UAE Experience Certificate Builder

UAE Experience Certificates — Complete Guide

What is an experience certificate?

An experience certificate — also called an experience letter or service certificate — is a formal document issued by an employer that confirms an employee's role, tenure, key responsibilities and professional conduct. It is one of the most widely requested HR documents in the UAE and is commonly used for new job applications, visa endorsements, embassy attestation and professional licensing.

Is an experience certificate required in the UAE?

Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationships, employees are entitled to receive a service certificate from their employer on request, confirming the joining and end dates, last position and last salary — and without including any statement that could harm the employee's future employment. Similar entitlements exist across the GCC, including Article 64 of the Saudi Labour Law.

What information should an experience certificate include?

• Company letterhead — name, trade licence, MOHRE / HRSD registration and address
• Employee's full legal name, passport / Emirates ID and nationality (optional)
• Job title, department and reporting structure
• Employment start and end dates, and total duration of service
• Key responsibilities, achievements and professional conduct
• Optional: salary, reason for leaving, rehire eligibility, notice period
• Authorised signatory, designation, signature and company stamp

Difference between an experience certificate and an employment certificate

An employment certificate is typically issued during active employment to confirm that the employee currently works with the company — often for banks, embassies or visa applications. An experience certificate is issued at the end of the employment relationship and documents the full history of the role, responsibilities and conduct. Many UAE employers issue both a relieving letter and an experience certificate on final settlement.

When is attestation required?

Attestation is typically required when the experience certificate will be used outside the UAE — for overseas employment, immigration, professional licensing in another country, or educational admissions abroad. The usual chain is: notarisation → UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation → attestation by the destination country's embassy. Some destinations also require legal translation between English and Arabic before attestation.

This content is educational and not legal advice. For binding advice on your specific situation, consult a UAE-licensed legal advisor.