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.

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:

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, which allows you to enter the UAE and complete your residence visa application process. It is typically valid for 60 days from issuance.

When you check the validity of your entry permit, the most important detail to look for is the expiry date. This date helps you plan travel arrangements and any extensions, and helps you avoid last-minute problems or the risk of overstaying.

To verify the validity of an entry permit issued by any of the seven emirates, follow the steps below.

If your visa/entry permit was issued in Dubai: You can verify its validity on the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA). The GDRFA manages entry permits and residence visa status enquiries. Its jurisdiction includes mainland Dubai, and free zones, such as Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Internet City, and others.

If your application has been approved, but you have not received your permit yet, the GDRFA allows you to download the entry permit as a PDF file. You will need to print the permit before travel and bring it with you, since airlines will require it for boarding verification, and immigration officers will verify it upon your arrival.

If your visa/entry permit was issued in other emirates: For the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, you can check the status of your visa application and its validity on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Its jurisdiction includes mainland visas as well as free zone visas issued under Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority (SAIF Zone), Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), and twofour54 in Abu Dhabi.

Step 5: Ask the right people

If you have questions or doubts at any stage of the employment or visa process, you can receive clarifications and answers from the authorities. Here are some authorised channels to note, depending on which emirate you expect to work in.

Dubai:

Other emirates: