Got a UAE job offer? Here’s how to check if it’s real

Did you receive a job offer to work in the UAE? That’s great news! Before you start packing, however, it’s best to ensure the offer is legitimate, valid, and approved by the authorities. If it’s not, you might be a victim of labour and visa fraud. What is labour and visa fraud? Visa fraud involves scammers impersonating employers or agents, and offering fake jobs and forged employment visas. They may use fake shell companies to trick victims into using their tourist visas for employment, which is illegal. Some may also demand upfront fees for visa processing or insurance. What the law says about recruitment procedures It’s important to know and understand UAE’s regulations related to employment and visa stipulations. This is the first step in safeguarding yourself from scams. As per UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 concerning Labour Relations, visit visas and tourist visas do not give you the right to work in the UAE, whether for pay or without compensation. Working under these types of visas may subject the person to heavy fines and legal liability, including deportation, lifetime entry bans, and imprisonment, depending on the nature and use of forged documents. If someone offers you a job in the UAE, they must provide you with an offer letter issued by the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). You can check the letter’s validity in the steps below. As per UAE’s Labour Law, the employer is responsible for payment of recruitment expenses. This includes work permits, medical tests, and residence visa processing. If you receive a real job offer, you will never be asked to pay for these costs. If you live elsewhere and have received a UAE residence visa, ahead of your travel to the country, be aware that this is not possible. A residence visa cannot be processed for applicants outside the UAE. The applicant must first enter the country with a valid entry permit and remain in the UAE, until the residence visa issuance process is finalised. Steps to stay safe from labour and visa fraud The employment process in the UAE’s private sector involves receiving a formal job offer, signing the employment contract, receiving the work permit, and then receiving the work visa. There are several steps you can take to ensure the job offer letter is real, and that you are on track to working legally in the UAE. The MOHRE shared these tips to follow, before arriving for your job in the UAE: Step 1: Ensure the company exists The first step to avoiding scams is to learn whether the company offering you the job really exists. You can search for the company’s English and Arabic name in the UAE’s National Economic Registry, to learn more about them. Access the Registry here: https://growth.gov.ae/g2c Step 2: Ensure the offer letter is legitimate If you are offered a job in the UAE, you must get an offer letter issued by MOHRE, signed by the authorised manager. According to MOHRE, a job offer contains a detailed description of the rights and obligations of both parties in accordance with the UAE Labour Law, in addition to the terms and conditions of employment. The job offer letter must be provided in Arabic and English, as well as in a third language that the worker understands. It must be accompanied by an annex (available on MOHRE’s website), containing a detailed outline of the provisions of the UAE Labour Law. The employer must sign the job offer electronically and send it to the worker in their home country either directly, through a recruitment agency, or via any designated entity, for review and approval by the worker. Workers must acknowledge they have understood the letter, and provide their signature or fingerprint. Step 3: Verify the validity of the job offer Before you sign, however, it’s wise to verify whether the job offer is valid. Follow these steps: Visit MOHRE’s Inquiry Service portal: inquiry.mohre.gov.ae Click on the Inquiry Services section and then select ‘Enquiry for Job Offer’. Here, you will need to input the following details: Transaction number: A unique alphanumerical code, which is printed under the MOHRE logo on the offer letter. Company number: Every organisation has a unique ‘Company number’ or ‘Establishment number’. This information is available on the offer letter. From Date and To Date: The agreed-upon duration for the fixed-term contract. It is usually set for two years. Select ‘All Work Permits’ from the drop-down menu. Enter the Captcha information to prove you are a human user. Then select ‘Submit’. If the offer is legitimate, the system will display your job offer details, confirming its validity. If any important details, like the MOHRE logo, the transaction number, or company number, are missing, it is a red flag and you must proceed with caution. Step 4: Receive and verify your work permit If you have verified and signed the job offer letter, the next step is acquiring an entry permit to the UAE. The employer must send you an electronic entry permit for employment, wh