UAE Work Visa Age Limit: Minimum Age & Over-60 Rules (2026)
Quick Answer
A standard UAE work permit requires the worker to be at least 18. Between 15 and 18, a juvenile work permit is possible with a guardian's written consent and a medical fitness certificate, and employing anyone under 15 is prohibited. At the other end, the only official age-60 rule we found applies to domestic workers, and we could not find a published maximum age for a standard private-sector work permit — so confirm the current position with MOHRE or the employer before relying on any age cutoff you have heard about.
Minimum age: 18 for a standard work permit, 15 with a special permit
The UAE Government's work permits guidance says the worker must be at least 18 years old, except in the case of a juvenile work permit or a student training and employment permit. Under Article 5 of the UAE Labour Law, employing anyone under 15 is prohibited, and MOHRE does not issue a work permit below that age. The rules for the 15-to-18 range are set out on the UAE Government's page on the employment of minors.
The age bands
- Under 15: employment is prohibited.
- 15 to 18: possible only with a juvenile work permit — the guardian's written consent and a medical fitness certificate for the work are required, and juveniles may not be employed at night or in industrial or dangerous work.
- 15 and over, still a student: a student training and employment permit, for a student already in the UAE, under a written contract.
- 18 and over: a standard work permit.
Is there a maximum age?
We could not find a published maximum age for a standard private-sector work permit: the UAE Government's work-permit page lists the conditions for issuing one and states a minimum age, but no maximum. The one official age-60 rule we found concerns domestic workers: in November 2019 MOHRE announced that domestic workers over 60 could have their employment contracts renewed subject to conditions. That rule is specific to domestic workers and should not be read as applying to other categories.
👉 Age-related practicalities — such as health-insurance pricing, which insurers commonly set by age band, or a free zone's own procedures — depend on the insurer or authority involved and can change. Ask them directly rather than relying on a general figure.
If you are 55 or over: routes that don't depend on an employer
If employer sponsorship at an older age looks complicated, the UAE offers a retirement visa for residents aged 55 or over, with the criteria set by the issuing authorities. We prepare documentation for the UAE retirement visa, including the property, savings and income routes. Golden Visa categories such as property investment are also not tied to an employer sponsor — see our UAE Golden Visa documentation service — and eligibility for each is decided by the relevant authority, not by us.
What Travelaxis does — and doesn't — do
Travelaxis does not provide work-visa services of any kind, so we cannot help with employment sponsorship or work permits, and this page is general information only. Our documentation support covers residency routes that don't depend on an employer, such as the retirement visa and Golden Visa categories above. We are a documentation and consultancy service: we do not issue visas and cannot guarantee any outcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for a UAE work permit?
For a standard work permit the worker must be at least 18. Between 15 and 18 a juvenile work permit is possible with the guardian's written consent and a medical fitness certificate, and employing anyone under 15 is prohibited under Article 5 of the UAE Labour Law.
Can a 16-year-old work in the UAE?
Only with a juvenile work permit, which requires the guardian's written consent and a medical fitness certificate. Juveniles may not be employed at night or in industrial or dangerous work.
Is there a maximum age for a UAE work visa?
We could not find a published maximum age for a standard private-sector work permit on the UAE Government's work-permit page. The one official age-60 rule we found applies to domestic workers. Confirm the current position with MOHRE or the employer.
What can someone aged 55 or over consider instead of employer sponsorship?
The UAE retirement visa is for residents aged 55 or over, and Golden Visa categories such as property investment are not tied to an employer sponsor. Eligibility for each is decided by the relevant authority.
Do free zones follow the same rules as mainland UAE?
Free zone authorities have their own procedures for staff visas, so check the specific free zone's current policy rather than assuming the mainland process applies.
Does Travelaxis provide work visa services?
No. We do not provide work-visa services of any kind. We prepare documentation for routes such as the UAE retirement visa and Golden Visa categories, and we do not issue visas or guarantee approval.
A note on accuracy
Last updated September 2026. Based on the UAE Government's work-permit and employment-of-minors pages and a 2019 MOHRE announcement; age-related rules are revised from time to time, so confirm current requirements on the official pages linked above or with the relevant authority before making decisions. Travelaxis provides documentation and application support and does not issue visas or guarantee approvals.
Looking at a route that doesn't depend on an employer?
See how the UAE retirement visa works and what documents it needs.
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