Employment and training of 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.



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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:

  1. a clear coloured photo with a white background
  2. a written consent signed by the juvenile's guardian or custodian
  3. a certificate of fitness for the work required, issued by the medical authority
  4. a copy of the passport and a copy of a valid residence permit
  5. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. The position must be consistent with the activity of the establishment.
  3. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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:

The Arab Charter of Human Rights (2008)

Training and employing students

Since 2016, the UAE has issued many resolutions including Administrative Resolution No. 22 of 2022 that have enabled students to work and get trained at establishments in the UAE.

According to Administrative Resolution No. 22 of 2022, any establishment may train students aged 15 years and above, on the condition of a written contract. The contract must include:

  • the areas of training
  • duration of the training period
  • weekly and other holidays
  • the value of the bonus, if any, and any privileges granted to the trainee.

Additionally, any establishment may recruit students aged 15 years and above during their academic holidays, for maximum three consecutive months each time. An employment contract must clarify the nature of work, its duration, the wage, weekly holiday and the number of daily working hours. 

 

Conditions for employing or training students

In addition to the general conditions listed in Article 5 of the UAE Labour Law, other conditions include:

 

  • a clear coloured photo with a white background
  • a copy of Emirates ID showing proof of the ‘student’ status
  • a valid UAE residence visa for expatriate students
  • written consent from the parent or legal guardian for students aged between 15 and 18
  • a medical fitness certificate issued by an authorised medical authority
  • in case of training, a ‘no objection’ certificate from the educational institute in which the student is enrolled.

 

 

* Text provided by MoHRE

Updated On :

02 Sep 2025

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