What Are MOHRE Enquiry Services?
MOHRE enquiry services are the official tools provided by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) that let employees, employers, and job seekers check labour-related information in the UAE. Through these services, a person can confirm whether a labour contract has been registered, track a work permit application, review a labour card, check the status of a salary complaint, or verify a company’s registration details.
The services are free to use and available through more than one channel: the MOHRE website, the MOHRE mobile app, a dedicated enquiry portal, service centres, and a 24-hour hotline. Most checks take only a few minutes once the correct reference numbers are on hand.
What Is MOHRE and What Does It Regulate?
MOHRE is the federal authority responsible for regulating private-sector employment in the UAE. It oversees labour contracts, work permits, wage protection, employee complaints, and Emiratisation policy. It does not handle residency visas or Emirates ID matters, which fall under the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and the local General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Keeping this distinction clear matters, because a common source of confusion is treating a visa or Emirates ID delay as a MOHRE issue when it actually sits with a different authority.
MOHRE’s private-sector labour framework is set out under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, which governs contracts, terminations, wages, and dispute resolution for private-sector employees across the UAE (excluding certain free zones such as DIFC and ADGM, which apply their own employment regulations).
Official Channels for MOHRE Enquiries
Users can access MOHRE enquiry services through several official channels, and it is worth knowing all of them since some checks are faster through one channel than another:
- The MOHRE website (mohre.gov.ae), available in Arabic and English, with login options through a registered account or UAE Pass
- The dedicated MOHRE enquiry portal, used for quick status checks without a full account login
- The MOHRE smart app, available on iOS and Android, offering most of the same services as the website
- Physical service centres and approved typing centres (including Tasheel and Tawjeeh centres) for in-person support
- The MOHRE contact centre, reachable on a toll-free number, for phone-based guidance
Using an unofficial third-party website to run a MOHRE enquiry is unnecessary and increases the risk of entering sensitive personal data into a platform that has no relationship with the ministry. The official channels above are free and sufficient for every enquiry type.
MOHRE Labour Contract Enquiry
A labour contract enquiry, often listed as “View Approved Contract” on the MOHRE portal, lets an employee confirm the terms officially registered against their employment: job title, salary, contract type (limited or unlimited), and start date. This is the version of the contract MOHRE recognises as binding, which is why employees are generally advised to check it before signing or relying on any separate offer letter, since the registered contract is what governs a dispute if one arises later.
Employers use the same enquiry when onboarding staff, renewing documentation, or resolving a discrepancy between what was offered and what was actually registered. For companies managing several employees, running this check periodically as part of routine HR administration helps catch registration errors before they become compliance issues.
MOHRE Work Permit Status Enquiry
The work permit status enquiry is one of the most frequently used MOHRE services, since almost every new hire and every permit renewal passes through it. It shows whether an application is under review, approved, rejected, expired, or awaiting additional documents.
A detail that causes confusion for many first-time users is the reference number system. When a job offer is typed and signed, MOHRE generates an ST number. Once that offer is submitted and processed, it is replaced by an MB number, which becomes the reference used for every subsequent status check. Searching with the original ST number after this stage typically returns no result, which is often mistaken for a lost or cancelled application when the process is simply continuing under a new reference.
When all supporting documents are complete and correctly filed, most new work permit applications are processed within a short turnaround. Delays are more often caused by mismatched personal details, incomplete documentation, or quota-related issues than by the system itself.
MOHRE Labour Card Enquiry
The labour card enquiry allows an employee or employer to check details tied to an employment record, including labour card number, status, and expiry. While the UAE’s labour system has moved largely toward digital records, the labour card remains a reference point that employees and HR teams check when confirming employment status or resolving a mismatch in MOHRE’s records.
If a labour card enquiry does not return the expected result, the most common cause is a data mismatch between what was entered and what MOHRE holds on file, for example a passport number that was updated after renewal but not reflected everywhere, or an Emirates ID number entered with a typo.
Salary Complaints and the Wage Protection System (WPS)
MOHRE also manages salary-related complaints and monitors compliance through the Wage Protection System (WPS), which requires registered companies to pay salaries through approved channels within set timeframes. Employees who have not received their salary on time can file a complaint through the MOHRE app or website, and most complaint categories carry defined handling timeframes rather than an open-ended wait.
For employers, a rise in salary complaints or WPS non-compliance flags usually points to a gap somewhere in payroll processing, documentation, or internal communication rather than a single isolated incident. Companies that are scaling their workforce, particularly after business setup in Dubai or another emirate, benefit from setting up compliant WPS processing from the first payroll cycle rather than correcting it after a complaint is filed.
