Employer of Record (EOR) Services in the Middle East

Are you struggling with hiring in the Middle East due to local entity setup, visas, contracts, or payroll complexities?

Imagine having employees that work directly for you in the Middle East, but you still don’t have a local entity and you do not manage salaries, visas, or other administrative tasks. At the same time, you have full control over your team.

This is possible when you partner with FMC Group. We’ll hire on your behalf, handle all the processes, and you’ll have employees.

Request a 30-minute Free Consultation

Picture of Peter J. Heidinger
Peter J. Heidinger

Author

Picture of Leah Maglalang
Leah Maglalang

Co-author

Employer of Record EOR Services in the Middle East
Employer of Record EOR Services in the Middle East

Employer of Record (EOR) Services in the Middle East

Are you struggling with hiring in the Middle East due to local entity setup, visas, contracts, or payroll complexities?

Imagine having employees that work directly for you in the Middle East, but you still don’t have a local entity and you do not manage salaries, visas, or other administrative tasks. At the same time, you have full control over your team.

This is possible when you partner with FMC Group. We’ll hire on your behalf, handle all the processes, and you’ll have employees.

Request a 30-minute Free Consultation

Picture of Peter J. Heidinger
Peter J. Heidinger

Author

Picture of Leah Maglalang
Leah Maglalang

Co-author

Table of Contents

Get in Touch with Us

leah

Leah Maglalang

Business Coordinator UAE

uae flag 

Our Employer of Record Services in the Middle East

Not every EOR Service provider is alike. You can enjoy some benefits of partnering with one group, but you can be frustrated due to bad support, lack of important features, or hidden costs.

Understanding your frustrations, we have created a service that is built to provide you with control over your employees and peace of mind at affordable costs.

What FMC Group Handles for You

If you need a full spectrum of HR, payroll, and compliance tasks, then FMC Group is the right partner. The following key features of our service are designed to provide you with full operational control while focusing on growing your business:

    • Employment Contracts: Drafting legally compliant contracts with local labor law
    • Payroll Processing: Accurate and timely salary calculations and disbursements
    • Wage Protection System (WPS) Compliance: Full adherence where applicable
    • Payroll Reporting: Clear, organized (monthly) salary breakdowns and compliance reports
    • Visa & Work Permit Sponsorship: Manages applications and approvals
    • Medical & Emirates ID Processing: Coordinating medical tests and biometrics
    • Leave & Attendance Tracking: Annual, sick, and emergency leave management partner
    • End‑of‑Service Calculations: Gratuity and statutory benefits processed correctly
    • Expense Management: Handling employee travel and expense reimbursements efficiently
    • Pay Cycle Setup: Configuring payroll cycles to match your business needs
    • Document Management: Organizing contracts, amendments, compliance forms, and files
    • Benefit & Allowance Calculations: Applying overtime, bonuses, and allowances accurately
    • Error Resolution: Identifying and correcting payroll discrepancies quickly
    • Monthly Audits: Reviewing each payroll cycle for accuracy and compliance
    • Full Compliance Oversight: Ensuring ongoing adherence to local employment and payroll laws
    • Employee Onboarding Support: Setting up new hires with documentation and system access
    • Daily employee management: Overseeing day-to-day HR administration while you maintain operational control
  • Salary increases and bonus implementation: Processing adjustments accurately and on time

Need a special feature in our EOR service?

We are flexible with our customers, care about their satisfaction, and are happy to assist you.

Middle East Countries We Cover

We make new market entries easy and provide support for expansion. Below is the list of countries in the Middle East that we service.

  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Qatar
  • Kuwait
  • Bahrain
  • Oman
  • Egypt
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon

But if you want EOR services in countries other than those in the list above, we serve over fifty countries.

FMC Group is a German-owned company. Over 25 years, we have gained experience in different markets and are now providing expert services in the UAE and other countries.

Coverage available across GCC and selected MENA markets.

Hiring Timelines: FMC Group EOR Service vs Local Entity

Hiring Step

EOR (Employer of Record)

Local Entity Setup

Legal Setup

No local entity required; hire immediately

Must register a legal entity; can take 1–3 months

Employment Contract

Drafted and compliant within days

Drafted after entity registration; may take a few days to weeks

Work Permit & Visa

Processed quickly through EOR; usually 1–3 weeks

Processed through the company entity; can take 4–8 weeks

Payroll Setup

Immediate setup with EOR’s payroll system

Requires a company payroll system; setup may take weeks

Employee Onboarding

Completed in days

Delayed until the entity is fully operational including a bank account

Time to First Hire

1–3 weeks

3–12 months

Operational Risk

Minimal; EOR handles compliance

Higher; full responsibility lies with the company

Who Should Use EOR Services in the Middle East?

Who Should Use EOR Services in the Middle East

Employer of Record services are ideal for every company that wants to expand quickly in the Middle East. EOR services are also ideal for the companies that don’t want to set up a local entity or comply with complex local labor rules.

  • International companies expanding into MENA
  • Tech & remote-first businesses
  • Project-based hiring
  • Market testing before entity setup
  • Companies hiring 1–50 employees
  • Firms avoiding visa sponsorship complexity
  • Businesses without a registered local entity
  • Organizations seeking fast, fully compliant hiring

No matter the size or industry, FMC Group EOR service hires employees for you legally and efficiently across the Middle East. 

Why Choose FMC Group as Your Middle East EOR Partner

Why Choose FMC Group as Your Middle East EOR Partner

If you want to expand your business to the Middle East, you may face many challenges, such as local rules compliance, payroll management, and visa issues. An experienced EOR service provider can make the process smooth and hassle-free.

