How to Check Your Labour Ban Status Online in the UAE

Understanding Labour Bans and Online Status Checks

MoHRE is the federal authority responsible for issuing work permits for new jobs in the UAE private sector, through employer applications submitted via its electronic channels. When people search for a UAE labour ban check, they are usually trying to understand whether MoHRE will allow a new work permit to be issued for them or for a particular establishment.

Restrictions can apply at two main levels. An individual may be involved in a labour complaint or have a work permit application that is on hold or rejected. An establishment (company file) can also face a suspension that stops MoHRE from issuing new work permits for that business. There is no single public “labour ban page”; instead, you use several official e‑services and inquiry channels to understand whether any restriction is affecting your case.

What a Labour Ban Means in the UAE Private Sector

Under Ministerial Resolution No. 346 of 2022, MoHRE may suspend the issuance of new work permits for establishments that do not comply with key obligations, such as paying wages through the Wage Protection System. When such a violation occurs, MoHRE can suspend the establishment, preventing the issuance of new permits until the underlying issue is resolved.

The MoHRE keeps this suspension in effect until the establishment rectifies the problem, for example, by regularising unpaid wages or correcting other violations specified by the MoHRE. The ministry sends a notice to the establishment's owner stating the reason for the suspension, thereby formally informing the employer of the restriction. In practice, this is what many people refer to as a UAE work permit ban or UAE establishment ban.

This type of suspension is different from issues that relate only to a particular worker, such as an ongoing labour complaint or an absconding report. Those individual cases are handled through MoHRE’s labour‑relations services and may affect how MoHRE evaluates specific work‑permit applications, but they are not the same as a blanket establishment‑level suspension under the resolution.

How MoHRE Records and Communicates Work Permit Restrictions

Work permits in the private sector are always applied for by the employer, not the worker, through MoHRE’s online systems and service centres. The ministry’s service directory lists core labour services, including issuing and cancelling work permits and employment contracts, filing absconding reports, registering labour complaints, and handling customer complaints and grievances through its digital channels.

When MoHRE suspends the issuance of new work permits for a particular establishment, that suspension is recorded in MoHRE’s systems against the establishment’s file. The owner receives a formal notice explaining the reason. Individual workers normally do not receive a document titled “labour ban”; instead, the restriction becomes visible when a new work permit application cannot be processed or is rejected, or when an inquiry to MoHRE reveals that the establishment is suspended.

For individuals, practical signs of a potential restriction include repeated rejection of work‑permit applications for the same person or messages in MoHRE’s online services indicating that an application is on hold pending resolution of a complaint or employer‑side issue. These outcomes are visible through MoHRE’s transaction‑status and grievance tools rather than through a dedicated “labour ban” page.

Step-by-Step: Checking Labour-Related Restrictions with MoHRE Online

MoHRE does not label any service “labour ban online inquiry UAE,” but it offers several e‑services that allow you to monitor applications and ask about restrictions. The key tools are the MoHRE Transactions Inquiry Service, the MOHRE Smart App and WhatsApp channels, and the MoHRE call centre and service centres.

Using the MoHRE Transactions Inquiry Service

MoHRE’s Transactions Inquiry Service is an online tool that allows customers to track the status of transactions submitted to the ministry, such as work‑permit applications or labour complaints. This is the primary way to check the MoHRE work permit status for a specific application.

Checking Through the MOHRE Smart App and WhatsApp

MoHRE provides its main labour services through digital channels, including the MOHRE Smart App and the official WhatsApp number 600590000, as reflected in the federal “eServices for jobs” portal. Through the app, users can access services such as work‑permit applications, labour complaints, grievances and transaction follow‑up.

To check a case via the app, download it from your device’s app store, log in with your UAE Pass or registered account, then navigate to the sections for labour services or “my applications” to review the status of any submitted transactions. You can contact MoHRE’s automated and live support via WhatsApp at 600590000 to request general guidance on following up on your application or to clarify what a particular status message means. Always quote your application or establishment number, and only use the official number published on MoHRE’s website.

Establishment Bans vs Personal Restrictions: How to Verify

Workers and employers often need to separate two questions: whether there is a restriction on the establishment itself, and whether any issue relates only to a particular person. Understanding this distinction helps you decide which e‑services to use and how to interpret responses from MoHRE and other authorities.

Establishment Bans and GDRFA “Lifting a Ban in (Establishments) File”

Beyond MoHRE’s internal suspension of new work permits, some restrictions may also be reflected in residency and establishment records, especially in Dubai. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) offers a smart service called “Lifting a Ban in (Establishments) File” for establishment‑file bans recorded in its systems.

If you are a worker facing unexplained delays or rejections for a new work permit, you should ask your employer or PRO whether MoHRE has notified them of any suspension on the establishment. Employers can use MoHRE’s online service directory to access services related to new work permits, cancellations, labour complaints and grievances, and to track their own establishment’s status through MoHRE and, in Dubai, GDRFA Dubai, where relevant.

