UAE work permits to be approved by AI: What HR and government teams need to know
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has introduced an AI system called "Eye" to automate work permit processing. Announced at GITEX Global 2025, the system verifies key documents, reduces manual checks, and shortens approval times. Human review will be limited to exceptional cases.
For HR leaders and government service teams, this is a structural shift: faster turnarounds, fewer errors, and clearer rules of engagement. Here's how it changes your operations-and how to prepare.
What the "Eye" system verifies automatically
The AI agent cross-checks and validates authenticity and accuracy of core documents. Initial scope includes:
- Personal photographs
- Passports
- Academic certificates
With automated verification handling most scenarios, approvals move faster, quality control improves, and back-and-forth is reduced. Manual intervention is reserved for edge cases.
Why this matters: speed, quality, cost
- Faster completion: fewer queues and follow-ups, shorter wait times
- Higher submission quality: immediate flags for missing or invalid data
- Lower operational cost: less manual review and rework
- Better user experience: clearer status updates and fewer resubmissions
Context: UAE's administrative overhaul
In 2024, the UAE expanded reforms that cut residency and work permit processing timelines from 30 days to about 5 days. The "Eye" rollout supports the national push to remove unnecessary procedures under the Zero Government Bureaucracy program, which reported a 70% reduction in service delivery time in its first phase.
Current MoHRE work permit requirements (no change to the law)
MoHRE issues 13 types of work permits. As per UAE Labour Law, individuals must hold a valid work permit to work, and employers must obtain permits before hiring. The AI system speeds verification; it does not change legal requirements.
Typical application inputs include:
- Passport valid for at least six months
- Passport-sized photographs
- Entry permit
- Signed employment contract
- Attested educational certificates (if applicable)
- Medical screening results
- Employer documents: valid trade licence and registered establishment card
For official guidance and updates, visit MoHRE.
Impact for HR operations: what changes on day one
- Real-time validation of key documents at upload
- Fewer manual queries from processors
- Shorter end-to-end cycle times
- Reduced risk of human error in screening
Employer checklist: raise your "first-time-right" rate
- Verify passport validity and scan clarity before submission
- Use high-quality, compliant photos (background, size, face visibility)
- Ensure education certificates are attested where required
- Confirm trade licence and establishment card are valid and match records
- Submit a clean, signed contract with consistent names and job titles
- Pre-book medical screening to avoid downstream delays
- Keep file names and formats consistent; avoid duplicate uploads
System readiness for government service teams
- Exception handling: define clear rules for cases escalated to human review
- Audit trail: log each AI decision, document version, and validation event
- Data integrity: enforce file standards (format, size, resolution)
- Appeals path: provide a simple route to challenge or clarify rejections
- Bias and fairness checks: periodically review outcomes across demographics
- SLA recalibration: adjust service-level targets to reflect faster cycle times
Risk and compliance notes
- Privacy: ensure secure handling of passports, photos, and medical data
- Security: restrict access to sensitive records and enable role-based controls
- Continuity: document fallbacks if AI services degrade or become unavailable
- Change management: brief HR teams and PROs on new submission standards
Other MoHRE digital initiatives showcased
- Work Bundle: unified onboarding flows for new hires
- Ask Data: queryable insights for policy and operations
- Forecasting Future Jobs and Skills: planning for emerging sectors
- Smart Safety Tracker: stronger workplace safety compliance
- MoHRE Smart Application: central access to essential services
Bottom line for HR leaders
AI-led verification will make permit processing faster and more predictable. The teams that benefit most will prepare their documentation standards, tighten data quality, and build a clear playbook for exceptions and appeals.
If you're upskilling HR and government teams on practical AI workflows and automation, explore curated options by role here: Complete AI Training - Courses by Job.
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