The cost of the process and ongoing workflows depend on the partner you select as an EOR service provider. We are the right partners due to the following unmatched advantages:

25+ Years of International Expansion Experience

FMC Group has been helping businesses grow globally for over 25 years. Our experience spans multiple industries and markets all over the world. 

This experience gives us insight to anticipate challenges and provide practical solutions. Whether you are scaling your startup to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or any Middle East country, we make the process risk-free.

Established Employer of Record Expertise

We have been providing EOR services for more than fifteen years. We hire employees on your behalf, so you don’t need to register a legal entity locally. 

FMC has built a proven process, gained legal knowledge, and established HR systems to ensure seamless hiring and payroll management.

Hire in the Middle East Without a Local Entity

FMC Group will provide you with employees in any industry and from any country in the Middle East. We can start the process in 24 hours, you don’t need to wait for the setup of the legal structure, and there is no need to pay extra for registering the business in the Middle East.

This removes the cost, complexity, and delays of entity setup. We make your market entry faster and more cost-effective.

Full Compliance with Local Labor Laws

It is our responsibility to not just provide employees but also ensure hiring complies with local labor laws. So, no need to learn and understand those laws, just start scaling. We ensure your team is fully protected and compliant in every country we operate in.

Consulting-Led, People-First Approach

We prioritize human interaction instead of software-driven solutions. We hire and guide you in every step of expanding your business, doing what a tool cannot.

You directly benefit from our experience and knowledge through our consulting services. In this way, you make informed and thoughtful decisions.

Our people-first approach makes our service tailored to your unique business needs. 

German Accuracy Combined with Local Expertise

FMC Group is a German-based company that has made the company process-oriented and focused on precision. We understand the region’s regulatory landscape and maintain the international standards.

Full Operational Control, Zero Administrative Burden

You retain full operational control over your employees. We focus on managing HR administration, payroll, compliance, and employee onboarding. 

You assign tasks, monitor performance, and conduct daily activities. Our job is to handle complex administration and legal responsibilities. 

Long-Term, Reliable Partner

We are more than just a service provider. We in the FMC Group build long-term relationships within the company and with our clients. 

You can trust us to be there today and as your business expands tomorrow.

How Our EOR Process Works

How Our EOR Process Works

Easy, Fast, Compliant, and Long-Lasting. These are traits that make our EOR process not only unique but valuable for our customers.

From the first consultation to ongoing employee management, we structure every step to reduce risk and administrative burden.

  1. Getting Started

Schedule a thirty-minute free consultation with the FMC Group. We assess your hiring goals, target country, role requirements, and timelines. Then we’ll explain the most compliant and cost-effective way to hire through EOR.

  1. Talent Selection

You may hire your own candidate or use FMC Group’s recruitment support. Once you have finalized the candidate, we validate eligibility, visa requirements, and local employment conditions.

  1. Contracting & Onboarding

FMC Group prepares all required agreements:

  • A service agreement between your company and FMC Group
  • A compliant local employment contract between FMC Group and the employee

We ensure all contracts align with local labor laws and clearly define salary, benefits, and employment terms.

  1. Employee Administration

The employee is hired through FMC Group. Then you start working with the employee, and we manage administrative tasks such as payroll, taxes, leave, and more.

  1. Ongoing Management & Benefits

You retain full day-to-day management of the employee’s work and performance. FMC Group handles ongoing payroll, leave tracking, expense reimbursements, salary adjustments, bonuses, audits, and compliance monitoring.

EOR vs PEO vs Payroll Outsourcing

After reviewing this comparison, you can determine which service fits your expansion needs. In addition to EOR services, we help with payroll outsourcing, employee leasing, and more.

Feature / Service

Employer of Record (EOR)

Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

Payroll Outsourcing

Legal Employer Responsibility

Yes, EOR becomes the legal employer

Shared / Co-employment with client

No, the client remains the legal employer

Entity Requirement

No local entity needed

Usually requires a local entity

No local entity needed

Payroll & Tax Compliance

Handled fully by the provider

Usually handled jointly

Provider manages payroll only

HR Administration

Full-service: contracts, benefits, leave, compliance

Limited HR support

Payroll-focused only

Work Permits & Visas

Included where applicable

Not typically included

Not included

Onboarding & Employee Management

Yes, administrative support included

Limited

Not included

Best For

Quick, compliant international hiring without entity setup

Companies with existing local entities seeking shared HR

Companies needing payroll processing only

Cost Structure

Per employee, includes full HR & compliance

Usually % of payroll or shared fee

Fee per payroll cycle or employee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EOR in the Middle East?

An Employer of Record (EOR) in the Middle East is a legally registered local entity that hires employees on your behalf. The EOR service provider becomes the official employer, and you get full control over employees.

EOR costs in the Middle East typically range from 10% to 20% of the employee’s gross salary or a fixed monthly fee per employee. Costs vary widely depending on multiple factors like country, role, and services.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is generally considered one of the easiest Middle East countries for international hiring. The UAE’s structured labor framework, clear visa processes, and business-friendly regulations make it a place of interest for expanding companies.

Yes. In many Middle East countries, an EOR can sponsor work visas and residency permits where legally permitted.

No. An EOR is not a staffing or recruitment agency. A staffing agency focuses on sourcing candidates, while an EOR acts as the legal employer and manages operations in that local region.

Yes. An EOR handles all employment-related immigration paperwork, including work permits, residency visas, medical checks, and government registrations where applicable.

A people-first EOR service company prioritizes human expertise, local knowledge, and personalized support over fully automated, software-only processes.

Hire in the Middle East Without Setting Up a Company

Get expert guidance on compliant hiring, payroll, and visas across the Middle East.

Get In Touch With Leah​

We are looking forward to hearing from you

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