Your employer says your paperwork is done. But is it? In the UAE, the version of your employment that counts is the one registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), not the PDF in your inbox. If you know how to check your labour contract in the UAE, you can confirm your salary, job title and work permit on the official record in a few minutes.
This guide explains which official channels to use, what details you need, how to check whether a labour ban applies to you, and what to do if the registered contract does not match what you agreed. It also walks through the MoHRE labour complaint process for when a conversation with HR is not enough.
Who this guide applies to
The checks below cover private-sector employees on the UAE mainland, whose work permits and contracts MoHRE registers under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
- Free-zone employees have their free-zone authority as sponsor, and the UAE Labour Law generally does not govern them, according to the UAE Government portal. Check your contract and permit with that authority instead.
- Domestic workers fall outside the Labour Law and come under a separate law, although MoHRE’s enquiry portal does offer a domestic worker enquiry.
- Federal and local government employees follow their own HR rules.
Official channels for MoHRE checks
Use only these channels. Search results for MoHRE enquiries include several look-alike websites with names close to the ministry’s, so type the address yourself rather than clicking an ad or a forwarded link.
- MoHRE website: mohre.gov.ae
- MoHRE public enquiry portal: inquiry.mohre.gov.ae
- MoHRE app: available on Google Play and the App Store
- Call centre and WhatsApp: 600590000, which MoHRE lists as available 24/7
Every genuine government address ends in .gov.ae. A site that asks you to pay to “unlock” your contract, or to hand over your UAE Pass password, is not MoHRE.
What you can check, and what you need
| What you want to check | Where to check it | Details usually requested |
|---|---|---|
| Your registered labour contract | MoHRE website or app | Emirates ID or transaction number, or personal details confirmed by a one-time code |
| Work permit status | Enquiry portal: Electronic Work Permit | Person code or transaction number |
| Progress of an application | Enquiry portal: Application Status | Transaction number |
| Your employer’s registration | Enquiry portal: Company Information | Company number |
| A job offer before you sign | Enquiry portal: Job Offer Enquiry | Transaction number from the offer |
| Whether a labour ban applies | Call centre 600590000 | Your personal details |
Keep your passport, Emirates ID, the transaction number printed on your offer or contract, and your mobile phone nearby. Many services send a one-time code by SMS to confirm your identity.
How to check your labour contract in the UAE
Your employer should give you a copy of the contract, but checking the registered version directly is the only way to be sure what MoHRE holds on file. There are three routes.
Online through the MoHRE website
MoHRE offers a service for viewing an approved contract. Media guidance on the service describes searching by Emirates ID, transaction number or your personal details, then confirming with a code sent to your mobile. Menu names on government sites change from time to time, so if you cannot find it, search the MoHRE site for “contract”.
Through the MoHRE app
After logging in with UAE Pass, look under the employee services for your contract. The app route suits most people because it keeps your contract, permit and any complaint in one place.
By phone
If you cannot get online, call 600590000 and ask an agent to confirm the details of your registered contract. Have your Emirates ID ready.
What to compare once you have it
Put the registered contract next to the offer letter you signed and check each of these lines:
- Employer’s legal name
- Your job title
- Basic salary and each allowance, listed separately
- Contract start date
- Probation period
- Work location and working hours
Basic salary deserves the closest look. Employers calculate your end-of-service gratuity on basic pay, so a lower basic figure on the registered contract can reduce what you receive years later, even if your total monthly pay looks the same.
How to check your work permit status
Your work permit, often still called a labour card, is what allows you to work legally for a specific employer. Checking it confirms the permit exists, which company holds it and whether it is active.
- Open inquiry.mohre.gov.ae.
- Choose Electronic Work Permit to see its information and status. If MoHRE is still processing your permit, choose Application Status instead.
- Enter the requested number, usually your person code or the transaction number, plus any other fields the form asks for.
- Check that the employer name matches the company you actually work for.
A permit registered to a different company than your real employer is a serious warning sign. So is a permit that shows as cancelled while you are still working. Raise either with HR in writing straight away, and contact MoHRE if you do not get a clear answer.
The same portal’s Company Information option lets you look up an employer by company number, which is useful when you are unsure which legal entity actually employs you.
Checking a job offer before you sign
For a mainland private-sector role, the employer registers your offer with MoHRE before MoHRE issues your work permit, and the portal’s Job Offer Enquiry lets you confirm it. The UAE Government also states that once you sign, the employer cannot change the offer’s provisions without your consent.
