Can a UAE employer keep a worker's passport?
No. Article 13 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 lists, among the employer's obligations, not withholding the worker's official documents and not forcing the worker to leave the UAE at the end of the employment. A contractor may keep copies for its records but must leave the originals with the worker.
What the employer must keep instead
The same article requires the employer to keep worker files and records as the Ministry specifies, for at least two years after the worker's service ends. Copies of the passport, visa and Emirates ID belong in that file.
Site camps often hold documents for safekeeping. That is only lawful if the worker can get them back on request, so the practice should be voluntary and recorded.
Why it matters on construction sites
Large labour forces, camps and frequent transfers between projects make document handling a common inspection point. Holding passports also weakens the employer's position in any dispute filed with MOHRE.
How SupaJack Construct helps
Employee records hold document numbers and expiry dates with scanned copies, so the HR team can track renewals without keeping the original passport. Expiry alerts appear before a visa or Emirates ID lapses.
Related tools and guides
See the UAE labour law guide for contractors, the final settlement calculator, the gratuity calculator, the annual leave calculator, the unpaid leave deduction calculator, payroll and WPS in SupaJack Construct, time and attendance and the meaning of basic salary.
Worked example
A subcontractor asks a new carpenter to hand over his passport on day one and keeps it in the site office. Under Article 13 that is withholding an official document. The lawful approach is to scan the passport, record its number and expiry in the file, and return it the same day.
Questions people ask
Can the worker agree to let the employer keep it?
The law prohibits withholding. Any safekeeping must let the worker take the passport back at any time.
How long must worker files be kept?
At least two years after service ends, under Article 13.
Does this apply to Emirates ID too?
Yes. Article 13 covers the worker's official documents.