If you’re considering starting a business in Dubai or already running one, knowing about visa quotas in the UAE is important. It plays a big role in how many people you can hire, how your office is set up, and how smoothly your business can grow. Many business owners only hear about visa quotas when they suddenly need to hire more staff, and by then, it can feel confusing.
Could you please clarify what a visa quota in Dubai entails? In simple terms, it’s the maximum number of residence or work visas your company is allowed to issue under its trade license. This number depends on things like your business activity, office size, and whether your company is in the mainland or a free zone.
Therefore, we’re here to explain everything in an easy-to-understand way: what a visa quota means, why it matters, how to obtain a visa quota in Dubai, how many visas you can obtain, and what to do if you need more.
What is Visa Quota in Dubai?
Dubai’s visa quota system determines how many employee visas a company can get, primarily linked to its office size (typically 1 visa per 9 sq. meters) for physical offices, with flexi-desks offering fewer (1-3 visas), and variations by Free Zone or Mainland, often starting with 3-6 visas for new setups, requiring MOHRE approval and occasionally an inspection. Quotas can be increased with more space or special approval, involving fees.
Why Does the UAE Have Visa Quota Rules?
The UAE government enforces visa quotas for three primary strategic reasons:
- Labour Market Control: To prevent companies from issuing mass visas that don’t match their actual business scale (preventing “visa trading”).
- Operational Reality: To ensure every employee has adequate physical workspace. In 2026, this will be strictly enforced, with a standard requirement of approximately 9 square meters of office space per employee.
- Compliance & Diversity: Quotas act as a checkpoint. Authorities can freeze your quota to force compliance with new regulations, such as Emiratisation targets (for companies with 50+ skilled workers) or workforce nationality diversity rules.
Who Manages the Visa Quota in the UAE?
Who controls your visa quota depends on your business location:
- Mainland companies fall under the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
- For Free Zone Companies, your quota is determined directly by your specific Free Zone Authority (e.g., IFZA, DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA).
Factors That Determine Your Visa Quota in the UAE
Your visa quota in Dubai isn’t fixed; it’s decided based on several important factors. Let’s break them down in a simple way:
1. Office Space Size
One of the major factors is how big your office is. In most cases, authorities allocate visas based on the size of your workspace. As a general rule, you may be allowed one visa for every 80–100 sq. ft. (around 9 sqm) of office space. Therefore, the bigger your office, the higher your visa quota can be.
Example: A 50 sq. m office typically grants you roughly 5–6 visas.
If you are a startup using a “Flexi-Desk” (a shared workspace often included in cheaper license packages), your quota is usually capped strictly at 2 to 3 visas maximum, regardless of your revenue. To gain more, you must upgrade to a physical office.
2. Type of Business License & Activity
Your business activity also plays a big role. For example, a consultancy firm, a trading company, and a manufacturing unit may all have different visa limits even with the same office size. Some activities naturally require more staff, so they may receive a higher quota.
3. Emiratisation (Tawteen)
Companies with 50+ skilled employees’ risk having their visa quota frozen if they fail to meet the 2% annual Emiratisation target. You literally cannot hire new expats until you hire the required number of UAE Nationals.
4. Workforce Diversity
For Mainland companies, MOHRE monitors the “Demographic Diversity” of your workforce. If you hire too many employees from a single nationality, you may face difficulties expanding your quota or pay significantly higher visa fees (moving from Category 1 to Category 2 or 3).
5. The number of Existing Employees
If your company already has active employees under its visa quota, this directly affects how many new visas you can apply for. For example, if your total allowed quota is 10 and you already have 8 employees sponsored, you can only apply for 2 more visas unless your quota is increased.
6. Company Legal Structure
Your company’s legal structure (such as Sole Establishment, LLC, Branch Office, or Partnership) can also impact your visa quota. Some structures naturally allow more flexibility in staffing compared to others, depending on approval authorities and business scale.
Visa Quotas in Free Zones vs Mainland — What’s the Difference?
Your visa quota in Dubai is greatly affected by where your company is registered – in a Free Zone or on the Mainland. While both allow you to sponsor employees, the rules, limits, and flexibility are quite different. Let’s break it down in an easy way.
A) Visa Quota in Free Zones:
In free zones, your visa quota is handled directly by the free zone authority where your business is registered (e.g., IFZA, DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA). Here, the number of visas you receive is mostly tied to your office package and workspace type.
- Flexi-desks or shared offices usually offer 1–3 visas only.
- Serviced or private offices allow more visas.
- Warehouses and industrial units receive higher visa quotas.
