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How to write an experience certificate for a UAE or GCC employee

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An experience certificate is what a departing employee needs for their next visa, their next employer's HR file, and often for degree or trade equivalency. Issue it wrongly — wrong dates, no job title, no stamp — and it fails attestation, and the ex-employee comes back to you months later. This guide sets out exactly what to include, the wording that survives attestation, and what differs across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Iraq.

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Template Example FAQ

What is an experience letter?

An experience letter is part of the hr documents stack every GCC founder, freelancer and SME relies on. It captures the key commercial, HR or legal information for a transaction in a clean, professional format that your client, employee, supplier, bank or regulator can act on. DocMak's Experience Letter Maker produces a print-ready PDF you can email or WhatsApp in under a minute.

When to issue an experience letter

Use an experience letter whenever you issue a transaction that needs to be documented for your records, your counterparty's records or for compliance. Typical GCC use cases include serving SMEs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh, Doha and Muscat, supporting bank reconciliations, tender submissions, and meeting FTA, ZATCA, immigration and MoFA documentation requirements where applicable.

Required fields for a GCC experience letter

An experience letter should be printed on company letterhead and show the company name, trade licence number and address, a reference number and issue date, the employee's full name, nationality, passport or Emirates ID number, job title and dates of employment, the purpose of the letter, and the name, designation, signature and company stamp of an authorised HR signatory.

Business use cases across the GCC

From freelancers in Dubai Media City and Riyadh to trading companies in Sharjah, JAFZA and Dammam, experience letters underpin day-to-day operations. Startups use them during due diligence, established SMEs use them for tenders and bank KYC, and cross-border operators use them to keep customs, banking and tax authorities aligned across borders.

Industry and country variations

Mainland and free-zone employers issue an experience letter under slightly different rules — MOHRE for mainland companies, the free-zone authority for DMCC, JAFZA, ADGM and similar zones. Banks, embassies and immigration offices each ask for different details, so tailor the purpose line, salary breakdown and attestation to where the letter will be submitted, and provide an Arabic version where a government entity requires it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most experience letter disputes come from a handful of avoidable errors: non-sequential numbering, missing or incorrect TRN / VAT number, vague descriptions, no Arabic version for government-facing documents, and a weak signature block. DocMak's Experience Letter Maker nudges you past all of these by default.

How to issue an experience letter with DocMak

Open the Experience Letter Maker, fill in the form fields on the left and watch a live preview render on the right. Add your logo, TRN, CR number and bank details once — DocMak remembers them for the next document. Download the finished letter as a branded PDF, print it, or share it directly via WhatsApp and email. The first 100 documents every month are free.

Experience Letter best practices

Keep numbering sequential per year, use clear plain-English descriptions with an Arabic mirror where the experience letter will reach a court or ministry, reference related documents (LPO, quotation, contract, employment offer), and store every letter in a searchable, backed-up folder. Pro users get the full history saved to their DocMak dashboard.

Frequently asked questions

Is an experience letter mandatory under UAE Labour Law?
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 the employer must give a departing employee a service (experience) certificate free of charge on request, stating the start and end dates, total service, job title and last salary.
Does an experience letter need MOFA or embassy attestation?
Only when it will be used abroad or for a government process that asks for it. Typically the letter is signed and stamped by the company, then attested by MOFA in the UAE and the destination country's embassy.
Can an experience letter mention the reason for leaving?
It can, but it must not include anything that harms the employee's chances of finding new work. Most employers state only that the employee left on their own request or on completion of the contract.
Is the DocMak Experience Letter Maker really free?
Yes — the first 20 PDF exports every 30 days are free. Upgrade to Pro (AED 49/month) if you issue more documents or want saved history.
Read all Experience Letter Maker FAQs

Who needs this document?

  • HR teams issuing certificates to departing or current employees
  • Small companies with no HR department but a resigning staff member
  • Employees needing a certificate for a new visa, equivalency or bank application
  • PROs preparing documents for MOHRE, MOFA or embassy attestation

What is an experience certificate and who needs one?

An experience certificate (also called an experience letter or service certificate) is a signed statement on company letterhead confirming that a person worked for the company, in what role, for what period. It is requested by new employers, immigration authorities, professional licensing bodies, universities and banks.

Experience certificate vs relieving letter vs salary certificate

The experience certificate confirms role and duration; a relieving letter confirms the employee has been formally released on a date; a salary certificate states current pay for a bank or landlord. They are separate documents and should not be merged.

Is an employer obliged to issue one?

In most GCC jurisdictions the employee is entitled to a certificate of service on request at the end of employment. Refusing to issue one is a common source of labour complaints.

What to include in an experience certificate

Company letterhead with licence name, address, phone and email; date of issue and a reference number; the heading 'To Whom It May Concern' or 'Experience Certificate'; employee full name exactly as in the passport; passport or Emirates ID number; job title (and any promotions with dates); department; date of joining and date of leaving; a brief statement of duties; a neutral or positive closing line; and the signature, name, designation and company stamp of the authorised signatory.