If you are still at the offer stage, follow our step-by-step guide on how to verify a UAE job offer and employer, and read what to check in a UAE job offer letter before you sign.
How to check if you have a labour ban
Labour bans still exist, but they are narrower than many people assume. According to the UAE Government portal, a one-year ban on a new work permit can apply when:
- you end your contract during probation and the employer had not breached its obligations
- your employer files a work abandonment report against you and it proves valid
- MoHRE cancelled your work permit because a fictitious company held it
The same page lists exemptions for work abandonment cases, including workers sponsored on a family residence, moves within the same establishment, workers in professional skill levels the country needs, and Golden Visa holders.
To find out whether a ban applies to you, call MoHRE on 600590000. The service runs around the clock in several languages. If you are thinking about leaving during probation, read our guide to the probation period in the UAE first, because notice rules affect whether a ban can apply.
What to do if your contract does not match your offer
Mismatches are often administrative errors, so start with a calm, written request. Email HR, quote the offer letter and the registered contract, and ask for a correction by a specific date. Save every reply.
If the employer refuses, or the difference affects your pay, you can take it to MoHRE. The same applies to unpaid or late salary. UAE media and law firms report that, under a 2026 ministerial resolution, private-sector wages are due on the first of each month; our guide to the new UAE salary rule explains what employers now face when pay arrives late.
How to file a MoHRE labour complaint
MoHRE’s labour complaint service is open to both employees and employers when either side breaches the contract. According to MoHRE’s service page, the process works like this:
- Submit the complaint through the MoHRE website, app or another service channel. Employees provide their passport number, name, date of birth and nationality, and the ID card number is mandatory.
- Confirm with a one-time code sent by SMS or email. App submissions skip this step.
- MoHRE reviews the case and contacts both you and your employer.
- A legal advisor attempts a settlement, followed by a second attempt to reach an amicable agreement if needed.
- If it stays unresolved, MoHRE refers the complaint to the competent court. Depending on the claim, MoHRE may cancel the work permit instead.
MoHRE lists the service time as 14 working days. A few more points from the UAE Government’s labour dispute page and the law itself are worth knowing:
- MoHRE can decide disputes worth less than AED 50,000 itself.
- There is a time limit on claims. Since Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024 amended Article 54, it is two years from the end of the employment relationship. Some official summary pages still show the older one-year rule, so do not wait, and confirm your own deadline with MoHRE.
- If the two sides cannot settle amicably, the dispute goes to the labour court.
Before filing, collect your contract, payslips or bank statements showing salary deposits, and any emails with your employer. If your job has ended, our guides to termination of employment and resignation and final settlement explain what you are owed.
Never pay anyone to “fix” your permit or contract
Article 6(4) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 prohibits employers from charging workers recruitment and employment fees or costs, directly or indirectly. If an employer, agent or website demands money to issue, correct or check your permit, stop and contact MoHRE on 600590000.
Protect your details too. Never share your UAE Pass password or a one-time code with anyone, including someone who says they are calling from the ministry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check my labour contract online without my employer?
Yes. MoHRE’s website and app let employees view their registered contract using their own details, confirmed by a one-time code or UAE Pass. You do not need your employer’s permission.
Is a labour card the same as a work permit?
In everyday use, yes. “Labour card” is the older name people still use for the work permit that MoHRE issues for mainland private-sector jobs.
Can free-zone employees use the MoHRE portal?
Generally not for their contract or permit. Free-zone staff hold visas sponsored through their free-zone authority, which runs its own employment rules and systems. Contact that authority directly.
How long does a MoHRE complaint take?
MoHRE lists a service time of 14 working days for the complaint process. If the parties cannot settle at that stage, MoHRE refers the case to court, which takes longer.
What is the MoHRE phone number?
MoHRE’s service pages and the UAE Government portal list 600590000 for calls and WhatsApp. Older pages show other numbers, so rely on the one currently published on mohre.gov.ae.
Check first, then act
A five-minute check of your registered contract and work permit protects your salary, your gratuity and your right to change jobs later. Do it when you join, again after any promotion or pay change, and whenever something about your paperwork feels unclear.
If you are planning your next move, browse the latest jobs in UAE and apply to roles that match your experience. You can find more practical advice in our UAE career guides.
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. We checked it in September 2026 against MoHRE and UAE Government sources. Services and procedures can change, so confirm current requirements on mohre.gov.ae.