- Each free zone has its own rules, so quotas vary from zone to zone.
Startups and small teams benefit greatly from free zones, but failure to upgrade your office space may limit your growth.
B) Visa Quota in Mainland:
MOHRE and GDRFA manage visa quotas for mainland companies. Here, the quota is mainly based on your office size and business activity.
- Generally, you may obtain 1 visa per 80–100 sq. ft. (around 9 sqm).
- Larger offices mean higher visa quotas.
- More flexibility to apply for additional visas as your company grows.
- Suitable for businesses planning larger teams and long-term expansion.
Mainland setups usually offer more freedom to scale your workforce, especially for retail, trading, and service-based businesses.
Key Differences:
| Feature | Mainland Company | Free Zone Company |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Regulator | Ministry of Human Resources (MOHRE) | Free Zone Authority (e.g., DMCC, IFZA, JAFZA) |
| Quota Basis | Office Size (~9 sq. m/person) + Compliance | License Package + Office Size |
| Flexi-Desk Limit | N/A (Physical office usually required) | Strictly capped (usually 2–3 visas) |
| Diversity Rules | Yes (Strictly monitored) | No (Generally not applicable) |
| Emiratization | Mandatory for 50+ skilled staff | Exempt (mostly) |
How Do You Calculate & Estimate Your Visa Quota in Dubai?
Before you sign a lease or pay for a license package, you should run your own numbers. While the final decision lies with the authorities, you can estimate your eligible quota with high accuracy using these steps:
1. Review Your Office Type or Package
Your office setup directly controls your starting visa quota, especially in free zones.
- Flexi-desk or shared offices: Usually allow 1–3 visas only. These options are particularly beneficial for solopreneurs or startups.
- Serviced offices: Offer better flexibility and more visas.
- Private offices: Higher visa quota based on actual space.
- Warehouses/industrial units: Allow the highest visa limits due to large space and operational needs.
If your hiring needs grow, upgrading your office is often the fastest and most practical way to increase your visa quota.
2. Measure Your Office Size (Especially for Mainland Companies)
This formula is the baseline calculation used by both Mainland authorities (MOHRE) and most Free Zones with physical offices.
The Formula: Total Office Size (in Sq. Meters) ÷ 9 = Maximum Visa Count
The Calculation:
Determine your office size on your Ejari or lease contract.
Example: You rent a standard 500 sq. ft office (approx. 46 sq. metres).
Math: 46 ÷ 9 = 5.11.
Result: Your likely quota is 5 visas.
3. Check Your Existing & Active Visas
Next, review the number of visas that are currently being used by your company:
- Active employee visas
- Investor or partner visas (if counted under company quota)
For example: If your total quota is 10 visas and you already have 7 active visas, you can only apply for 3 more unless you apply for a quota increase. Many businesses forget this step and face delays when they apply for visas without checking the remaining balance.
4. Plan for Growth Before You Actually Hire
Always think slightly ahead when estimating your visa quota. If:
- You plan to expand in the next 6–12 months.
- You expect to hire a team quickly
- You’re moving from a solo setup to a full operation.
Then it’s wise to:
- Choose a slightly bigger office
- Select a free zone package with a higher visa allowance.
- Keep your trade license, lease, and company documents fully valid and updated.
Need help estimating yours? Contact Shuraa for a free audit.
How to Obtain a Visa Quota in Dubai?
Getting a visa quota in Dubai is not complicated, but it does require the right setup and documents. Here’s how the process generally works:
Step 1: Get Your Trade License Issued
The first and most important step is to register your company and obtain your trade license. Doesn’t matter if you choose a mainland or a free zone setup; your visa quota process only starts after your license is active. Without a valid license, you cannot apply for visas.
Step 2: Finalise Your Office Space
Your office space is one of the primary factors in deciding your visa quota. You’ll need to choose:
- Flexi desk/shared office (limited visas)
- Serviced office
- Private office
- Warehouse/industrial unit (for trading/manufacturing)
For mainland companies, your office must also be registered with a valid Ejari. Authorities use your office size and type to calculate how many visas your company can obtain.
Step 3: Receive Your Establishment & Immigration Cards
Once your license and office are ready, you need to apply for:
- Establishment Card
- Immigration/Labour File
These allow your company to officially sponsor employees and apply for residence and work visas.
Step 4: A Visa Quota Is Issued Based on Your Setup
After your documents are approved:
- Your initial visa quota is allocated automatically based on your office size, location, and business activity.
- For free zone companies, this is usually part of your license package.
- For mainland companies, it’s issued after your labour file is approved.
