Dubai Night Work Permit explained: What is this, who needs it, and how to apply in 2025 world news
TL; Dr.
- If your business runs between 9 am and 6 pm in Dubai, you may need night work permits.
- Not for retail or customer service, permit for non-commercial activities such as maintenance or inventory.
- Applying is straightforward, and approval usually comes within a day.
If your business in Dubai needs to work outside regular hours, it is said, late at night or morning, something is important that you should know. Dubai law requires businesses to obtain night work permission if they are working between 9 pm and 6 pm.But not every business needs it. This permit is for specific types of work that occur after commercial buildings, shopping malls or hours inside banks. To fix the lighting to the crew of maintenance, the employee checking inventory in the retail store, or shooting the film crew shooting scenes in a mall at night. This is not for late night shopping or customer-affiliated services.So why is this permit required? For most security, accountability and legal compliance. After the darkness, security protocols often increase in closed places. During these hours, wandering workers can trigger the alarm or increase doubt. This permit ensures everyone that all, employers, employees, property owners and law enforcement are on the same page. It is also part of protecting the welfare of workers who are active during non-standard hours.
Who really needs it?
This permit is for businesses or contractors to do non-commercial work after hours. If your business is included then you may need a night work permit:
- Maintenance work inside malls, shops or banks
- Inventory check during store closing hours
- Hoarding or updating
- Media or commercial filming in closed commercial places
- Any work that should be in a closed environment after hours and otherwise can increase safety concerns
It is worth noting: This permit does not cover regular retail activity, customer interaction or sales after 9 pm. If your shop is just open late, it comes under different rules.
How does permits work
Getting a night work permit is a simple process, especially if you have your documents. Here is how it usually works in Dubai:
1. You need documents
Before applying, make sure that you have collected all the necessary paperwork. Missing documents may delay approval.
- In front of each employee) Emirates ID (forward and back)
- Residency permit for all workers
- Your trade trade license
- Any third-party service provider’s business license includes
- Authority letter signed by the company
- A formal letter in Arabic was addressed to Dubai CID (Criminal Investigation Department), including:
- Name of execution company
- Nationality and team contact number Leeds
- Work starts and end date/time
- List of employees (name, nationality, ID number) in Arabic
- NOC from property owner or mall management (no objection certificate)
- For banks or high-protection complex (eg gold shops):
- Central bank letter
- Automatic alarm system number
- Short -term contract copy if the work is for less than six months
2. Fee and payment
Application is not expensive:
- DH100 ($ 27 USD) Service Fee
- DH10 for knowledge fee ($ 2.70 USD)
- DH10 for innovation fee ($ 2.70 USD)
You can pay through: Cash, Debit/Credit Card or Apple
3. Where to apply
You have some ways to submit your application:
- Dubai Police Mobile App
- Dubai police website
- Smart police station
- Traditional police station
Applications are usually processed within a working day, although it may vary when additional approval is required.
4. Permit validity
Once approved, your night work permit is valid for 14 days. If your work lasts for a long time, you have to renew or apply again. Also note:
- Property management approval is mandatory
- Central bank approval is required for bank related work
- Permits are associated with specific activities (you cannot use a permit to cover unrelated jobs)
Labor laws
This is not just a formality. The night work permit is part of the UAE’s widespread push to support fair and safe working conditions. This involves protecting workers from burnouts, setting boundaries on late night shifts, and ensuring that people will not be forced to work under unsafe situations.If you run a business that needs to work regularly out of normal hours, staying on the top of this permit process is a good way to avoid punishment, and it shows that you are running your operation responsibly.
