establishments on the condition of a written contract.
General provisions
According to Article 5 of the UAE Labour Law, it is prohibited to employ juveniles under the age of 15). Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation does not issue work permits to juveniles below this age, whether Emiratis or expatriate residents.
However, the law permits juveniles aged 15 to 18 to work under official work permits issued by the ministry, provided that the employer meets certain requirements, which include:
- a clear coloured photo with a white background
- a written consent signed by the juvenile's guardian or custodian
- a certificate of fitness for the work required, issued by the medical authority
- a copy of the passport and a copy of a valid residence permit
- the employment contract approved by the ministry and containing the signature of the employer and the employee.
Terms and conditions:
According to the law, juveniles may not be employed at night. They may not be employed in industrial projects, or in work that is dangerous or harmful to their health. Read the other terms and conditions for hiring juveniles.
- The job must not fall within the list of prohibited occupations for juveniles, or be in the hazardous or restricted jobs as determined by ministerial resolution except for skilled roles at levels 1 and 2 or licensed professions.
- The position must be consistent with the activity of the establishment.
- The establishment's licence must be valid and there must be no violations leading to suspension of the activity in accordance with the legal regulations.
The application for the work permit must be submitted by the person legally authorised to sign on behalf of the establishment. Note:
- The juvenile must not already hold an active work permit. No insurance or bank guarantee is required for the issuance of a juvenile work permit.
- No electronic quota allocation is required for the issuance of a juvenile work permit.
Read more about the UAE’s system for employing minors in Article 4 of the Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 on the Implementation of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationships.
The UAE is a party to the following international human rights treaties on children:
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1997)
- ILO Conventions on the subjects of working hours, forced labour, labour inspections, night work for women, equal pay, the minimum age for employment and the worst forms of child labour
- The Convention against Transnational Organised Crime: the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (The Palermo Protocol)
Updated on:
12 Aug 2026