Related Checks: Travel Bans and Judicial Restrictions

Many users searching for how to check the UAE labour ban are also concerned about travel bans or court‑related restrictions. These are handled by different authorities and checked through separate e‑services. They do not replace a MoHRE work‑permit check, but they provide a broader picture of your legal status.

Practical Guidance for Using UAE Labour and Status e-Services

Before starting any online inquiry, gather key identifiers such as your Emirates ID number, passport number, MoHRE transaction or complaint numbers, establishment card or licence number, and your unified number, where applicable. Having these ready will make calls to MoHRE’s call centre and the use of online forms more efficient and accurate.

Always access e‑services through official channels: the MoHRE, GDRFA Dubai, Dubai Police, ICP and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department websites, their verified mobile apps, and the contact numbers listed on those portals. Processes and service names can change, so check the service directories on MoHRE and the federal u.ae portal for the current list of MoHRE online services for workers and employers. Save or print key status screens and messages; these records can help if you later submit a grievance, consult a lawyer, or work with a service centre such as EGSH to understand the next steps.

EGSH, as a licensed government services centre in Dubai, can guide you through selecting the correct federal or emirate‑level e‑service, preparing the necessary documents, and coordinating submissions and follow‑ups with the competent authorities, while the legal decisions themselves remain with MoHRE, GDRFA and the relevant police or judicial bodies.

Key Points to Remember

In UAE practice, a “labour ban” usually refers to a restriction experienced when MoHRE will not issue new work permits, especially where an establishment has been suspended under Ministerial Resolution No. 346 of 2022 or where there are unresolved individual labour issues. These suspensions are recorded in MoHRE’s systems and officially notified to the establishment owner rather than appearing as a public “ban list”.

To check labour ban UAE‑related issues in practice, use MoHRE’s Transactions Inquiry Service, the MOHRE Smart App, WhatsApp and call‑centre channels, and speak to your employer or PRO about any establishment‑level suspension. For other restrictions, such as travel bans or prosecution notices, rely on Dubai Police’s travel‑ban services, Abu Dhabi’s Estafser system and related justice‑sector portals, while ICP’s UAE Smart app covers Emirates ID and residency applications. Always cross‑check information through official channels and keep records of the responses you receive.

FAQ

How to check if I have a labour ban in the UAE through official systems?

There is no single page labelled “labour ban”, so you check indirectly by tracking your MoHRE work permit or complaint transactions and asking MoHRE about any restrictions. Use the MoHRE Transactions Inquiry Service or MOHRE Smart App to view application statuses, then call the MoHRE call centre on 600590000 or visit a service centre if a permit is repeatedly rejected or on hold.

How can I check the status of a work permit ban with MoHRE online?

You or your employer can access the MoHRE website and open the Transactions Inquiry Service, then enter the work‑permit application or transaction number to see whether it is in progress, approved, rejected or suspended. If remarks indicate an establishment violation or other obstacle, you can seek clarification via the MoHRE Smart App, WhatsApp 600590000 or the 24/7 call centre.

How can I check whether my company has an establishment ban in the UAE?

Establishment owners are formally notified by MoHRE when the ministry suspends the issuance of new work permits, and the reason is stated in the notice. Employers should also check their establishment’s status through MoHRE’s online services and, in Dubai, may need to use GDRFA Dubai’s “Lifting a Ban in (Establishments) File” service to address certain establishment‑file bans.

What is the difference between the labour ban and travel ban UAE residents face?

A labour ban relates to MoHRE’s decision not to issue new work permits, often due to establishment non‑compliance or unresolved labour matters, and it affects employment processes. A travel ban is imposed by security or judicial authorities and can be checked via services such as Dubai Police’s “Circulars and Travel Bans” or Abu Dhabi Judicial Department’s Estafser, and it restricts your ability to leave or enter the country, rather than to work.

How to follow up on a MoHRE labour complaint online after filing it?

MoHRE’s labour‑complaint services instruct applicants to follow up through MoHRE's inquiry services on the website, the MOHRE Smart App, WhatsApp at 600590000, and the Labour Claims and Advisory Centre at 80084. Using your complaint or reference number, you can monitor progress, receive updates, and, if needed, submit an electronic grievance regarding decisions related to your complaint.

How to check the Emirates ID / residency application status online?

For Emirates ID and residency‑related applications, you can use the ICP UAE Smart mobile application provided by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. After logging in, use the “Check Application Status” function to track your Emirates ID or visa request, and combine this information with MoHRE and other e‑service checks to understand your overall residency and employment status.

This article is intended to provide general information based on official UAE sources, and does not constitute personalised legal advice. Before acting, applicants should verify the current rules and fees directly with the relevant authority or an authorised service centre.