Skill Levels
MOHRE Skill Levels: What Levels 1 to 9 Mean When You Hire
The skill level is one line on a work permit. It decides whether an employee is classed as skilled, and that follows them into later visa and residency questions. Most employers never look at it.
- Each role mapped to the correct MOHRE level
- Skilled status checked against all four conditions
- Certificates attested where the level needs it
- Existing staff reviewed before renewals
Dubai PRO, payroll and tax support for UAE companies, handled by one team.
Last reviewed against current MOHRE, ICP and GDRFA guidance.
Quick Answer
MOHRE places every occupation on nine professional levels based on the International Labour Organization's ISCO classification, from level 1 (legislators, managers and business executives) to level 9 (simple professions). A worker counts as skilled only when all four u.ae conditions are met: the job is at levels 1 to 5, the worker holds a certificate higher than secondary school, the certificate is attested, and the monthly salary excluding commission is at least AED 4,000.
The Nine Levels
The scale follows ISCO, the international occupation standard. u.ae lists it in this order. Read the official wording on u.ae.
- Level 1: legislators, managers and business executives
- Level 2: professionals in scientific, technical and human fields
- Level 3: technicians in scientific, technical and humanitarian fields
- Level 4: writing professionals
- Level 5: service and sales occupations
- Levels 6 to 9: skilled agriculture, crafts, machine operators, simple professions
Skilled Needs All Four Conditions
A level 2 job title on its own does not make someone skilled. All four conditions have to hold at once.
The one that catches people is attestation. A genuine degree that was never attested leaves a level 2 engineer classed as unskilled, and nothing about the job looks wrong from the outside.
- Occupation at levels 1 to 5
- Certificate above secondary level, or equivalent
- That certificate attested by the competent authorities
- Monthly salary of at least AED 4,000, excluding commission
Why the Employer Should Care
The classification sits on the employer's MOHRE file, so it counts in how the company is assessed as well as in the employee's own record.
It also matters to the employee long after hiring. Several residence categories and grace-period rules refer back to the MOHRE level, so a careless title can quietly cost them options later.
- Skill mix forms part of the company's MOHRE profile
- The level travels with the employee's record
- Several residence rules refer back to the level
- Fixing a title later means amending the contract and permit
Common Mistakes
Most errors are made at speed, on the day the permit is filed. Someone picks the nearest title in the dropdown and moves on.
The others come from salary structure. A package that is mostly allowances can leave the basic figure below what the role needs.
- A generic title chosen over the accurate one
- Degree held but never attested
- Salary split so the qualifying figure falls short
- Commission counted towards the AED 4,000 when it cannot be
- Level not reviewed after a promotion
How Exiloz Helps
We map each role to its MOHRE level before the permit is filed, and check the four conditions against the actual certificate and salary. Where attestation is missing, we arrange it.
Because we also run payroll, we can tell you whether the salary structure supports the classification you want.
- Role-to-level mapping before filing
- Certificate attestation arranged where needed
- Salary structure checked against the threshold
- Staff list reviewed ahead of renewals
Related Exiloz Services & Guides
What are MOHRE skill levels?
MOHRE's nine professional levels, based on the ILO's ISCO classification, from level 1 (managers and executives) to level 9 (simple professions). Every occupation on a work permit is placed on one of them.
Which skill levels count as skilled?
Only levels 1 to 5, and only when the worker also holds an attested certificate above secondary level and earns at least AED 4,000 a month excluding commission.
Does the degree have to be attested?
Yes, for skilled status. u.ae lists attestation by the competent authorities as one of the four conditions.
Does commission count towards the AED 4,000?
No. u.ae states the monthly salary excluding commission.
Can an employee's skill level be changed?
Yes, by changing the occupation on the labour contract and work permit through MOHRE. The new occupation still has to meet the conditions for its level.
Is skill level the same as MOHRE company classification?
No. Skill level belongs to the worker and the occupation. Company classification is MOHRE's assessment of the employer, which the staff skill mix feeds into.
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Send Us Your Staff List
Job titles, certificates and salaries. We will flag any role sitting on the wrong level before your next renewal.