Wording to avoid

Do not state the reason for termination, salary figures or performance judgements unless the employee has asked for it. Negative or ambiguous wording exposes the company and blocks attestation.

Certificates for attestation

For MOFA and embassy attestation the certificate must be on original letterhead, signed in ink, stamped, and free of correction. Digital-only PDFs are commonly rejected at the attestation counter.

Sample wording you can adapt

'This is to certify that Mr/Ms [Full Name], holder of passport number [XXXXXX], was employed with [Company Legal Name], [Licence No.], as [Job Title] in the [Department] department from [DD/MM/YYYY] to [DD/MM/YYYY]. During this period their responsibilities included [two or three duties]. We found them to be professional and diligent, and we wish them success in their future endeavours. This certificate is issued upon the employee's request.'

Common mistakes to avoid

  • • Dates that do not match the labour contract or social insurance record
  • • Issuing on plain paper with no letterhead or stamp
  • • Stating the reason for termination or a performance judgement
  • • Job title that differs from the one registered with the labour authority
  • • Providing only a digital PDF where attestation requires an ink-signed original

Requirements by country — GCC & Iraq

One authoritative guide, with the local detail that actually differs between markets.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah · free zones

UAE employers issue the certificate on trade-licence letterhead with the company stamp; MOHRE-registered employment dates should match the labour contract. For equivalency, golden visa applications or use abroad, the certificate normally needs MOFA attestation and, where the destination country requires it, embassy attestation. Free zone employees may also need a letter from the free zone authority.

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh · Jeddah · Dammam

Saudi employers issue an Arabic or bilingual certificate referencing the CR and often the GOSI record, which must align with the stated dates. Certificates used for professional accreditation with the Saudi Council of Engineers or SCFHS must state the exact job title as registered.

Qatar

Doha · Lusail

Qatari employers should reference the CR and match dates to the Ministry of Labour contract; certificates used abroad require Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation.

Kuwait

Kuwait City

Kuwaiti certificates should match PIFSS/Ministry of Social Affairs records and are commonly issued bilingually for use with embassies.

Oman

Muscat · Sohar

Omani employers should align the certificate with the labour clearance and social insurance record; Arabic or bilingual issuance is standard for government-facing use.

Bahrain

Manama

Bahraini employers should ensure the certificate matches LMRA records; SIO/social insurance dates are checked when the certificate is used for a new work permit.

Iraq

Baghdad · Erbil · Basra

Iraqi employers in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil should issue an Arabic certificate on stamped letterhead with the company registration number; certificates used abroad require notarisation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and KRG-issued documents may need additional federal endorsement.

نموذج شهادة خبرة جاهزة

شهادة الخبرة مستند يثبت مدة عمل الموظف ومسماه الوظيفي لدى الشركة، ويحتاجها الموظف عند التقديم على وظيفة جديدة أو تأشيرة عمل أو معادلة مهنية أو معاملات بنكية.

محتوى شهادة الخبرة

ترويسة الشركة واسمها كما في الرخصة، التاريخ ورقم الإشارة، عبارة «إلى من يهمه الأمر»، الاسم الكامل للموظف ورقم الجواز أو الهوية، المسمى الوظيفي والقسم، تاريخ الالتحاق وتاريخ انتهاء الخدمة، ملخص المهام، عبارة ختامية إيجابية، ثم التوقيع والاسم والصفة وختم الشركة.

نموذج صياغة

«نشهد نحن شركة [الاسم]، رخصة رقم [ ]، بأن السيد/السيدة [الاسم] حامل الجواز رقم [ ] قد عمل لدينا بوظيفة [المسمى] في قسم [ ] خلال الفترة من [ ] إلى [ ]، وقد أظهر التزامًا وكفاءة في أداء مهامه. وقد أُعطيت له هذه الشهادة بناءً على طلبه دون أدنى مسؤولية على الشركة.»

التصديق

لاستخدام الشهادة خارج الدولة غالبًا ما يلزم تصديقها من وزارة الخارجية ثم من سفارة الدولة المقصودة، ويجب أن تكون على ورق رسمي موقّعة ومختومة بالأصل.

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HR documents cluster

Questions GCC businesses ask

What should an experience certificate include?
Company letterhead and licence name, date and reference, employee full name and passport/ID number, job title, department, joining and leaving dates, brief duties, a neutral closing line, and an authorised signature with the company stamp.
Is an experience certificate the same as a relieving letter?
No. The experience certificate confirms role and duration of service; the relieving letter confirms the employee was formally released on a specific date.
Does an experience certificate need attestation?
Only when it will be used abroad or for equivalency and visa purposes — then MOFA and often embassy attestation is required on an original signed and stamped copy.
Should salary be mentioned on an experience certificate?
No, unless the employee specifically requests it. Salary belongs on a salary certificate.
Can a company refuse to issue an experience certificate?
In most GCC labour frameworks the employee is entitled to a certificate of service on request, and refusal commonly leads to a labour complaint.
Can an experience certificate be issued in Arabic?
Yes, and it should be for government and attestation use in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq — bilingual is the safest format.

