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The federal labour law obliges UAE employers to supply an experience certificate to any worker who requests one at the conclusion of their employment contract, a Gulf News review of the statute confirmed. Article 13, Clause 11 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 stipulates that the document must be provided at no cost and must omit any content that could prejudice the employee’s reputation or future job prospects. This requirement forms part of the framework managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to support worker mobility across the private sector.
The legislation explicitly defines the six mandatory elements that every experience certificate must contain. These include the worker’s joining date, the termination date, the total length of service, the job title or nature of work performed, the final salary received and the reason for contract termination. A legal assessment published by UAE Expert Hub in August found that the fixed contents create a uniform record relied upon by licensing authorities, future employers and immigration processes.
Employees can obtain the certificate by submitting a formal request to their employer’s human resources department or direct management before the contract fully expires. Legal firm Nour Attorneys advised in an August 2026 briefing that the request should be made in writing, ideally during the notice period, and should reference the specific clause of the labour law to ensure compliance. The firm added that early submission allows time to correct any discrepancies in dates or salary figures before final settlement.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation provides an alternative route through its mobile application, where registered users can generate an official digital employment history certificate without approaching their former employer. After signing in with an Emirates ID, passport number or labour card, individuals select the employment history service and receive a stamped PDF instantly. According to ministry instructions cited by Gulf News, the digital document carries equivalent standing for verification purposes across government and private transactions.
The MOHRE-issued certificate remains valid for one month from the date of generation, after which a fresh copy must be requested through the same application process. Prospective employers can confirm its authenticity by visiting inquiry.mohre.gov.ae, choosing the employee certificate verification tab and entering the reference number printed on the file. This online check, the ministry has stated, reduces administrative delays and supports rapid hiring decisions in a market that employs millions of expatriate workers.
Experience certificates frequently serve as supporting evidence in visa renewals, professional licensing applications and new job screenings, according to immigration consultancies including Cosmos Immigration. When the document is required for use outside the UAE, additional attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be necessary depending on destination rules, several legal guides published in 2026 have noted. Practitioners recommend retaining copies of both employer-issued and MOHRE digital versions to maintain a complete personal employment record.
