Can I work for a mainland company while on a free zone visa in the UAE?

Generally, your UAE residence visa is tied to the entity that sponsors it, so working for a different employer — including a mainland company — while holding a free zone visa is not automatically permitted and can breach immigration and labour rules. If you are sponsored by your own free zone company, you work for that entity; if a mainland employer wants to hire you, the usual route is for them to sponsor you under the onshore regime supervised by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which may involve a transfer or a new work permit. The UAE has, however, introduced part-time and multiple-work-permit options in some cases, so secondary or part-time work can be legal if the correct permit is obtained first. Because the rules depend on your visa type and the employers involved, confirm the proper permit with MOHRE and your free zone authority before starting any additional role. To check your options, you can compare verified UAE employment legal professionals on LEXAI.