Amer vs Tasheel comes down to which department decides your file. Amer centers work for GDRFA Dubai on entry permits and residence visas, and there are 85 of them. Tasheel centers work for MOHRE on work permits and employment contracts, with 82 in Dubai. A private typing center only fills in forms for other bodies, such as ICP for Emirates ID. It has not filed Dubai visas since .
Four more counters complete the picture: Tawjeeh for MOHRE guidance, Tadbeer for domestic workers, ICP for Emirates ID, and DLD trustee centers for Ejari.
The full comparison
| Amer center | Tasheel center | Private typing center | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works for | GDRFA Dubai | MOHRE | No single authority |
| Main jobs | Entry permits, residence visas, renewal, cancellation, status change, visit visas | Work permits, employment contracts, labour cards, establishment files | Emirates ID forms, medical forms, legal typing, translation |
| Count in Dubai | 85 | 82 (plus 8 Tawjeeh on the same list) | No official list |
| Official list | GDRFA customer happiness centers | MOHRE business services and guidance centers | None |
| Hours published | Rarely; GDRFA's own centers yes | No | Varies |
| Charges | About AED 100 to 300 per transaction | Commission capped at AED 72 per service | About AED 40 to 200 per form |
| Online option | GDRFA smart services | MOHRE website and app, free apart from federal fees | Depends on the form |
Charges: MOHRE cap from MOHRE's recruiting service page; Amer and typing ranges from published price lists of Dubai typing centers, PRO firms and free zones. All checked .
The other four counters
| Counter | Works for | Use it for | Count in Dubai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawjeeh | MOHRE | Guidance sessions, employment contract briefings | 8 |
| Tadbeer (domestic workers center) | MOHRE | Maids, nannies, drivers and other household staff | 42 |
| ICP service center | ICP | Emirates ID, and visas from other emirates | Not counted here |
| DLD trustee center | Dubai Land Department | Ejari registration, renewal, cancellation | 7 |
Which counter, task by task
| You want to | Go to |
|---|---|
| Renew your residence visa | Amer |
| Renew your work permit | Tasheel |
| Cancel an employee | Tasheel first, then Amer |
| Sponsor your wife or children | Amer, with Ejari from DLD for housing proof |
| Hire a maid or nanny | Tadbeer |
| Bring a relative on a visit visa | Amer, or ICP for its visit visa |
| Change from visit visa to residence | Amer (status change) |
| Renew your Emirates ID | ICP online, or a typing center for the form |
| Register a tenancy | DLD trustee center or the Dubai REST app |
| Get a company establishment card | Amer or GDRFA |
| Attend a labour rights briefing | Tawjeeh |
The order matters
Most real cases cross two departments. Doing them out of order wastes a trip.
New employee from overseas. MOHRE work permit at Tasheel, then the GDRFA entry permit at Amer. After arrival: medical test, residence visa at Amer, then Emirates ID with ICP. MOHRE states 2 working days for the permit, and GDRFA states 48 hours for the residence.
Leaving a job. GDRFA's cancellation page asks for the MOHRE work permit cancellation, so Tasheel goes first. Then the residence cancellation at Amer, which costs AED 100 plus AED 10 and AED 10.
Moving to a new job inside the UAE. New work permit at Tasheel, then the status change or new residence at Amer. The GDRFA status change fee is AED 500 plus AED 10 and AED 10.
Family sponsorship. Register your tenancy first: u.ae lists a certified lease or proof of ownership for dependants' residence. Then the family entry permit at Amer, where GDRFA lists a sponsor salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with housing.
Household staff. Tadbeer handles the domestic worker side. MOHRE's page sets the expat sponsor's family income at no less than AED 25,000 a month. See the maid visa guide.
Names that mislead
Signboards do not always match licences. On the official lists, a company called Tasheel Government Services in Oud Metha is an Amer center. One called Eagle Management Services Amer in Al Khabaisi is a Tasheel center. Falcon Vision's address says it is next to a Tas-heel counter. Check the name against the right list, or use our directories: Amer centers near you, Tasheel centers near you and Tawjeeh centers.
When neither is the answer
If you only need a form typed, a typing center is quicker and cheaper. If you need GDRFA itself, go to one of its 9 customer happiness centers. If the whole file feels like too many counters, the employment visa page and PRO services explain how the partner team runs both sides for you.
