Generally, an employment contract is required for the issuance of a work permit and, thus, for legally being employed in the United Arab Emirates. In the mainland, i.e. within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation, the Ministry provides standard employment contracts. Adjustments to these documents can only be made to a very limited extent. It is not possible to submit a privately written contract instead of the standard employment contract. A large number of free zones also offer standard employment contracts. It is quite common to supplement the rigid standard employment contract with so-called additional terms and conditions.
