The UAE has penalized business owners with more than Dh34 million in fines since the beginning of 2025 for breaching labour regulations, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
The violations involved companies that were either not carrying out their licensed activities or had employees registered under them without any real employment relationship. In total, around 1,300 establishments, linked to nearly 1,800 business owners, were flagged.
Authorities responded with firm action—halting the issuance of new work permits, downgrading the violators to the lowest category in the ministry’s classification system, and blocking them from registering new businesses under their name.
The ministry urged all employers to cancel licenses of non-operational establishments and regularize their workers’ status in line with UAE laws.
MoHRE’s inspection system tracks business activity through various indicators, including the number of workers on record, official transactions, and in-person inspections.
Residents are encouraged to report any illegal practices through the ministry’s call centre at 60059000, its mobile app, or website.