No entity required
Hire without your own trade licence, office lease or establishment card.
Employer of Record (EOR) Services
Hire in the UAE without setting up an entity. You choose the talent, ACOUP becomes the legal employer.
With ACOUP as your Employer of Record, your people are legally employed, sponsored and paid by us under our outsourcing license, while they work for you. No trade licence, no visa quota and no HR admin on your side.
At a glance
0UAE entities needed to start hiring
FullContracts, visa and WPS payroll handled
YouDirect the daily work
UAE · UKOffices in both markets
Why ACOUP
Enter the UAE market with a compliant team from day one
EOR removes the set-up work between deciding to hire and having someone start.
No visa quota needed
Employees are sponsored under ACOUP's licence.
Compliant contracts
Employment contracts issued in line with UAE Labour Law.
Payroll & insurance
WPS payroll, health insurance, ILOE and gratuity handled.
You stay in control
You choose the person and direct their work every day.
Flexible for the future
Move employees to your own entity when you set one up.
Responsibilities
A clear split of responsibilities
ACOUP takes on the legal employer role. You keep full control of the work and the relationship.
ACOUP handlesLegal employer responsibilities
- Employment contracts under UAE Labour Law
- Visa sponsorship, work permit & Emirates ID
- Monthly payroll through WPS
- Mandatory health insurance for employees
- ILOE unemployment insurance enrolment
- Leave, gratuity & end-of-service calculations
- MOHRE compliance, renewals & PRO work
You controlThe work and the relationship
- Who you hire and when they start
- Daily tasks, targets and performance
- Working hours, location and team structure
- Salary and benefits package
- Approvals for leave and expenses
How EOR works
- 1Choose your candidateIntroduce the person you want to hire, or ask us to find them.
- 2We employ & sponsorACOUP issues the contract and processes the visa under our licence.
- 3Onboard on our payrollSalary, insurance and benefits are set up and paid through WPS.
- 4You manage the workYou direct the role day to day. We keep everything compliant.
EOR vs your own entity
The fastest route to your first UAE hire
Setting up a UAE company is the right long-term step for many businesses. EOR lets you hire now and decide later.
Your own UAE entityACOUP EOR
Trade licenceRequiredNot needed
Visa quota & establishment cardYou applyACOUP's licence
Payroll & WPS set-upYou set upHandled by ACOUP
HR & PRO administrationYour teamHandled by ACOUP
When you can start hiringAfter company set-upOnce the visa is processed
Control of the daily workYouYou
Compliance
Employer obligations, handled under our licence
As Employer of Record, ACOUP carries the legal duties of a UAE employer for your team.
- Health insurance: mandatory employer-provided cover for private-sector employees in every emirate (Sharjah and the Northern Emirates since 1 January 2025).
- ILOE: Involuntary Loss of Employment insurance enrolment for eligible employees.
- WPS: salaries paid on time through the Wage Protection System.
- Gratuity: 21 days' basic salary per year for the first five years of service, and 30 days per year after that.
General guidance under UAE Labour Law; your ACOUP consultant confirms what applies to each role.
Talk to an EOR specialistTypical EOR onboarding journeyTimelines vary by role and nationality
- Offer & employment contractTerms agreed and MOHRE offer letter signed
- Work permit & entry permitApplied for under ACOUP's licence
- Medical fitness testCompleted after arrival or status change
- Emirates ID biometricsFingerprinting and ID application
- Residence visa issuedEmployee legally resident and ready to work
- OnboardingPayroll, insurance and handover to your manager
Who it's for
Who uses an Employer of Record
- International companies entering the UAE
- Testing the market before getting a trade licence
- Businesses without enough visa quota
- Project-based and fixed-term hires
- Startups that want to avoid set-up costs
Need us to find the talent too? With Employee Outsourcing, ACOUP recruits and employs the staff for you.
Explore outsourcingFrequently asked questions
EOR questions
What is an Employer of Record?
An Employer of Record is a licensed company that legally employs staff on behalf of another business. ACOUP holds the employment contract, sponsors the visa and runs payroll and compliance, while the employee works for you.
Is EOR allowed in the UAE?
Yes. ACOUP employs EOR staff under our outsourcing license, with contracts, visas and payroll handled in line with UAE Labour Law and MOHRE requirements.
Do I need a UAE trade licence or office?
No. Because ACOUP is the legal employer, you can hire in the UAE without your own entity, visa quota or local HR team.
How long does it take to onboard an employee?
It depends mainly on visa processing for the employee's nationality and current status. We share a clear timeline for each hire before we start.
Can EOR employees move to my own company later?
Yes. When you set up your own UAE entity, we can help transfer employees to your sponsorship and payroll.
Is an Employer of Record the same as a PEO?
They are close, and the words are often used loosely. A PEO usually co-employs staff alongside your own legal entity. An Employer of Record employs them outright, which is why EOR is the model that works when you have no UAE entity at all.
Which is better for UAE hiring: EOR or setting up my own company?
EOR is faster and reversible, so it suits market entry, one or two hires, or the gap while an entity is being formed. Your own licence usually wins once headcount and permanence justify the setup and running costs — and Company Setup & PRO handles that when you get there.
Other hiring models
All ACOUP services
Not the right fit? Explore the alternatives
Start building your UAE team
Choose your talent and let ACOUP handle the contract, visa, payroll and compliance.