UAE labour violations fell 15% in the first half of 2026
Inspections by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation found 15% fewer private-sector labour violations in the first half of 2026, with illegal hiring and unpaid wages still the most common offences.
Photo: Piotr Zarobkiewicz (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Ministry inspectors recorded a 15% year-on-year drop in labour violations at private-sector establishments during the first six months of 2026, and the number of cases referred to the Public Prosecution fell sharply over the same period.
The two offences that continue to dominate enforcement are employing workers outside the terms of their permit and failing to pay salaries on time through the Wage Protection System.
- Illegal or out-of-scope hiring remains the single most cited violation
- Late or missing wage payments are the second most cited
- Referrals to prosecution dropped by roughly half year on year
- Inspection increasingly relies on cross-checked digital records
For employers, the direction of travel is clear: data-led inspection is getting better at spotting mismatches between the permit on file and the work actually being done. Keeping job titles, contracts and payroll records aligned is the simplest protection there is.
What it means for employers
- Check that every employee's permit job title matches the work they actually do.
- Run a monthly wage-file review so no salary run is late.
- Keep signed contracts and any amendments on file and ready to produce.
Related pages
Summarised by the Horizon GCC team. Original reporting: Khaleej Times
This briefing is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before acting.
Get the latest HR, jobs and labour-market news
Labour law changes, visa rules, hiring trends and salary data from the UAE and the wider Gulf — sent with a link to read the full briefing on our site.
Talk to a Horizon GCC recruitment specialist.
Speak to one of the team and find out why UAE and GCC employers trust Horizon GCC to hire HR, technical and professional talent.