Tasheel vs Amer — what's the difference?

Tasheel handles MOHRE labour transactions (work permits, contract registration, WPS). Amer handles GDRFA immigration transactions (entry permits, residency stamping, cancellations). For a complete mainland hire, both are involved.

Visa & Immigration

Tasheel

Government-approved service centre network used to submit MOHRE work-permit applications. If the employer's Tasheel quota is full or expired, the system blocks the application before review.

Also known as

Tasheel Centre
MOHRE Service Centre
Tasheel Government Services

Attributes

Type	Government service centre network
Regulator	MOHRE
Jurisdiction	UAE mainland
Governing authority	Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
Service category	Work permit application processing
System constraint	Employer quota check blocks application when full or expired

What it is

Tasheel is the network of MOHRE-approved service centres through which mainland UAE employers submit Work Permit applications, contract registrations, and labour-related transactions. Centres are operated by private partners under MOHRE oversight. Each employer has a Tasheel account tied to its labour quota — when the quota is exhausted, the system blocks new permit applications until quota is increased.

Free-zone employers don't use Tasheel; their work permits flow through the zone authority's portal directly.

Key characteristics

Function: Submission channel for mainland MOHRE work permits
Operator: Private partners under MOHRE oversight
Quota linkage: Tied to employer's labour quota
Scope: Mainland only

How it works

The employer obtains a Tasheel account linked to their establishment card and MOHRE establishment number.
The employer checks their available quota in the Tasheel system, which resets periodically based on MOHRE allocation rules.
If quota is available, the employer or their PRO submits the work permit application with employee passport copy, photos, and job offer details.
Tasheel validates the submission and forwards it to MOHRE for approval if the quota check passes.
MOHRE issues the work permit approval, which triggers the entry permit request through GDRFA/ICP systems.
The employee enters the UAE, completes medical testing and Emirates ID biometrics, and the residence visa is stamped.

Examples

A Dubai-based trading company with 15 employees needs to hire a new sales manager from India. Their HR manager logs into the Tasheel portal, confirms three remaining slots in their monthly quota, and submits the work permit application. The Tasheel centre on Al Maktoum Street processes the documents and forwards to MOHRE. In contrast, a construction firm that hired aggressively in January finds their Tasheel quota depleted; their application for a site engineer is blocked until the quota resets in the new quarter, forcing them to delay the hire or request a quota increase from MOHRE with justification.

Why it matters

Most 'why is my work permit rejected?' issues are Tasheel quota or document-mismatch issues — diagnosable upfront if the centre's systems are checked before submission.

Common misconceptions

Misconception
Tasheel and Tadbeer are the same service.
Reality
Tasheel handles mainland private-sector work permits; Tadbeer is the separate MOHRE channel for domestic worker permits.
Misconception
Free zone companies use Tasheel for employment visas.
Reality
Free zone entities process employment permits through their respective free zone authorities, not through Tasheel.
Misconception
Tasheel approves or rejects work permits.
Reality
Tasheel validates and forwards applications; MOHRE retains sole authority for approval decisions.

FAQs

Tasheel vs Amer — what's the difference?: Tasheel handles MOHRE labour transactions (work permits, contract registration, WPS). Amer handles GDRFA immigration transactions (entry permits, residency stamping, cancellations). For a complete mainland hire, both are involved.