The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to draw global businesses with its robust economy, skilled talent pool, and strategic location. However, navigating local labor laws, Emiratization policies, visa processes, and payroll systems can be complex—especially for companies without a legal entity in the region. This is where Employer of Record service providers offer a powerful solution.
These providers enable international companies to hire compliantly in the UAE by managing employment contracts, work visas, payroll, and regulatory compliance. Whether you’re expanding into Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or a free zone, a reliable EOR partner streamlines the process and reduces legal risk.
This guide explores the top Employer of Record service providers in the UAE for 2025, outlines how EOR solutions work, and helps you identify the best-fit partner to meet your hiring and compliance needs in the UAE’s evolving employment landscape.
Table of Contents
- What is an Employer of Record (EOR) in UAE?
- Why Global Companies Use EORs to Hire in the UAE
- Benefits of Using an EOR in the UAE
- How to Choose the Right EOR Service Provider in the UAE
- Top EOR Providers in UAE (2025)
- Compliance Factors When Hiring in the UAE via EOR
- Why Choose Asanify as Your EOR Partner in the UAE
- FAQs
- Conclusion
What is an Employer of Record (EOR) in UAE?
An Employer of Record (EOR) in the UAE is a third-party service provider that legally hires employees on behalf of your company. While you maintain full control over day-to-day tasks, the EOR takes care of labor contracts, payroll, work permits, visa sponsorship, social contributions, and compliance with UAE labor law.
EORs in the UAE are especially useful for hiring across free zones or the mainland without needing to register a local company or branch.
Why Global Companies Use EORs to Hire in the UAE
For foreign companies entering the UAE market, EOR services provide a streamlined path to compliance and workforce expansion.
- Quick Market Entry: Hire and onboard talent in as little as 7–10 days without entity formation.
- Reduced Operational Costs: Eliminate the need to set up a mainland license or free zone entity.
- Legal Compliance: Avoid risks related to visa violations, payroll mismanagement, or Emiratization quotas.
- Focus on Growth: Delegate HR, payroll, and regulatory complexity to your EOR partner.
Benefits of Using an EOR in the UAE
Employer of Record (EOR) providers in the UAE offer essential support for global companies looking to hire talent without setting up a local entity. Their services ensure full compliance with labor laws while simplifying workforce management. Key benefits include:
- Legal Employment Without Entity Setup
EORs act as the legal employer, allowing companies to hire staff in the UAE without registering a mainland or free zone business. - Compliant Employment Contracts
They draft and issue bilingual contracts that comply with UAE Labour Law or relevant Free Zone Authority regulations, clearly outlining job terms, compensation, and benefits. - Work Visa and Immigration Management
EORs handle the entire visa process, including medical testing, Emirates ID issuance, labor card registration, and visa stamping. - Payroll and Gratuity Administration
Providers manage WPS-compliant payroll (for mainland hires), tax-free salary disbursements, and end-of-service gratuity as per UAE labor reforms. - Employee Benefits and Leave Tracking
EORs ensure mandatory health insurance is provided and manage leave balances, annual holidays, and sick leave in accordance with law. - Government and Legal Compliance
They ensure adherence to regulations set by MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation), immigration departments, and GOSI (for GCC nationals), helping companies avoid penalties and legal risks.
By outsourcing employment functions to a trusted EOR, businesses can focus on growth while ensuring every aspect of hiring and HR administration in the UAE is handled compliantly and efficiently.
How to Choose the Right EOR Service Provider in the UAE
To select the best Employer of Record (EOR) provider in the UAE, it’s essential to evaluate multiple key factors that directly impact your hiring success and legal compliance:
- Visa Sponsorship Capabilities: Confirm that the EOR has the ability to sponsor work visas across various UAE jurisdictions, including both mainland and different free zones. They should also handle Emirates ID issuance, medical tests, and residence visa stamping.
- Mainland vs Free Zone Expertise: Different UAE zones have distinct employment and visa regulations. Choose an EOR with proven experience managing hires in both mainland and free zone jurisdictions to ensure flexibility and compliance regardless of your location preference.
- Payroll Accuracy: Your EOR should support Wage Protection System (WPS)-compliant payroll processing for mainland employees and ensure timely, accurate, and tax-free salary disbursements in local AED currency or as per your agreement.
- Gratuity and Leave Management: The provider must adhere to UAE labor reforms, including accurate calculation of end-of-service benefits, paid leave entitlements, and holiday structures in line with UAE Labor Law.
- Client Support: Look for an EOR that offers responsive, multilingual account managers and HR teams with local expertise. Strong support ensures smooth onboarding, quick issue resolution, and ongoing HR compliance.
Suggested Read: Employer of Record UAE: A Comprehensive Guide 2025
Top EOR Providers in UAE (2025)
Here’s a curated list of top Employer of Record (EOR) service providers helping companies expand into the UAE in 2025:
1. Asanify
Asanify enables fast, compliant hiring in the UAE through its integrated EOR platform. It handles visa sponsorship, payroll in AED or USD, WPS filings, contract compliance, and benefits administration. Asanify is ideal for global companies looking to hire in the UAE while scaling operations in the Middle East.
