H-1B Visa Guide for Emirati Nationals (2026)

Green card backlog, lottery odds, top employers, and key visa considerations for United Arab Emirates nationals seeking US work authorization.

~400/yr
Annual H-1B Approvals
$140,000
Median LCA Wage
35% MS / 20% BS
Lottery Odds
.09%
% of Total H-1B
EB-2 Green Card BacklogCurrent
EB-3 Green Card BacklogCurrent
Visa Alternatives

H-1B is primary. Low volume due to small UAE citizen population. E-1/E-2 possible under US-UAE treaty.

Top H-1B Employers for United Arab Emirates Nationals

Mubadala (US)ADIA (US)Emirates (US ops)GoogleAmazonJPMorganGoldman Sachs

Top H-1B Roles

Financial AnalystInvestment ManagerSoftware EngineerEnergy EngineerManagement Consultant

Top States for United Arab Emirates H-1B Workers

New YorkCaliforniaTexasFloridaWashington DC

Green Card Pathway

No backlog. Rest-of-world EB-2/EB-3 current. Very small absolute volume of Emirati H-1B applicants.

What is the green card timeline for United Arab Emirates nationals?

No backlog. Rest-of-world EB-2/EB-3 current. Very small absolute volume of Emirati H-1B applicants.

What are H-1B visa alternatives for Emirati professionals?

H-1B is primary. Low volume due to small UAE citizen population. E-1/E-2 possible under US-UAE treaty.

Which employers sponsor H-1B for United Arab Emirates nationals?

Top H-1B sponsors for Emirati nationals include: Mubadala (US),ADIA (US),Emirates (US ops),Google,Amazon,JPMorgan,Goldman Sachs. Sectors vary by country.

What is the H-1B lottery odds for Emirati applicants?

H-1B lottery odds are approximately 35% MS / 20% BS — the same for all nationalities. Per-country limits only apply to employment-based green cards, not H-1B status itself.