Modern, vibrant, and cosmopolitan, Dubai attracts millions of visitors annually, as well as expatriates. With its dizzying skyscrapers and ultramodern architecture, it is easy to see why many choose to settle and work in Dubai. This country is consistent when it comes to being the top choice of expats from all over the world. There is an air of prestige when it comes to securing a job in the emirate.
Before you travel to the United Arab Emirates, you might want to check out the articles Travelling to Dubai or Visas for the UAE.
Securing employment in Dubai
It is mandatory to have a work visa for Dubai if you wish to live and work in this city. Before obtaining the work visa, you will need to have a work contract or a valid job offer for Dubai. In general, it is your employer's responsibility to sponsor your visa application as well as the relevant fees.
If you're outside of the United Arab Emirates, note that there are Visa Service centers in various parts of the world. These have been set up by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The aim is to simplify the process of issuing work visas and to ensure total transparency between employees and employers with regard to their rights, duties, terms of employment, and privileges they are entitled to. At the Visa Service Centre in your country, you will have access to all the information pertaining to your job in your own language. This also helps avoid the possibility of fraudulent attempts to change or replace your job offer once you arrive in the UAE.
Work permit in Dubai
Work permits are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) of the United Arab Emirates. Your employer will need to apply for your work permit for any new job. This permit allows an expatriate to enter the UAE for work and is valid for 2 months after the date of issue.
Once you're in the country, the employer sponsoring you should proceed to complete other formalities, such as medical tests, obtaining an Emirati ID card, a Labour Card, and having the work residency permit stamped on your passport within 60 days. The work residency permit is issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) from the emirate where you will be employed.
If you have family members joining you, you will be eligible to sponsor them and bring them into the UAE once this process has been completed and if the minimum wage required for sponsorship has been met.
If you are already in Dubai on a tourist visa, you will need to request a change in the status of your visa. In most cases, your employer will handle all the paperwork for you so you can live and work in Dubai legally. Find out more from the useful links listed below.
Good to know:
To be eligible to work in Dubai, you must be sponsored by an employer.
It is illegal to work on a tourist or visit visa.
If you are applying for a work permit, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into the UAE.
Useful links:
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai
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