Activity guide / HR & Recruitment
Recruitment Services business setup in the UAE
Sourcing and placing candidates with employers, or supplying workers, depending on the permitted scope.
Plan this activityBy Two Pillars Advisory. Sources last checked 2026-09-12. Independent guidance, not authority advice.
Understanding recruitment services
Recruitment agencies find and place candidates, while temporary employment agencies employ workers and supply them to clients. Both are supervised by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on the mainland, with licensing conditions that commonly include a bank guarantee, approved premises and qualified management.
At a glance
- What the activity covers: Sourcing and placing candidates with employers, or supplying workers, depending on the permitted scope.
- Activity type: Regulated employment services
- Likely jurisdiction context: Regulated
- Possible external approvals: Recruitment and manpower supply are supervised by the competent labour authority and normally require specific permits and guarantees.
What you offer matters.
What this activity covers
Sourcing and placing candidates with employers, or supplying workers, depending on the permitted scope.
A plain-English label, not an official activity name or code.
Boundaries & approvals to check
Recruitment and manpower supply are supervised by the competent labour authority and normally require specific permits and guarantees.
Charging candidates fees, which is restricted.
Your independent consultant: Two Pillars Advisory
Two Pillars helps you define the business model, compare routes and prepare an application. We are an independent consultancy, not a licensing authority.
The licence issuer / regulator: the competent authority
The competent licensing authority decides the permitted activity scope and issues the licence. A sector regulator may separately assess and authorise regulated services. Neither decision is made by TPA.
Choose around your operations.
Recruitment and temporary employment agencies need MOHRE licensing, which commonly involves a bank guarantee and premises requirements.
For recruitment services: Recruitment and manpower supply are supervised by the competent labour authority and normally require specific permits and guarantees.
Confirm the local operating route
Describe where customers, staff, premises and goods will be located. Ask the mainland issuer and any proposed free zone to confirm the exact scope and any permissions for operating outside the zone.
Map delivery across borders
Describe where the service is delivered or goods move. Confirm entity scope, destination requirements and any UAE local operations separately; international customers do not establish free zone eligibility.
Check the sector perimeter first
Describe the actual service, product and client type to the competent regulator. A commercial registration alone does not establish authorisation to deliver regulated services.
| Decision point | Mainland | Free Zone | Sectoral approvals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who decides? | Competent emirate licensing authority | Proposed free zone licensing authority | Competent regulator, where applicable |
| Permitted operating scope | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Recruitment and manpower supply are supervised by the competent labour authority and normally require specific permits and guarantees. |
| Premises, people & documents | Confirm for the selected activity | Confirm for the selected activity and zone | Confirm against the regulated service or product |
| Fees & timing | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Confirm if a separate application applies |
From scope to application.
- Decide between recruitment, temporary employment or both.
- Review the MOHRE licence conditions for that type.
- Secure premises that meet the requirements.
- Prepare candidate and worker protection policies.
Illustrative planning sequence; the authority may require a different application order or additional steps.
Common mistakes worth avoiding.
- Charging candidates fees, which is restricted.
- Placing workers from a free zone licence that does not allow it.
Authority information, independently explained.
Published by Two Pillars Advisory. References last checked 2026-09-12; each source’s check date and jurisdiction are shown below. Review is limited to the cited activity scope, not an approval or universal licensing assessment. Confirm current requirements directly before applying.
No affiliation, partnership or endorsement by the authorities listed.
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE): Issuance of a New License for Temporary Employment and Mediation Agency. Official service page for temporary employment and mediation agency licensing. This is separate from general HR consultancy, which does not involve supplying or placing workers. (UAE mainland, checked 2026-09-12)
- Invest in Dubai: Search business activities. Official Dubai activity search. Final activity wording and code must be confirmed here or with the licensing authority before filing. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET): Business licensing. Official Dubai business licensing information, including licence types and permit requirements. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
Before you take the next step.
Can a free zone company do recruitment?
Some free zones permit limited recruitment within their zone. Mainland placement and manpower supply follow MOHRE licensing.
Is a bank guarantee required?
MOHRE agency licensing commonly involves a guarantee. The current amount and conditions are confirmed on the official service page.