Step 5: Start Applying for Employee Visas
Once your quota is active, you can begin applying for work permits and residence visas. Each approved visa will use one slot from your available quota. You simply continue applying until your quota is fully used.
What Happens When You Hit Your Visa Quota?
Hitting your visa quota can feel stressful, especially when your business is growing and you urgently need to hire more staff. But the beneficial news is, reaching your quota doesn’t mean your business comes to a stop. You still have a few practical options to move forward.
1. You Can’t Apply for New Visas Immediately
Once your visa quota is fully used, you won’t be able to apply for new employee visas under your current setup. Any new visa application will either be:
- Put on hold
- Or rejected until your quota is increased
2. You May Need to Upgrade Your Office Space
One of the most common solutions to increase your visa quota is upgrading your office space.
- Moving from a flexi-desk to a private office
- Shifting to a larger office
- Upgrading to a warehouse or industrial unit (for trading/manufacturing)
Once you update your lease or Ejari, you can then apply for a higher visa quota based on the new space.
3. You Can Apply for a Visa Quota Increase
You can apply for a quota increase with the relevant authority after upgrading your office or if your business genuinely requires more staff.
- Mainland companies: Apply through MOHRE and GDRFA.
- Free zone companies: Apply through your free zone authority.
This usually requires updated documents such as:
- Trade license
- Tenancy contract/Ejari
- Office layout
- Company establishment card
4. Temporary Work Permits Are an Option
If you need staff for short-term projects, temporary or mission work permits may be available in some cases. These are useful for:
- Project-based work
- Short-term contracts
- Technical or seasonal roles
This helps you continue work without waiting for a full quota expansion.
5. Consider using an Employer of Record (EOR) or an Outsourcing Model
Another smart option is using an Employer of Record (EOR) or outsourcing model. Here:
- The employee is legally sponsored by a third party.
- You manage their daily work.
- Your company’s visa quota remains untouched
This is a popular solution for fast-growing startups that need quick hiring without changing office space immediately.
6. Why You Should Never Exceed Your Quota Illegally
Some businesses try to bypass the rules by hiring people on:
- Visit visas
- Cancelled visas
- Or under another company’s sponsorship
This is illegal and can lead to:
- Heavy fines
- Blacklisting
- Visa bans
- Business license suspension
Ready to Grow Your Team in Dubai? Here’s What to Do Next.
Before you start hiring in Dubai or plan to grow your team, it’s really important to check your visa quota first. Knowing your visa limits helps you avoid delays, extra costs, and last-minute surprises.
That’s where Shuraa makes everything simple for you. We handle everything from setting up your company and choosing the right office to securing your visa quota, processing employee visas, and increasing your quota as your business grows.
On top of this, Shuraa Recruitment Services connects the right talent with the right opportunities. Doesn’t matter if you’re an employer looking to hire skilled professionals or a job seeker searching for the right role in Dubai, our recruitment team helps both sides locate the perfect match quickly and smoothly.
With the right guidance and proper planning, managing your visa quota in Dubai doesn’t have to be complicated. And with Shuraa by your side, you can focus on growing your business with confidence.
FAQs – Dubai Visa Quota
1. How many visas can I obtain on a flexi desk in Dubai?
In most cases, a flexi desk allows 1-3 visas only. The exact number depends on the free zone authority and your license package.
2. Do Green Visa or Golden Visa holders count towards my company visa quota?
No, Golden Visa and Green Visa holders usually do not use your company’s visa quota, as they sponsor themselves. However, this can vary slightly, so it’s always beneficial to double-check with the authority.
3. What is the visa quota for small businesses in Dubai?
There is no fixed number for small businesses. It depends on your office size, business activity, and whether your company is in the mainland or a free zone. Small businesses usually start with 2 to 6 visas.
4. Can I increase my visa quota later?
Yes, you can apply for a visa quota increase by upgrading your office space and submitting updated documents to the relevant authority.
5. Is the visa quota different for mainland and free zone companies?
Yes. Free zone quotas are based on office packages and authority rules, while mainland quotas are mainly based on office size and MOHRE/GDRFA regulations.
6. Does my investor or partner visa count in the quota?
In many cases, investor or partner visas do count towards the company’s total visa quota, especially in free zones.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general guidance and informational purposes only and is accurate as of December 2025. Visa quota rules, office space requirements, and related regulations in the UAE are subject to change by relevant authorities (MOHRE, GDRFA, and Free Zone authorities). Shuraa strongly recommends verifying the latest requirements with the concerned government department or consulting a licensed business setup professional before making any decisions. Shuraa accepts no liability for actions taken based solely on the content of this article.
