The Dubai visa quota refers to the maximum number of residency visas that a company is permitted to issue to its employees and partners. It is essential for business owners planning to hire staff, sponsor partners, or expand their business in the UAE to understand these quotas, as they determine the maximum number of people their company can employ.
Contact Creative Zone to receive expert advice and assistance that will help optimize your business setup for the growth you foresee. This sort of planning is becoming increasingly important because the UAE business sector experiences exponential growth annually. Interestingly, the total number of business establishments in the national labor market grew by 33% between mid-2024 and mid-2025.
What is a Dubai visa quota?
A Dubai visa quota is essentially the limitation imposed by the government on the total number of residency visas that a business can have under its trade license. This cap is an allocation from authorities such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for mainland companies or the Free Zone Authority for free zone businesses.
The process is designed to ensure that companies genuinely have a physical office and have the financial means to take care of the employees they bring into the country. It stops shell companies from sponsoring persons who then do not get actual employment from the said company. Whenever a business tries to get a visa for a new hire, the system will verify the company’s remaining quota. If the allowed employee allocation has already been used, the application will be automatically declined.
Why visa quotas matter for business owners in Dubai
Visa quotas matter because they set the limit for your company’s potential growth and capacity to operate in the UAE. If a quota is not available, you will not be able to legally hire new staff, which can result in a shortage of resources and losing out on market opportunities during times of rapid growth.
The quota is a valuable strategic resource for businesses. As an example, if you intend to open a service company that will require 20 field technicians but your initial license and office setup allow only five visas, your entire business model will be jeopardized even before you start. Being aware of your quota is helpful for the budgeting process, as the expenses related to increasing your quota (typically by acquiring a larger office space) have to be included in your financial forecasts for the long run.
How Dubai visa quotas are calculated
Dubai visa quotas are determined by the combination of aspects such as the company’s location, the actual area of its registered office, the kind of business activities it performs, and its history of compliance with UAE labor laws. The officials use these criteria to come up with a realistic employee allocation quota for the business. This ensures that any place of work is not overfilled and that the business activity warrants the number of employees.
Business jurisdiction (mainland vs. free zone)
The rules governing visa quotas for mainland and free zone companies come from different regulatory bodies and therefore differ significantly. Mainland companies are regulated by MOHRE, a government department. The federal framework and strict rules ensure that regulations apply to the whole country. On the other hand, free zones are independent entities that offer more accommodating packages where the number of visas is bundled with the license regardless of the physical square footage.
Office size and Ejari registration
The factor that has the most influence on the quota is the physical size of the office, which has been documented with a registered Ejari (lease) agreement. In the mainland, each visa is allocated an average office space of 9 to 10 square meters. This means that, if your office space is 100 square meters, then you can generally get a quota of 10 visas. Authorities may carry out physical inspections to determine whether the space has the necessary desks and other facilities required for the number of allotted visas.
Business activity and license type
The type of business you run significantly affects whether you are allowed additional visas. Take, for instance, a cleaning company or a construction firm; by their very nature, they will need a much bigger workforce than, say, a digital consultancy. In situations like these, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) or the Free Zone Authority may grant an ‘exceptional quota’ to the business owner if they can support their claim with contracts or project tenders showing the need for a bigger team.
Company compliance and history
An organization’s past dealings with the UAE government will have an impact, either positive or negative, on quota approvals. Those companies that regularly pay their employees’ wages via the Wages Protection System (WPS), keep valid insurance for all their staff, and do not have any labor disputes are considered good and reliable. On the other hand, a record of labor violations combined with the habit of late renewals can result in a company being ‘blocked’ and not allowed any quota increases until the company’s issues are rectified.
Visa quotas for mainland companies in Dubai
Visa quotas for Mainland businesses are determined by the size of office premises as per the records with MOHRE. The usual formula for the visa quota by the MOHRE is one visa for every 100 sq ft or about 9.29 square meters of the office area.
