The UAE has cut work permit processing time dramatically — from up to 30 days down to just five. On 11 June 2024, the country launched Phase 2 of the Work Bundle platform, a unified digital service that streamlines work permits and residency visas for private-sector employers and employees across all seven emirates.
What Is the Work Bundle Platform?
The Work Bundle platform brings together several federal and local government entities under a single online portal. Key partners in Phase 2 include the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (FAIC), Emirates Health Services (EHS), the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
The result: employers can now submit requests and upload documents through one unified system, rather than navigating multiple separate bureaucracies.
UAE Work Permit Processing: What Has Changed
The improvements to UAE work permit processing are substantial:
- Processing time reduced from 20–30 days to 5 days - Required documents cut from 16 to just 5 - Number of procedural steps reduced from 15 to 5 - Required in-person visits reduced from 7 to 2
The platform is designed both to help employers recruit new expatriate staff and to allow existing employees to renew their work permits ahead of schedule.
Scale and Impact
Phase 1 of the Work Bundle was launched in April 2024, initially operating only in Dubai. Phase 2 expands the service nationwide, covering all seven emirates. The UAE government estimates the platform will benefit around 600,000 companies and more than 7 million employees domestically and abroad.
The initiative is aligned with the UAE's Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, which targets the elimination of duplicate procedures and redundant requirements across federal entities.
What Is Coming Next
An additional phase is planned to extend Work Bundle services to domestic workers. A Work Bundle mobile application is also currently in development, which will further improve accessibility for both businesses and employees.
For now, the platform is accessible via its dedicated webpage.