2. Remote
Remote helps businesses hire employees in the UAE without local incorporation. They manage visa processing, employment contracts, and payroll while offering a centralized platform for compliance and reporting.
3. Deel
Deel’s EOR services in the UAE cover everything from contract generation to employee onboarding and work permit issuance. Deel offers deep compliance insights and a global dashboard to manage UAE-based and international hires.
4. Oyster
Oyster enables companies to compliantly hire talent in the UAE by overseeing local legal employment, including visa services and gratuity payments. It’s known for user-friendly software and global-first HR tools.
5. Papaya Global
Papaya Global provides UAE workforce management with payroll, tax, and workforce analytics support. It specializes in WPS integration and offers reporting tools for multinationals with regional offices.
6. Velocity Global
Velocity Global delivers end-to-end hiring support for UAE, including visa sponsorship, labor contracts, and regional compliance. Their services are built for growing enterprises and distributed teams.
7. Globalization Partners
With a legal presence in the UAE, Globalization Partners offers employer of record services across both mainland and free zones. Their platform ensures compliance with UAE labor laws, visa norms, and gratuity regulations.
8. Safeguard Global
Safeguard Global specializes in complex payroll and compliance needs for the UAE, supporting international teams with a focus on secure workforce data and mobility planning.
9. Rippling
Rippling streamlines EOR in the UAE through automation—integrating onboarding, equipment setup, payroll, and HR support into a unified dashboard with UAE-specific modules.
10. Skuad
Skuad is ideal for startups and mid-sized firms seeking agile hiring in the UAE. They offer flexible contract options, visa sponsorship, and compliance guidance across multiple UAE free zones.
Compliance Factors When Hiring in the UAE via EOR
Employing talent in the UAE requires strict adherence to local labor rules. Your EOR should manage:
- Employment Contracts: Written contracts are required in Arabic and English, clearly outlining roles and compensation.
- Visa Sponsorship: Includes employment visa, Emirates ID, and medical testing through MOHRE or free zone authorities.
- WPS Payroll Compliance: Salaries must be paid via the UAE Wage Protection System for mainland hires.
- End-of-Service Benefits: Gratuity must be calculated and paid upon termination or resignation.
- Working Hours and Leaves: UAE mandates a 48-hour workweek, plus annual, sick, and maternity leaves.
- Health Insurance: Mandatory for employees in most Emirates.
Why Choose Asanify as Your EOR Partner in the UAE
Asanify is a leading EOR provider in the UAE, offering fast onboarding within 7–10 days, bilingual client support, and end-to-end visa and payroll management. The platform ensures WPS-compliant payroll, labor law-aligned contracts, and visa sponsorship across both mainland and key free zones. It also manages gratuity and employee benefits with full legal compliance. Whether you’re expanding across the GCC or hiring a single employee in Dubai, Asanify simplifies your UAE hiring process with speed, accuracy, and local expertise.
Suggested Read: Remote Employees Onboarding Checklist with EOR in UAE
Conclusion
Expanding into the UAE is full of opportunity—but navigating local labor laws, visas, and payroll can be complex. Partnering with a trusted Employer of Record (EOR) service provider streamlines hiring, ensures compliance, and eliminates the need for a local entity. With the right EOR, you can focus on growth while they handle the legal and administrative details.
Top EOR providers like Asanify, Deel, and Remote offer tailored solutions for hiring in both mainland UAE and free zones. Their expertise ensures smooth onboarding, legal compliance, and peace of mind as you scale your global team.
FAQs
An EOR is a legal employer on record that manages contracts, payroll, and visas while the client company controls day-to-day work.
Yes, using an EOR enables legal hiring across UAE cities without setting up a local branch.
Absolutely. Licensed EORs sponsor employment visas, handle medical testing, and issue Emirates IDs.
UAE law requires Arabic-language contracts. Most EORs provide bilingual versions for clarity.
For mainland hires, EORs must process salary via the Wage Protection System (WPS).
Yes, EORs work with approved free zone authorities for visa and labor compliance.
Gratuity is paid based on tenure and salary after termination/resignation. EORs calculate and manage this.
Yes, health coverage is mandatory and managed by the EOR as part of employment setup.
Typically ranges between $400–$1,200/month per employee, depending on role and benefits.
Yes, it is a compliant and widely used model for foreign companies.
Yes, EORs support smooth transitions to direct employment when you establish your own entity.
Most providers complete onboarding in 7–10 business days, pending document readiness.
Asanify offers fast onboarding, WPS-compliant payroll, free zone visa handling, and local HR support.
Not to be considered as tax, legal, financial or HR advice. Regulations change over time so please consult a lawyer, accountant or Labour Law expert for specific guidance.
