Dubai MWO Starts Accepting Card Payments For Important Services
Starting Monday, 14 September 2026, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Dubai and Northern Emirates has officially transitioned to accepting debit and credit cards for employment contract verification and four additional core services. Previously, walk-in clients were restricted to cash payments for the Dh40 verification fee, but this policy has been updated to accommodate digital transactions.
- MWO Dubai now accepts debit and credit cards
- Cash is still accepted and the Dh40 fee is unchanged
- Card users may pay bank or VAT surcharges
- Applies to five core services including contract verification
Eligible Services And Payment Details
The five services now eligible for card payment include individual contract verification, employer accreditation and job-order processing, rehire processing, direct-hire processing, and Tadbeer hiring. While cash remains an accepted payment method and the Dh40 fee remains unchanged, card users may be subject to standard bank merchant or VAT surcharges depending on their specific card provider. Labor Attaché Atty. John Rio Bautista stated that the implementation of card payments was a direct response to recurring requests from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and employers seeking more convenient and accessible payment options.
Jurisdiction And Important Office Information
The MWO Dubai jurisdiction covers workers with visas or Emirates IDs issued in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. Contract verification is a mandatory step for the issuance of an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) required for vacation travel or new deployments. The office maintains operational hours from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 am to 12:00 noon on Fridays. Inquiries may be directed to the Assistance to Nationals hotline at +971 56 353 5558, the contract verification line at +971 50 652 6626, or the OWWA line at +971 50 558 5536. Further information is available at the official website, https://mwodubai.org/.
Rules And Alternative Channels
The MWO Dubai clarified that the use of official cashiers remains mandatory and that the use of unauthorized fixers is prohibited. Additionally, biometrics and visa processing for UAE government services must be completed at official UAE government counters. Existing online channels, including OECVS, DataFlow, and VFS Global, will continue to operate in parallel with the updated in-office payment system.