Employer of Record in Abu Dhabi
Hiring in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Al Dhafra without your own company? We employ your people, handle their ICP visas and the family insurance Abu Dhabi law requires, and help them settle on the ground.
- Visa authority
- ICP
- Medical test
- From age 18
- Health insurance
- Employee + family
- Tenancy
- Tawtheeq
- Visa and permits
- AED 3,104
- Our fee
- AED 2,000/mo
What is different in Abu Dhabi
Federal labour law is the same in every emirate, outside the financial free zones. The authorities, the insurance rules and the paperwork on the ground are not.
Visas through ICP, not GDRFA
Residence visas and Emirates IDs for Abu Dhabi go through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The fee is AED 100 to apply, AED 100 for each year of validity and AED 100 for smart services. A full employment visa through us comes to about AED 3,104 before insurance (our estimate).
The family is on the employer’s policy
Abu Dhabi law makes the employer insure one spouse and up to three children under 18 who hold an Abu Dhabi residence visa, not only the employee. In Dubai the sponsor insures the family. Budget for it from the first quote.
Fines for missing cover
A sponsor who leaves someone uninsured is fined AED 300 a month for each person. Recovering the employer’s share of the premium from the employee costs AED 10,000 per person, and the money goes back to the employee.
The visa medical test
Every resident aged 18 or over takes a medical fitness test for the visa. We book the slot, confirm the fee when we book, and go with your hire.
Tawtheeq, not Ejari
Tenancy contracts in Abu Dhabi are registered through Tawtheeq. We check the contract, register it and set up the utilities with your hire.
Abu Dhabi nationals and the pension fund
Emiratis working in Abu Dhabi may be registered with an Abu Dhabi pension fund rather than GPSSA. We confirm the fund and the rates before the offer.
Where your hires will live
Annual rents for unfurnished homes: market asking rents, our estimate. No official rent index for Abu Dhabi was found, so check the housing allowance against current listings before the offer.
| Area | 1-bedroom flat | 2-bedroom flat | 3-bedroom flat | 3-bedroom villa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Reem Island Towers next to the city centre, popular with professionals | AED 80,000 | AED 110,000 | AED 150,000 | – |
| Khalifa City Villas and low-rise near the airport, more space for the money | AED 55,000 | AED 78,000 | AED 95,000 | AED 150,000 |
| Yas Island Newer communities, beaches and theme parks, 25 minutes to the city | AED 75,000 | AED 98,000 | AED 140,000 | AED 210,000 |
| Al Raha Beach Waterfront flats between the city and Yas | AED 111,000 | AED 146,000 | AED 187,000 | – |
Schools and the family
Private schools in Abu Dhabi are regulated by ADEK. Fees vary widely by school, so we shortlist with each school’s current fees. Places at the most popular schools go early, so we start the shortlist as soon as the offer is signed.
Family visas follow the federal rules: a salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 with housing provided, to sponsor a spouse and children. The difference in Abu Dhabi is the insurance: the employer covers one spouse and up to three children under 18 on an Abu Dhabi visa. See the visa page for the rest.
Questions we get asked
Something else? Ask us directly. A person answers, usually the same working day.
Can you employ someone who lives in Dubai but works in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Many people commute between the two cities. What matters is where the work happens and which emirate’s rules apply to insurance, so we set the contract and the policy up for the place of work.
Do you cover Al Ain and Al Dhafra?
Yes, both are part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. For energy and offshore roles in Al Dhafra, the operator’s site access and safety training rules apply on top of the visa.
Can you employ people who work in ADGM?
Employment inside ADGM works differently from the mainland. Tell us the role and we check before quoting.
How much does an Abu Dhabi hire cost?
For an expat on AED 22,500 a month, with the spouse and one child on the policy, expect about AED 26,488 a month including our fee, plus about AED 3,954 once for the visa and permits. Run your own numbers.
Hiring in Abu Dhabi?
Tell us the role, the salary and who is coming with them. We reply with the cost, Abu Dhabi insurance included, and a start date within one working day.