The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has rolled out sweeping new rules on labour accommodation, requiring employers to provide free internet access, round-the-clock medical services, and a range of welfare facilities as part of a national push to raise living conditions for workers.
Large-scale accommodations housing at least 1,000 residents must maintain 24-hour clinics staffed with doctors, nurses, and ambulances on site. Employers are also required to establish first aid rooms, isolation areas, and documented emergency response plans across all housing facilities.
Workers must be provided with written materials in multiple languages covering their rights and responsibilities, occupational health and safety protocols, and contact information for government bodies where they can file complaints or seek assistance.
On safety preparedness, the ministry mandated the posting of emergency signage, fire prevention instructions, and evacuation procedures throughout accommodation premises, with regular drills required for all residents.
Housing sites must be positioned near industrial zones and transport links while kept at a safe distance from family residential neighbourhoods and areas with environmental risks. Basic living standards are also addressed under the rules, covering adequate lighting, sanitation, food preparation areas, clean drinking water, pest control, and safe gas installations.
Employers who do not provide licensed housing are required to offer a housing allowance in its place. The ministry further directed accommodation managers to organise social and recreational activities during official holidays, recognising the role of mental wellbeing alongside physical living conditions.
The package of regulations is described by authorities as part of a wider compliance framework intended to strengthen worker protections nationwide.
