If I was residing in the UAE with a property related visa, would I also be allowed to work for a company? Would they just have to provide a labour card, in the same way a wife does if she is sponsored by her husband? AB, Lebanon
If someone resides in the UAE by way of a residency visa related to ownership of a property this does not permit them to take up employment. Property-related visas are considered a type of visit visa, so neither the holder nor any dependents are permitted to work in the UAE. To become an employee, the property visa would have to be cancelled and the individual would have to be sponsored in the usual way. The same applies if someone wants to set up their own business; they would have to cancel the existing visa and arrange an employment-related residency visa via the entity with the trade licence.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with over 20 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only.
