Complete Guide to Husband Visa in UAE: Sponsorship, Requirements, Process & Fees (2026)

A wife can work in the UAE under her husband’s sponsorship. However, the employer must get written approval from her husband. It is a common misconception that a wife cannot work in the UAE on her husband’s visa. No law in the UAE prohibits a wife from working in the UAE on her husband’s visa. There are many wives of UAE residents who are working in the UAE. They are working either on an employment visa or a visit visa. The employer of such a person must get written approval from the husband before employing the wife. Before the employee may enter the UAE, he must acquire permission from his husband. The approval is valid for 6 months from the date of approval and must be renewed with the immigration department before it expires.

Yes, you can. However, you must have a valid work permit. Working without a permit while on a husband’s visa in Dubai is considered illegal.

As the spouse of a UAE resident, you are not required to have a work permit or visa to live or work in the UAE. However, you will be required to secure an ID card within 30 days of entry into the country. If you are employed, your employer will apply to obtain a residence visa for you. The duration of your job contract will determine the validity of your residence visa. Residence visas are not transferrable, and once you leave the UAE, the visa will no longer be valid.

Expat wives can work in Dubai if their employer applies for a work permit, while they continue to stay on their husband’s sponsorship. This is a cost-effective and widely accepted practice.

Yes. A Dubai husband visa gives you a legal residence permit, allowing you to stay in Dubai, access healthcare, apply for an Emirates ID, and sponsor children if eligible.

If you are on your husband's visa in the UAE, there are several benefits you can enjoy that some people don't realize: 1. You can work and earn a living, 2. You can acquire a credit card and create a bank account. 3. You can obtain a driver's license. 4. You can purchase a car and insure it. 5. You can enter and depart the country. You may start your own company. You have the legal right to own property. You can marry and have children at the age of eight. 9. You may be able to be sponsored for residence. The aforementioned points are not subject to any limits or limitations. You may also take advantage of all of these incentives if your spouse has a valid UAE visa. However, the UAE has a no-visa policy for certain countries, which means that you can visit for up to 30 days without a visa.

An employment visa in Dubai is issued by an employer, while a husband’s visa is a residence visa sponsored by a wife. On a husband’s visa, the spouse can legally live in Dubai and apply for a work permit if they wish to take up employment.

Yes. The sponsoring wife must earn at least AED 4,000 monthly, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, to apply for a husband’s visa in Dubai.

As a woman, you will most likely be on your husband's visa. This is called a dependent visa, and it comes with many benefits. First of all, you won't pay any fees for the visa. If you work in the UAE, you will need to get a work visa, which you can apply for once you are already in the UAE. There are different types of work visas in the UAE, and the visa costs vary depending on the type of work visa you apply for. The employer you work for will apply for the visa and the cost will be deducted from your salary.

Yes. A wife sponsored under a husband’s visa in Dubai can work, provided she obtains a valid work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) or a Free Zone Authority.

The cost of a husband’s visa in Dubai typically ranges from AED 3,000 – AED 5,000, which covers entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, visa stamping, and health insurance.

To sponsor a husband in Dubai, the wife must provide:

• An attested marriage certificate (attested in home country & UAE MOFA).

• Copy of Emirates ID and residence visa.

• Minimum salary proof of AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 + accommodation).

• Ejari/tenancy contract in Dubai.

• Valid health insurance for the husband.

Recent updates include:

• Mandatory attestation of marriage certificate

• Proof of salary and tenancy contract

• Mandatory health insurance before visa stamping

• Validity periods of 1, 2, or 3 years depending on the sponsor’s visa

If you are on your husband's visa, you are not permitted to work in the UAE. However, if you are on a dependant visa, you are not entitled to work. If your spouse is on a visit visa, you will be able to work as long as he is paid and you are paid for your labor. While you are on your husband's visa, you can apply for a dependant visa. You can apply for a dependent visa while on a visit visa, but you won't get it until you terminate your visit visa and get a new dependent visa.

A Dubai husband visa allows you to legally reside with your spouse and children in the city. Once approved, you can apply for family visas for children under the same sponsorship.

• Legal residence status in Dubai

• Ability to apply for Emirates ID and medical insurance

• Easier job switching without changing residence visa

• Lower visa costs for employers, increasing hiring chances

The UAE has several employment visa options and it is important to understand the rules and regulations to make the right choice. The UAE has a strict labor law, it is extremely difficult for a woman to find a job and work in the UAE. Even if a woman is married to an Emirati or a UAE national, the woman cannot work in the UAE if her husband is not working in the UAE. Labor law does not allow a woman to work in the UAE unless her husband is working in the UAE and her husband is the sponsor of her work visa. However, some companies will sponsor the work visa of the wife of an employee, but it is only limited to specific companies that offer this service.

There are no specific profession restrictions. Any job is possible as long as the employer secures a legal work permit for the wife under her husband’s sponsorship.