Dubai continues to attract global talent, young professionals, and ambitious students in 2026. But alongside opportunity, the emirate follows clear employment-age rules designed to protect minors, regulate senior employment, and keep companies fully compliant.

Whether you’re an employer planning new hires or an individual looking to work, intern or train in Dubai, understanding who can work at which age and under what permit is essential. This guide breaks down minimum age to work, juvenile permits, student training permissions, senior worker conditions, and the overall work visa age framework—along with how Dubai Visa Center can help you handle the process correctly.

Snapshot: Dubai Employment Age Rules in 2026

Dubai’s employment framework in 2026 broadly follows these age categories:

Standard employees (18+): Can be issued regular work permits and employment visas under employer sponsorship.
Juvenile workers (15–18): May work only with a Juvenile Work Permit, under limited hours and strictly no night or hazardous work.
Children under 15: Not allowed to work.
Senior workers (around 60–65+): Hiring and renewals allowed, but often require extra approvals, age-band fees and shorter visa validity.

These rules apply whether you are hiring locally based residents or bringing in foreign employees on new employment visas.

Minimum Age to Work in Dubai – Who Can Be Employed and When

Standard Employees Aged 18 and Above

Once a worker turns 18, they can generally be employed as a standard employee, provided all other conditions are met. For this age group, employers can:

Apply for a work permit under company sponsorship
Complete medical fitness tests and Emirates ID biometrics
Secure a residence visa tied to the employment contract

For many professionals, this is the standard route to start working full-time in Dubai, whether in mainland companies or free zone entities.

Juvenile Workers Aged 15–18 Years

Residents aged between 15 and 18 may work, but only if they hold a Juvenile Work Permit. This option is commonly used for:

Part-time roles
Entry-level jobs
School or college-linked work experience

However, the law places strong protections around this category: guardian consent, medical fitness, and strict controls on hours and job types. Employers must treat juvenile recruitment as a special category, not as a cheaper or easier alternative to adult hiring.

Children Under 15 – Absolute Prohibition on Employment

Children under 15 years of age are simply not permitted to work. The ban protects:

Health and physical development
Access to education and schooling
Safety from exploitation and hazardous environments

Any attempt to employ a child below this age can result in serious penalties for the employer, including fines and sanctions on the company’s establishment file.

Senior Workers Aged 60–65+

Dubai also welcomes experienced professionals above 60 or even 65, especially in highly skilled roles. However, hiring or renewing visas for senior workers may require:

Additional approvals through the relevant authorities
Extra fees for higher age bands
Shorter or annually renewed residence visas instead of multi-year validity

Employers should plan senior hires carefully, building in visa costs and timelines as part of their HR strategy.

Juvenile Work Permit (15–18 Years): Eligibility, Documents & Key Conditions

Documents Required for a Juvenile Work Permit

To employ a minor between 15 and 18, companies must obtain a Juvenile Work Permit through the designated channels. Typical documents include:

Signed guardian/parent consent authorising the minor to work
Birth certificate or official ID confirming the child’s age
Medical fitness certificate from an approved medical centre
Valid UAE residence visas for the minor and guardian
Employer’s trade licence and active establishment file
Completed application forms with passport copies and photos

Submitting clear, up-to-date documents reduces back-and-forth with authorities and speeds up permit issuance.

Working Hours, Breaks & Night Work Restrictions for Juveniles

Worker protection is at the heart of juvenile employment rules. Common limits include:

Maximum 6 working hours per day
A minimum one-hour break during the day
No night shifts in industrial premises
No overtime or extended working hours
No work on official rest days without proper allowance and within the permitted framework

Employers must also schedule hours so that juvenile workers can continue their schooling where applicable. Continuous long shifts without proper breaks are not allowed.

Prohibited or Unsafe Jobs for Minors

Minors cannot work in jobs considered dangerous or harmful to their physical or mental health. Examples include:

Heavy or high-risk construction activities
Jobs involving toxic substances or strong chemicals
High-noise, high-heat, or otherwise hazardous industrial operations
Any occupation officially classified as unsafe for juveniles by the authorities

Before offering a minor any role, employers must ensure the position falls fully within the allowed categories.

Student Training & Part-Time Permits for School & University Students

Who Can Apply and Typical Use Cases

Dubai actively supports skill development by allowing students to gain real-world experience under controlled permits. In many cases:

School students aged 12–18 (residents) can obtain training permits for curriculum-linked internships or practical learning.
University and college students can hold part-time work or internship permits with approved employers.

These schemes are ideal for:

Summer internships
Industry placements
Short-term project-based roles

They give students exposure to the workplace while keeping them within labour-law protections.

