Work Permit Changes Announced In UAE To Slash Costs

According to an HSBC survey released this year, the country’s expats have the best lifestyle in the world.

The availability of jobs here is one reason for this – and work permit rules go hand in hand with making that process tick.

Well now, work permit changes have been introduced in the UAE in a bid to slash the costs involved. As per a decision made by the Federal National Council (FNC), the current two-year work permit is set to be extended to three years.

The FNC met this week to reduce the costs associated with getting work permits in the country. A number of permit fees were also discussed and the committee also recommended the waiving of fees for employees changing jobs.

Earlier this month, the UAE was ranked as one of the world’s hardest-working countries.

Research put together by Business Name Generator used metrics such as the average hours worked in each country to find that the UAE comes third on the global list.

With Malta and Bhutan coming first and second, the UAE was next up on the top eight list – ahead of Bangladesh, Congo, Mauritania, Lesotho and the Maldives.

The findings showed that, on average, people work 52.6 hours per week in the UAE – with 46.5 percent of people working 49 hours or more per week.