As an international student in the UAE, how many hours can I work part-time during the academic term and official breaks, and what are the typical earnings for part-time jobs like private tutoring, hospitality staff, campus assistant, and internships in marketing or customer service?

There is no single blanket student visa work rule in the UAE the way there is in the UK or New Zealand; instead, work depends on the employer securing the correct MoHRE permit for you, which fixes your allowed hours.

Hours You Can Realistically Work

During academic terms, international students are generally limited to up to 15 hours a week, rising to up to 40 hours a week during official breaks, once the employer has the appropriate part-time work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Your university-issued No Objection Certificate is typically required before an employer can apply for that permit.

What Different Roles Actually Pay

Why the Range Is So Wide

UAE hospitality reporting shows some interns earning AED 1,000 to 2,000 a month while certain hourly or daily part-time hotel roles pay substantially more, and current job listings for tutoring and internships show similarly wide swings by employer, city and experience level. Your specific emirate, university rules and visa status can all affect what you are legally allowed to accept.

This Information Is Also Available On

Dubai.ae's part-time employment guidance page.

My Advice

Confirm the permit process with your university's international office before you accept any part-time offer, since a role without the correct MoHRE permit in place can put your student residence status at risk even if the job itself seems informal or low-stakes. Treat the earnings ranges above as planning estimates, not guarantees, and ask any prospective employer directly what they are offering before assuming the higher end of the range.