Want to hire a dev from Dubai? Building an HR team that includes talent from Abu Dhabi? Scaling operations internationally and looking for new contractors? Hiring in the UAE can offer real advantages. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers a strong mix of bilingual, highly skilled professionals across tech, finance, and operations, making it a strategic option for remote employees and contractors.
Part of what makes the UAE so attractive is its forward-thinking approach to global talent. Programs like the Digital Nomad Visa, along with a strong network of international universities and business-friendly policies that support both startups and enterprise companies, continue to draw remote professionals from around the world.
While access to talent is straightforward, hiring and managing employees in compliance with local labor laws is not always simple. From structuring benefits packages to drafting legally compliant contracts, the UAE’s labor laws and regulatory requirements can be challenging to understand if you’ve never employed anyone in the country before.
Simplifying UAE Expansion With an Employer Of Record
From managing multi-currency payroll to ensuring compliance with the UAE Labour Law and administering mandatory local benefits, such as End of Service Gratuity, there is significant administrative complexity to consider when hiring employees in the UAE.
Partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) is one of the fastest, most efficient ways to expand into the country without getting tangled in regulatory red tape. An EOR takes care of local payroll, tax filings, and labor law compliance — helping you save time, reduce risk, and control costs.
But how do you know which EOR is right for you when hiring in the UAE? We’ll review six of the best options.
RemoFirst
RemoFirst is one of the most budget-friendly EOR options on the market for employing global remote talent. The company helps businesses employ workers in over 185 countries and contractors in more than 150 countries, including the UAE.
As your Employer of Record in the UAE, RemoFirst handles all your HR administration and compliance needs. This includes ensuring contracts comply with local labor laws, handling global payroll and tax filings, and administering benefits such as health insurance and pensions.
RemoFirst can also support visa and work permit applications in 110+ countries, run compliant background checks, and coordinate equipment shipping — so your team has everything they need from day one.
Pricing starts at just USD 199 per employee per month with no setup fees — one of the most affordable options on the market. The trade-off? There are fewer HRIS integrations than with some higher-priced EOR providers, though that’s changing with recent integrations with BambooHR and ADP Workforce Now.
Pebl
Pebl, formerly known as Velocity Global, positions itself as a compliance-focused EOR provider. The company works with in-country legal, HR, and payroll specialists to help employers manage local labor laws and reduce risk when hiring internationally.
Pebl supports HRIS integrations with tools like BambooHR, HiBob, and Workable, helping streamline HR workflows. In addition to EOR services, the company provides immigration support, including visa and work permit assistance for globally mobile employees.
One drawback to partnering with Pebl is that the company requires 30 days’ notice for offboarding, which may limit flexibility. Pricing is also less transparent. While Pebl advertises rates starting at USD 399 per employee per month, businesses must request a custom quote to understand total costs.
For more customer insights, visit Pebl’s G2 page.
Remote
Remote operates under an owned-entity model, meaning it sets up and maintains its own legal entities in the countries where it provides EOR services. This approach gives it direct control over operations and enables strong automation and integration with internal HR systems. Its platform focuses on streamlining payroll, benefits administration, and global equity management.
That infrastructure comes at a higher cost, with pricing starting at USD 699 per employee per month. Because Remote relies on the owned-entity model, EOR coverage is limited to the countries where those entities operate, which can result in a smaller geographic footprint than partner-led models like RemoFirst.
For a more in-depth look at how their owned-entity approach compares with our partner-led expertise, visit our RemoFirst vs. Remote page or check out their G2 profile for more reviews.
Oyster
Oyster positions itself as an employee-experience–focused EOR, going beyond core payroll, benefits administration, and compliance. The platform emphasizes locally compliant benefits tailored to each country, helping companies offer competitive packages that align with regional standards.
Its platform automates key workflows such as contract generation and onboarding, allowing companies to hire in as little as 48 hours in supported countries.
In addition to its EOR services, the company hosts Oyster Academy, a free educational resource offering guides, webinars, and tools to support professional development and global hiring best practices.
While Oyster offers a clean, user-friendly interface and a strong library of educational content for companies hiring in the UAE and beyond, pricing starts at USD 699 per employee per month, making it one of the pricier providers. Some users also note challenges with customer support responsiveness and integration setup.For a deeper look at how Oyster compares to RemoFirst, explore our RemoFirst vs. Oyster guide or browse verified customer feedback on G2.
Multiplier
Positioning itself as a tech-forward solution for scaling global teams, Multiplier has built localized infrastructure across many countries, including the UAE, with a strong focus on automation and streamlined workflows.
Multiplier’s platform is designed to simplify onboarding, payroll processing, and compliance management through a centralized dashboard. Its automation capabilities appeal to companies looking for a more self-serve, system-driven experience.
While many users appreciate the platform’s clean interface and ease of use, others report inconsistent customer support and slower response times. For companies that prioritize hands-on, human-led guidance, this may be an important consideration. Pricing starts at USD 400 per employee per month, placing it in the middle tier in terms of costs.
For a side-by-side comparison of features and support models, visit our RemoFirst vs. Multiplier guide or explore recent customer reviews on G2.
Deel
Enterprise companies seeking an automation-driven platform for managing distributed teams in the UAE often consider Deel. The company is known for its comprehensive, tech-forward approach, offering more than 100 integrations to centralize global payroll, localized contracts, equipment provisioning, compliance documentation, and equity management within a single dashboard.
Deel’s broad feature set is designed to support complex, multi-country operations and larger teams that value system integrations and centralized oversight.
However, this premium positioning comes at a cost. Pricing starts at USD 599 per employee per month. However, some users report additional fees beyond the base rate, which can make budgeting less predictable, particularly for startups and mid-sized companies.
Additionally, while many appreciate the platform’s capabilities, some customer reviews mention slow or inconsistent customer support. For companies weighing automation against high-touch service and transparent, flat-rate pricing, it’s worth exploring the differences.
To learn more, read our RemoFirst vs. Deel comparison or browse their latest G2 reviews.
Compliant and Cost-Effective Hiring in the UAE
For companies scaling teams in the UAE, RemoFirst offers a practical, cost-effective way to hire without compliance risk or operational headaches. We manage the entire employment lifecycle — from drafting locally compliant contracts and onboarding employees to running global payroll and administering benefits.
With RemoFirst, you get:
- Global coverage across 185+ countries
- Visa and work permit support
- Dedicated account managers and responsive 24/5 support
- A simple, intuitive dashboard built for busy teams
- Equipment provisioning worldwide
- Access to international health coverage through RemoHealth
We believe global hiring should be predictable. That’s why we offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees, while still delivering full compliance and hands-on support.
If you’re ready to scale in the UAE with confidence, schedule a demo and see how simple global hiring can be.
