How to Use Tasheel Dubai for Labour Transactions

Tasheel Dubai: What It Is and How to Use It in 2025

If you're trying to file a labour transaction, renew a work permit, or submit any document to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in Dubai, you'll likely be sent to a Tasheel centre. Here's what Tasheel Dubai actually is, what it does, and how to avoid wasting an afternoon there.

Quick answer

Tasheel Dubai refers to the network of MOHRE-approved service centres across Dubai that process labour and employment transactions on behalf of the Ministry. You use Tasheel for work permit applications, labour contract attestation, employment offer letters, and worker complaints. Most transactions can now be done online via the MOHRE app or website, but Tasheel centres remain useful for biometrics, document scanning, and complex cases. Fees vary by transaction — a standard new work permit for a skilled worker runs around AED 300 plus typing fees of roughly AED 100–200.

What Tasheel actually does

Tasheel ("facilitation" in Arabic) is not a government body. It's the channel — a network of private service centres licensed by MOHRE to handle employer-side labour transactions. Think of them as the typing-centre layer between you and the Ministry.

Common transactions:

• New work permit applications and renewals
• Labour contract registration (the federal contract, not your private one)
• Employment offer letter submission — mandatory since 2016 under MOHRE rules
• Cancellation of work permits and labour cards
• Change of employer transactions
• Worker complaints filed by employees
• Establishment card applications for new companies

Tadbeer is the equivalent for domestic workers (maids, drivers, nannies). Don't confuse the two — domestic worker contracts go through Tadbeer centres under Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers, not Tasheel.

Honestly, most employers I work with haven't set foot in a Tasheel centre in years. The MOHRE smart app handles 80% of routine transactions. You'd visit physically for biometrics on a new hire, or when something gets stuck and you need a human.

Fees, timing, and what to bring

Fees depend on the employer's MOHRE classification (Category 1, 2, or 3 — based on Emiratisation, wage protection compliance, and skill mix) and the skill level of the worker.

Typical 2024–2025 fees - Work permit, skilled worker (Cat 2A employer): around AED 300 - Work permit, unskilled or low-skill: significantly higher, up to AED 5,000 - Labour contract registration: AED 100–300 - Tasheel typing fee: AED 100–200 per transaction - Bank guarantee (where required): AED 3,000 per worker, or insurance alternative under the MOHRE worker protection scheme

Processing is usually same-day for clean files. If MOHRE flags something — usually a Wage Protection System (WPS) issue, missing Emiratisation quota, or a mismatched job title — expect 2–5 working days while it sits in review.

What to bring for a new work permit:

• Trade licence copy
• Establishment card
• Employee passport copy, photo, qualifications
• Signed MOHRE offer letter (Arabic/English bilingual)
• Emirates ID of the PRO or authorised signatory
• Medical fitness certificate (for the residency stage, not always Tasheel)

A small but common trap: the job title on the work permit must match the job title on the labour contract, and ideally the visa. Mismatches trigger rejection at the residency stage even after Tasheel clears you.

Online vs. centre — when do you actually need to go?

For 90% of transactions, you don't. The MOHRE app (iOS and Android) and the MOHRE website cover work permit applications, contract amendments, complaint filing, and payment. Most PROs file everything digitally now.

You'll need a physical Tasheel visit when:

• A new employee needs biometric capture
• Documents must be scanned and uploaded with original sighting
• A complaint requires sworn statements or witness presence
• Your case has been flagged for manual review

Worker complaints are worth a separate note. An employee can file a labour complaint directly at any Tasheel centre, or through the MOHRE app, free of charge. MOHRE will attempt mediation within roughly 14 days; if unresolved, the file is referred to the Labour Court. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations and its 2022 amendments, claims under AED 50,000 follow a streamlined process. Most clients get this wrong — they think they need a lawyer to file a MOHRE complaint. You don't. You need one if it goes to court.

For broader context on employment matters, see our employment law category.

Picking a Tasheel centre and avoiding the queues

There are dozens of Tasheel centres across Dubai — Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Deira, Bur Dubai, JLT, Business Bay, and others. The official list sits on the MOHRE website. They're privately operated, so service quality varies wildly.

A few practical things:

Book an appointment online. Walk-ins technically work but you'll wait. The Al Barsha and Al Quoz centres handle high volumes of blue-collar transactions and can be slow in the morning. Centres in Business Bay and JLT skew towards white-collar files and move faster.

Bring a power of attorney if you're not the company signatory. PROs handle most of this work for a reason — they know which centre processes which transaction fastest, and which clerk to avoid.

Pay attention to MOHRE service charges versus Tasheel typing fees. They're separate line items. A centre charging AED 500 in "typing" for a routine work permit renewal is overcharging.

If you're running afoul of a worker on the other side of a complaint, or you've received a MOHRE notice you don't understand, don't try to handle it across the counter. Get advice first. The MOHRE inspector's notes on your file follow you, and inconsistent statements at the centre have a way of resurfacing in front of a judge.

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Citations

^[1] Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2022 — MOHRE. ^[2] Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers — UAE Official Gazette. ^[3] Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — Services and Fees Schedule, mohre.gov.ae. ^[4] MOHRE Ministerial Resolutions on Work Permit Categories and Establishment Classification (Cat 1/2/3) — mohre.gov.ae. ^[5] MOHRE Wage Protection System Circulars — mohre.gov.ae.