Application Process, Duration & Employer Responsibilities

Student training and part-time permits are usually:

Requested through authorised channels by the employer, sometimes with institutional endorsement
Supported by guardian consent for minors, plus student IDs and visa details
Linked to a specific company, role and duration—often up to 12 months

Employers must:

Respect permitted working hours and nature of duties
Provide safe working environments and supervision
Clearly explain training goals and responsibilities

Permits are not a shortcut to full-time employment; they are a structured pathway for learning.

UAE Work Visa Age Limits for Foreign Employees in 2026

Standard Employment Route for Workers Aged 18+

For foreign nationals coming to Dubai to work, the typical route in 2026 includes:

Obtaining initial work permit approval from the relevant authority
Issuance of an entry permit or in-country status change
Completing medical fitness tests
Capturing Emirates ID biometrics
Issuing the residence visa and signing the labour contract

This pathway is generally open to workers aged 18 and above, subject to education level, job title, and company category.

Extra Approvals, Fees & Conditions for Senior Workers 60–65+

When hiring or renewing visas for workers above a certain age threshold (often from 60 or 65 onwards), employers should expect:

Additional approvals or verification
Higher age-band fees in some categories
Shorter visa validity, typically renewable every year

High-value senior professionals are still in demand; the key is to plan ahead and budget for age-related costs in HR forecasts.

Contract Registration, Emirates ID & Medical Fitness

No matter the worker’s age, legal employment requires:

A registered labour contract consistent with actual duties and salary
A valid Emirates ID, required for banking, housing, health insurance, and most services
A medical fitness certificate clearing the worker to live and work in the UAE

Skipping or delaying any of these steps exposes both worker and employer to compliance risks.

Working Hours, Overtime & Leave – Quick Rules for 2026

Standard Work Hours & Overtime Basics

In Dubai’s private sector, the typical work pattern is centred on a Monday–Friday workweek, with Saturday–Sunday as weekend days for most companies. Labour rules regulate:

Maximum standard daily and weekly hours
Conditions for overtime, including applicable rates
Entitlements to weekly rest days, official holidays and annual leave

Actual limits and benefits may differ slightly between sectors and free zones, but employers must always align contracts with the governing rules.

Special Limits for Juvenile Workers

For juveniles, the law is stricter:

Maximum 6 hours per day
Mandatory rest breaks built into the schedule
No overtime, night industrial work, or hazardous tasks

Employers who ignore these limits risk fines and potential suspension of their ability to hire juveniles in the future.

Compliance Checklist: Best Practices for Employers Hiring in 2026

To stay compliant with Dubai’s employment age rules, employers should:

Verify the candidate’s date of birth and passport details before choosing the permit type
Use Juvenile Work Permits for any worker aged 15–18, and never treat them as standard employees
Avoid hiring under-15s under any circumstances
Plan renewals and approvals early for workers 60+
Ensure training and part-time roles for students are covered by the appropriate training or student permit
Keep accurate records of working hours, contracts, and guardians’ consents where applicable

A structured approach reduces the risk of penalties and ensures safer, more professional workplaces.

Common Application Errors & How to Avoid Rejection

Even well-intentioned employers can run into issues when they:

Choose the wrong permit type (for example, trying to hire a 16-year-old as a standard employee)
Skip guardian consent or medical fitness documents for minors
Use job titles that don’t match the company’s licensed activities
Submit applications with expired passports, trade licences or establishment cards
Delay contract registration or Emirates ID procedures after obtaining initial work approval

To avoid rejection or delays: double-check every document, make sure names and dates align across all records, and match each age band to the correct permit route.

Why Apply for Work & Training Permits Through Dubai Visa Center

Dubai Visa Center helps employers and workers navigate these rules smoothly by offering:

Compliance-first guidance that aligns age, role and sector with the correct permit or visa
End-to-end handling of applications—from work permits and entry permits to medicals, biometrics appointments, and residence visa steps
Detailed document checks to catch errors before they reach the authorities
Support across the full spectrum of cases: juvenile permits, student training permits, standard employment visas and senior worker renewals

Instead of piecing together procedures from multiple sources, you work with a single team that understands Dubai’s current employment and visa framework.

Final Call to Action – Start Your Dubai Work/Training Permit Process Online

If you are planning to hire staff in Dubai in 2026—or you’re a worker or student preparing to begin your professional journey—you cannot afford mistakes around age rules and permits.

Start your Dubai work or training permit process through Dubai Visa Center. With guided permit selection, precise documentation support, and smooth coordination of all visa stages, you can focus on growing your business or career while staying fully compliant with Dubai’s employment regulations.

Apply now and move forward with confidence in Dubai’s dynamic job market.

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