Sponsorship laws eased for female expats in UAE

According to a new regulation issued by the Ministry of Labour in the UAE, female expatriates, under the sponsorship of their mothers, brothers, uncles or any family member, are now permitted to work in the country.

Till date, only female expatriates who were sponsored by their father or husband were permitted to work in the UAE. The Labour Law does not permit any expatriate to work in the country, without a work permit and labour card.

The Acting Director General at the Ministry, Humaid Bin Deemas, said that the new decision is intended to give an opportunity for this section of people to work in the country, so that it would increase productivity of the local workforce, and lessen the country’s dependency on foreign workforce.

As per the laws in UAE, families of expatriates are not permitted to sponsor a male beyond the age of 18, but females can continue to be sponsored until they are married, after which, sponsorship is transferred from her father to her husband.

Usually females are sponsored by their fathers or husbands. But mothers in certain professions such as doctors, pharmacists, engineers also can become sponsors. In exceptional cases, even uncles and brothers can sponsor female relatives.

The rule will be applicable for any female with valid residency in the country, irrespective of the kin relationship of her sponsor, Bin Deemas confirmed.

Posted on 17/7/2009

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