On the mainland, to get or increase a quota, you first need to have a physical office, and the lease must be registered through Ejari. When the Ejari is uploaded to the MOHRE system, the quota is updated automatically or done through a short inspection process. It should be noted that ‘virtual offices’ or ‘flexi-desks’ are usually not considered by MOHRE for mainland licenses. A permanent, physical, partitioned space is the minimum requirement for a mainland license to hire staff.
Visa quotas for free zone companies in Dubai
Free zone visa quotas are subject to the regulations of the particular free zone authority, the type of license package bought, and the choice of physical workspace. Compared to the mainland, numerous free zones have startup or freelance packages offering a set number of visas (usually 1 to 3) without the need for a physical office, using “flexi, desk” or “smart, office” options.
When a free zone company expands beyond the initial package, the owner is generally required to upgrade the lease to a physical office or a larger suite in the free zone’s jurisdiction. Every free zone, like DMCC, DIFC, or DAFZA, has its own internal calculator. For example, one might permit a visa for every 8 square meters, while the other might be more stringent. Free zones’ flexibility is a major draw for tech startups, but business owners should also keep in mind that if they reach their package limit, the expense of switching to a physical office for more visas can be quite substantial.
How many visas can a Dubai company obtain?
A Dubai company can get as many visas as its physical office space and business requirements can justify. Essentially, there is no upper limit for large enterprises. Typically, for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the number is limited by the office’s square footage, whereas large corporations with thousands of square meters of space can easily sponsor hundreds or even thousands of employees.
Start-up businesses running a Smart Desk or “Flexi Desk setup in a free zone may be limited to 2 or 3 visas. If you need more, the only option is a physical office move. On the mainland, there is no other limit apart from how much rent you are willing to pay for the larger space, given that your business activity is capable of justifying the headcount. If you can demonstrate that there is a contract requiring 50 people while your office can only accommodate 20, you may request a temporary quota increase; however, these requests are always heavily scrutinized.
How to increase your visa quota in Dubai
Increase the number of your visa quotas by either remodeling your office to accommodate the required square footage or by writing an application to the authorities for an ‘exceptional quota’ based on your growing business. For this, you need to show that your existing staff level does not satisfy your operational needs or the requirements of your contract.
Upgrading office space
The simplest method of securing more visas is through acquiring bigger office space or extending the current one. After the new Ejari (for mainland) or lease agreement (for free zones) has been registered and updated in the system, the authorities will reassess your quota according to the new size. This means that if you are relocating from a 50 sqm office to a 150 sqm one, your standard quota allocation on the mainland would be tripled.
Applying for additional quota approvals
If the square footage of your office is enough and you just need more visas because your work projects have increased rapidly, then you can request an additional quota approval from MOHRE or your Free Zone Authority. Normally, it involves a letter of explanation, a few copies of your new service contracts, or proof showing a huge increase in the amount of work. You might have to pay a service charge, and an officer may come and inspect your office to make sure that it’s physically safe to put in more desks.
Hiring Emirati nationals (if applicable)
In many cases, meeting Emiratization targets is one way to gain quicker approvals for more expatriate visa quotas. It is a well-known fact that the UAE government promotes the employment of UAE nationals in the private sector; therefore, those companies that take proactive measures to hire Emiratis and meet or even exceed their targets are often elevated by MOHRE to their “Gold” or “Tier 1” status. This status grants a number of advantages, such as faster processing and more leeway in the application for additional quotas for foreign skills.
Demonstrating business growth and revenue
Expanding businesses that demonstrate a continuous rise in sales and have sound finances are typically granted higher quotas. When requesting an ‘exceptional’ raise, it is a good move to submit your audited financial statements or bank statements that show your capability of paying the salaries and benefits of a larger workforce. Officials want to make sure that the business is viable and that the newly hired workers will not be deserted without pay.
Documents required to apply for or increase visa quota
The documents required to apply for or increase a visa quota are largely centered around legal company existence and physical workspace capacity. Typically, you will be asked to submit:
- Trade License: To evidence that the company is currently operating and is officially allowed to conduct business.