Business use cases for an experience letter

How founders, freelancers and SMEs across the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq use an experience letter day to day.

HR teams at UAE SMEs

Small HR teams in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah issue an experience letter every week. A ready layout with the employee's details, reference number and signatory block saves time and keeps every letter consistent.

Banks, embassies and visa applications

Employees ask for an experience letter when they open a bank account, apply for a loan or credit card, or apply for a visa. A clear purpose line and the authorised signatory's stamp avoid the letter being rejected.

Free-zone companies

DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, ADGM and other free-zone employers follow their free-zone authority's HR rules. An experience letter on company letterhead with the licence number works for both free-zone and mainland processes.

Groups with staff across the GCC

Companies with employees in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman can keep one consistent experience letter format and adjust the currency, labour-law reference and language for each country.

Required sections in a professional experience letter

Every experience letter should contain these building blocks so it holds up in front of clients, banks, courts and regulators across the GCC.

Company letterhead

Company name, logo, trade licence number, address and contact details.

Reference and date

A unique HR reference number and the issue date.

Employee details

Full name, nationality, passport or Emirates ID number, job title and employment dates.

Purpose and content

The main statement of the experience letter and, where relevant, who it is addressed to.

Authorised signatory

Name, designation, signature and company stamp of the HR manager or another authorised person.

GCC compliance considerations

Tax, language, data-protection and attestation rules that shape how an experience letter is drafted, retained and shared across the GCC.

UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021)

Sets the rules for private-sector employment in the UAE, including fixed-term contracts, probation, notice periods, leave and the employer's duty to issue a service certificate. Make sure an experience letter is consistent with the employee's MOHRE contract.

MOHRE and free-zone authorities

Mainland employers register contracts and work permits with MOHRE; free-zone employers follow their free-zone authority. Details in HR letters should match those records.

Attestation for use abroad

An experience letter used outside the UAE usually needs attestation by MOFA and the destination country's embassy. Sign, stamp and date the original before attestation.

Employee data privacy

Share salary and personal details only for the stated purpose and with the employee's consent, in line with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law.

Industry-specific variations of an experience letter

How the experience letter adapts to trading, construction, professional services, technology, retail and real estate.

Construction and contracting

Large workforces mean frequent letters for visa renewals and bank accounts. Keep an experience letter short and consistent across sites.

Hospitality and retail

High staff turnover makes a standard letter template essential for joining and leaving employees.

Healthcare

Licensing bodies such as DHA, DOH and MOHAP often ask for employment and experience letters with exact dates and job titles.

Technology and professional services

Employees moving between employers or countries need accurate dates, titles and salary details for visas and background checks.

Country-specific guidance (7 GCC markets)

Labour law, language and attestation rules for an experience letter in each GCC market.

United Arab Emirates

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 governs private-sector employment. Mainland employers use MOHRE; free-zone employers follow their free-zone authority.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Labour Law and the Qiwa platform govern contracts. Arabic is the official language of HR documents.

Qatar

Law No. 14 of 2004 and its amendments apply. Letters for government use are usually needed in Arabic.

Oman

Royal Decree 53/2023 (Labour Law) applies, with Omanisation targets by sector.

Kuwait

Law No. 6 of 2010 governs private-sector work. HR letters for official use are typically attested.

Bahrain

Law No. 36 of 2012 applies, with the LMRA handling work permits.

Iraq

The Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 applies; Arabic copies are expected for official processes.

Common experience letter mistakes to avoid

These are the pitfalls that turn a routine experience letter into an audit finding or a dispute.

Details that do not match the employment contract

Job title, joining date and salary on an experience letter must match the MOHRE or free-zone contract, or banks and embassies may reject it.

Missing signatory or company stamp

An unsigned or unstamped letter is rarely accepted. Always include the authorised signatory's name, designation, signature and stamp.

No reference number or date

A reference number and issue date let the recipient verify the letter with HR and show it is recent.

Continue exploring the experience letter cluster

Related documents, format vs sample references, GCC country variants and glossary terms — everything you need to master the experience letter in one place.

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Across the GCC

Experience Letter rules and regional hubs

Glossary terms

Key terms around an experience letter

MOHRE
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which registers mainland employment contracts and work permits.
Fixed-term contract
The standard UAE private-sector contract under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, with a defined start and end date that can be renewed.
Probation
An initial trial period of up to six months, with shorter notice periods than the rest of the contract.
Gross vs basic salary
Basic salary is the base pay used for gratuity; gross salary adds housing, transport and other allowances.
End-of-service gratuity
A payment due to eligible employees when employment ends, calculated on basic salary and length of service.
Attestation
Official authentication of a document by MOFA and, where needed, the destination country's embassy.
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