End-of-Service (Gratuity) and ILOE Enquiries
MOHRE’s digital services also extend to end-of-service benefit estimation and the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) insurance scheme, which is mandatory for most private-sector employees in the UAE. Employees can estimate their gratuity entitlement based on basic salary, contract type, and length of service, and can separately check their ILOE enrolment and claim status if they lose their job involuntarily. Gratuity is generally payable only after a minimum of one year of continuous service, and the calculation method differs slightly for service completed before and after five years, so employees nearing a resignation or contract end date are better served checking the figure directly through MOHRE rather than relying on a rough estimate.
MOHRE Company and Establishment Enquiries
Beyond individual employee records, MOHRE enquiry tools allow verification of a company’s registration status, establishment card details, and compliance history. This is useful for job seekers assessing whether an employer is properly registered, and for businesses conducting due diligence before entering a partnership or supplier relationship. It is also directly relevant to companies managing their own establishment file, since an outdated or incomplete establishment record with MOHRE can delay future work permit approvals for new hires.
Information You Need Before Starting an Enquiry
The exact details required depend on which enquiry is being run, but most MOHRE checks draw on a combination of the following:
- Emirates ID number
- Passport number
- Labour card number
- Work permit or transaction number (ST or MB)
- Date of birth
- Company or establishment code
Before submitting an enquiry, it is worth double-checking that every number matches official records exactly. A single incorrect digit, an expired document reference, or a name spelling mismatch is the most common reason a legitimate enquiry returns no result.
Common Problems and How to Resolve Them
Most MOHRE enquiry issues fall into a small number of recurring categories:
- No result found: usually a data entry error or the use of a superseded reference number (such as an ST number after it has been replaced by an MB number)
- Work permit stuck in processing: often linked to missing documents, an incomplete quota allocation, or a pending employer-side action
- Salary complaint status not updating: can indicate the case has moved to a different department, such as the Labour Inspection Department for confidential wage cases
- Labour contract terms not matching what was agreed: should be raised directly with MOHRE before the employee begins work, since the registered contract is the legally binding version
- Confusion between labour and immigration records: a reminder that visa and Emirates ID matters sit with ICP or GDRFA, not MOHRE
When a check repeatedly fails or a status remains unclear for longer than expected, it is generally more efficient to review the full document trail (offer letter, registered contract, submitted permit application, and any correspondence) rather than repeating the same enquiry with the same details.
Why MOHRE Enquiries Matter for Employers
For businesses, MOHRE enquiry services are not just a convenience for employees. They form part of ongoing labour compliance. Employee contracts, work permits, and WPS payments all connect back to the same MOHRE record, and gaps in any one of them can affect visa processing, onboarding timelines, and audit readiness.
This is particularly relevant for companies that are newly formed or expanding their headcount for the first time. Getting labour documentation right from the outset, rather than correcting it after an employee raises a complaint or a permit stalls, is generally the more efficient route. Businesses handling their own PRO services in-house, without dedicated government-liaison support, are often the ones that run into avoidable delays with MOHRE transactions, since the process rewards familiarity with document requirements and common rejection reasons.
Companies managing a growing workforce also tend to benefit from structured HR outsourcing or payroll outsourcing support, since both functions directly determine whether MOHRE records, WPS payments, and labour contracts stay accurate and up to date as headcount changes.
FAQs
What is a MOHRE enquiry?
A MOHRE enquiry is an official check run through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to verify labour-related information such as a labour contract, work permit status, labour card details, or a salary complaint.
How do I check my work permit status?
Work permit status can be checked on the MOHRE website or app using the transaction number, which starts as an ST number when the offer is signed and changes to an MB number once the application is submitted and processed.
What is the difference between an ST number and an MB number?
An ST number is generated when a job offer is typed and signed. Once the offer is submitted, MOHRE replaces it with an MB number, which becomes the reference used for all further status checks.
Can employers use MOHRE enquiry services?
Yes. Employers regularly use MOHRE enquiry services to check work permit progress, verify employee contracts, monitor WPS compliance, and review establishment records.
Is MOHRE responsible for visas and Emirates ID?
No. MOHRE regulates private-sector labour matters. Residency visas and Emirates ID are handled separately by ICP and, in Dubai, by GDRFA.
Why does a MOHRE enquiry sometimes show no result?
The most common causes are an incorrect reference number, a mismatch between the details entered and official records, or the use of an outdated transaction number after it has changed.
How is gratuity calculated under UAE labour law?
Gratuity is generally based on basic salary and length of service, with different calculation rates for service completed within the first five years compared with service beyond that point, and it typically applies only after a minimum of one year of continuous employment.
Getting MOHRE Documentation Right From the Start
MOHRE enquiry services give both employees and employers direct visibility into labour contracts, work permits, salary compliance, and company records. Used correctly, they remove much of the guesswork from employment administration in the UAE. For businesses, the underlying value goes beyond checking a single status: consistent, accurate MOHRE records reduce the chance of delays during hiring, renewals, and audits, and support smoother business setup and workforce growth across mainland, free zone, and offshore structures.
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