Verify Your UAE Job Offer: Essential Steps to Avoid Labour Scams

Receiving a job offer to work in the UAE is an exciting opportunity. However, before making any plans, it is crucial to verify the legitimacy of the offer. Ensuring that the offer is valid and approved by the relevant authorities can help you avoid falling victim to labour and visa fraud.

Understanding Labour and Visa Fraud

Labour and visa fraud typically involves scammers posing as employers or agents, offering fictitious jobs and counterfeit employment visas. These fraudsters may create fake companies to deceive individuals into using tourist visas for employment, which is illegal. They may also request upfront payments for visa processing or insurance.

Legal Framework Governing Recruitment Procedures

Understanding the UAE’s regulations regarding employment and visa requirements is vital for protecting yourself from scams. According to UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 concerning Labour Relations, neither visit visas nor tourist visas grant the right to work in the UAE, whether for compensation or not. Engaging in work under these visas can lead to severe penalties, including fines, deportation, and even imprisonment.

If you receive a job offer in the UAE, it must include an offer letter issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The validity of this letter can be checked through the following steps:

• Under UAE Labour Law, employers are responsible for covering recruitment expenses, including work permits, medical tests, and residence visa processing. Genuine job offers will not require you to pay these costs.
• If you reside outside the UAE and have received a UAE residence visa, be aware that it cannot be processed without first entering the country with a valid entry permit.

Steps to Safeguard Against Labour and Visa Fraud

The employment process in the UAE’s private sector typically involves receiving a formal job offer, signing an employment contract, obtaining a work permit, and finally receiving a work visa. To ensure the authenticity of your job offer letter and to confirm your path to legal employment in the UAE, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Company Existence

The initial step in avoiding scams is to confirm whether the company offering the job is legitimate. You can search for the company’s name in both English and Arabic in the UAE’s National Economic Registry.

Access the Registry here: National Economic Registry.

Step 2: Confirm the Offer Letter’s Legitimacy

A legitimate job offer in the UAE must be accompanied by an offer letter issued by MOHRE and signed by an authorized manager. This letter should detail the rights and obligations of both parties in accordance with UAE Labour Law, along with the terms and conditions of employment.

The offer letter must be provided in Arabic, English, and a third language understood by the worker. It should also include an annex outlining the provisions of UAE Labour Law. The employer must electronically sign the job offer and send it to the worker for review and approval.

Step 3: Verify the Validity of the Job Offer

Before signing the offer letter, it is advisable to verify its validity. To do this, visit MOHRE’s Inquiry Service portal at inquiry.mohre.gov.ae.

1. Click on the Inquiry Services section and select ‘Enquiry for Job Offer’.
2. Input the following details:
   • Transaction number: This unique alphanumerical code is printed under the MOHRE logo on the offer letter.
   • Company number: Each organization has a unique ‘Company number’ or ‘Establishment number’, available on the offer letter.
   • From Date and To Date: The agreed duration for the fixed-term contract, typically set for two years.
   • Select ‘All Work Permits’ from the drop-down menu.
   • Enter the Captcha information to verify you are a human user, then select ‘Submit’.

If the offer is legitimate, the system will display your job offer details. Missing important details, such as the MOHRE logo or transaction number, is a red flag.

Step 4: Receive and Verify Your Work Permit

Once you have verified and signed the job offer letter, the next step is to obtain an entry permit for the UAE. The employer must send you an electronic entry permit, which allows you to enter the UAE and complete your residence visa application process. This permit is typically valid for 60 days from issuance.

When checking the validity of your entry permit, pay close attention to the expiry date to avoid overstaying.

To verify the validity of an entry permit issued in Dubai, visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA) website.

1. Go to GDRFA Status Inquiry.
2. Enter your application number, transaction number, and payment date for the visa.
3. Alternatively, if you have your entry permit, search by ‘File’ and enter the file number displayed on your work permit.
4. Provide additional details such as first name, nationality, and birth date.
5. Check the box to verify your identity and select ‘Search’.

If your application has been approved but you have not received your permit, the GDRFA allows you to download the entry permit as a PDF file. Print this permit for travel, as airlines and immigration officers will require it for verification.

For entry permits issued in other emirates, such as Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, you can check the status of your visa application on the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) website.

1. Visit ICP Visa Validity Check.
2. In the ‘Search by’ section, select ‘Passport information’.
3. In the ‘Select the Type’ section, check ‘Visa’.
4. In the ‘File Type’ section, click on ‘Emirate Unified Number’, a unique code linking your visas and residency details.
5. Enter your nationality and date of birth, complete the human user check, and click ‘Search’.

You should receive an update on the validity of your entry permit, including issuance and expiry dates.

Step 5: Seek Guidance from Authorities

If you have questions or concerns at any point during the employment or visa process, you can seek clarification from the relevant authorities. Here are some authorized channels based on the emirate where you intend to work.

Dubai:

• For assistance or inquiries about your visa, contact the GDRFA at 800 5111 (within the UAE) or +97143139999 (outside the UAE). The contact center operates 24/7.
• You can also access help through a live chat service at GDRFA Live Chat.

Other Emirates:

• For visa-related questions or if the online visa validity check yields unclear results, call ICP’s toll-free number at 600522222 (within the UAE) or +971600522222 (outside the UAE). The helpline operates from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
• The ICP also offers a live chat service called Hamad for immediate assistance. Access it at ICP Support Agent.

As reported by www.emirates247.com.

Explore the latest digital editions of FAME Delivered in the Magazine section.

Published on 2026-05-10 10:24:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk