MOHRE introduces updated guide with tougher living, health, and safety requirements for workers.
Dubai: The UAE has introduced a comprehensive new framework regulating labour accommodations as part of ongoing efforts to improve workers’ living standards and create safer, more integrated residential environments across the country.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) said the new guide sets detailed requirements covering accommodation services, infrastructure, healthcare access, transportation, and recreational facilities, with a focus on improving workers’ wellbeing and social stability.
Under the new standards, labour accommodation operators will be required to provide free internet services, enabling workers to stay connected with their families, access online services, and complete digital transactions.
The guide also encourages the organisation of recreational and social activities during official holidays to support psychological wellbeing and strengthen community engagement among residents.
Large-scale accommodations housing 1,000 workers or more must include a 24/7 medical clinic, along with sports facilities and financial service amenities, aimed at creating a fully integrated living environment.
The framework also introduces stricter planning and location requirements for labour accommodations. Facilities must be located near industrial zones and major road networks, while maintaining a minimum distance of five kilometres from family residential areas. They must also be situated away from environmental pollution sources as well as flood and rainwater drainage paths.
According to the guide, all necessary approvals and permits must be obtained from the relevant authorities before properties can be used as labour accommodations.
The new standards also regulate movement within labour accommodation areas to enhance safety and traffic flow. Operators are required to provide adequate internal road space for vehicles, dedicated parking for buses and cars, and clear access routes for emergency, ambulance, and civil defence vehicles.