- Ejari Certificate (Mainland) or Lease Agreement (Free Zone): To confirm the office area in square meters.
- Establishment Card (Establishment Map): This card, issued by the immigration department, serves as proof of the company’s enrollment in the immigration database.
- Labor Computer Card: Only mainland companies need this card for dealings with MOHRE.
- Photos of the Office: Showing the workstation and company signage (in some cases, this is required for online submissions).
- Company Work Plan or Contracts: When applying for an exemption based on high-volume business activities.
Cost of Dubai visa quotas
The cost of Dubai visa quotas is not a single flat rate but is made up of government processing fees, office rental increments, and fixing company records administrative charges. While the first quota allocation is usually free, it is linked to your license and the lease. Increasing that quota will come with additional costs.
On the mainland, MOHRE charges a ‘quota modification’ or ‘electronic work permit’ fee, which may range from AED 200 to AED 500 per application. This will exclude any inspection fees. In the free zones, the cost is usually related to the visa package upgrade.
For instance, upgrading your 3-visa package to a 6-visa package may result in an additional AED 10 000 to AED 15 000 annually in increased lease or license fees. The renewal fees of the ‘Establishment Card’ have to be taken into consideration, as these are required to maintain your quota status.
Common visa quota challenges for business owners
Business owners frequently run into problems when their business grows beyond their administrative setup. This results in “quota blocks” that can halt hiring entirely. Knowing these issues can be a great help to you if you stay one step ahead and plan out the future. Here are a few of the most common challenges for business owners:
- Physical space limitations: The most common issue is the square footage restriction. It can be that a company has the income to employ 20 people, but only owns a very trendy small office that only legally allows for five. To fix this is the logistical and financial headache of moving or leasing extra units, and this could be a big capital expenditure.
- Delayed inspections and approvals: MOHRE or Free Zone inspectors might be required to inspect the site if you are applying for an increase. Delays in arranging these inspection appointments may cause recruitment to be postponed for several weeks. In case the inspector discovers that the office does not have enough desks or ‘proper’ workstations for the number of visas requested, the application will be denied. In this case, the owner will have to fix the office space and submit a new application.
- Inconsistent Free Zone rules: Each free zone functions as a separate mini-kingdom, complete with its own rules. Someone who owns businesses, one in Dubai South and the other in JAFZA, will discover that the quota figures and expenses are totally different. This non-uniformity can be quite confusing for owners who handle many companies and, therefore, need expert understanding for each local government.
Why choose Creative Zone for visa quota planning and management
Creative Zone assists business owners in evaluating their current and future visa needs, deciding on the most economical office solution, and accurately handling the entire quota application process. Simply put, we know that your time and energy should be focused on growing your business rather than figuring out government square footage requirements.
Our team makes sure that your business setup in Dubai is ready for growth from day one.
Creative Zone offers complete immigration and PRO support to ensure your Ejari, Establishment Cards, and MOHRE files are perfectly aligned to support your hiring plans. Whether you are seeking compliance assistance or the perfect partner for your scalability journey, Creative Zone will be there with you, every step of the way.
Frequently asked questions
How many visas can a company sponsor in Dubai?
A company can sponsor any number of visas, but it is limited by the company’s physical office space. Usually, the office space is calculated on the basis of one visa per 9-10 square meters of office area.
Can I get a visa without renting an office in Dubai?
Yes, many free zones have “Flexi, desk” or “Smart Office” licenses that allow for one to three visas to be issued without physically occupying an office.
How do I increase my visa quota?
You can increase it either by leasing a larger office and registering the new Ejari or requesting an exceptional increase on the basis of new contracts.
Do free zone companies have visa limits?
Yes, free zone companies are limited by the number of visas they are allowed to purchase and by the size of the office space they lease within the free zone’s jurisdiction.
What happens if I exceed my visa quota?
The new application for the visa will be refused. You will have to cancel an existing visa to allow for any new allocations.
