UAE experience certificates: Your rights, what they include and how to request one

Your right to a certificate when employment ends

For workers covered by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 governing private-sector employment, Article 13, Clause 11 requires the employer to provide an experience certificate when the employment contract ends, if the worker requests one. The certificate must be issued free of charge.

The request is important: the obligation is to provide the document upon request, rather than a requirement that every departing employee automatically receives it. Contacting HR or the employer directly makes clear that you want the certificate as part of your departure arrangements.

The law also protects the worker’s future employment prospects. The certificate must not include information that could damage their reputation or reduce their chances of finding another job. These provisions concern workers within this law’s scope and should not be treated as a statement of the rules for every employment category in the UAE.

What an employer-issued experience certificate must contain

An experience certificate is more than a brief statement that someone once worked at a company. It must record the key details of the employment relationship, including the last salary received and the reason the contract ended.

When you receive it, compare the entries with your employment records. An incorrect date or job title can create an avoidable mismatch when a future employer checks your work history. If something is wrong, identify the specific entry and request a correction.

• Employment start date.
• Employment end date.
• Total period of service.
• Job title or the type of work performed.
• Last salary received.
• Reason for termination of the employment contract.

How to make a clear request

Ask your company’s HR department or employer for the certificate when your employment contract ends. Keep the request focused on the document you need and the employment period it should cover.

A straightforward message could read: “Please issue my experience certificate following the end of my employment contract, including my employment dates, total service, job title or work performed, last salary and reason for the contract ending.” This is suggested wording, not an official form.

For employers, the same information provides a useful structure for preparing the certificate. Including all required details at the outset can reduce follow-up requests. The requirement to record the reason for the contract ending must be handled alongside the protection against wording that harms the worker’s reputation or future job prospects.

The MOHRE digital employment history option

An official digital employment history certificate can also be obtained through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, known as MOHRE, using its app. This provides a separate way to obtain an official record of employment history.

The MOHRE digital certificate is valid for one month. Keep that validity period in mind if an employer asks you to supply it during recruitment or a background check. The one-month validity relates to this digital document; it should not be confused with the length of your employment or applied automatically to an employer-issued experience certificate.

Employers can check the digital certificate through MOHRE’s enquiry service. Select “Employee Certificate Verification” and enter the letter number printed on the document. This gives the receiving employer a specific route to check authenticity rather than relying only on the appearance of the certificate.

Do you need one for every job application?

UAE Labour Law does not impose a general requirement for jobseekers to submit an experience certificate with every application. The employer’s duty to issue one on request at the end of employment is separate from a prospective employer’s recruitment requirements.

Some employers may nevertheless request the document to confirm previous employment during hiring or background verification. If asked, establish whether they want an employer-issued experience certificate or the MOHRE digital employment history certificate. Naming the document clearly helps avoid submitting something different from what the hiring team needs.

Beyond an individual application, the certificate can help you document your professional experience, support a job change or address discrepancies in your employment history. Its practical value is the clear record it provides, rather than any guarantee of securing another role.

A practical approach for jobseekers and hiring teams

For jobseekers, the useful sequence is simple: request the employer-issued certificate when your contract ends, review its required details and retain it with your employment records. If a hiring team requests the MOHRE digital certificate, account for its one-month validity when obtaining it.

For hiring teams, be precise about which document you require and what employment information you are checking. An employer-issued certificate records the required details of the previous employment relationship, while the MOHRE digital certificate has its own authenticity-checking process. Keeping these distinctions clear makes document requests easier to understand and employment-history checks more focused.