If you receive a UAE job offer by email or WhatsApp, confirm it with the employer and the relevant authority before you sign, pay anyone or book travel. For a mainland private-sector job handled by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), start with the official job offer and its transaction number. Then compare the terms with what the recruiter promised.
How to verify a UAE job offer through MOHRE
- Ask the employer for the official job offer and transaction number. A company email can explain the offer, but the transaction number gives you something you can check independently.
- Open the official MOHRE Offer Inquiry page and select Job offer.
- Follow the form prompts. Have your transaction number, passport number, nationality and date of birth ready. Enter these details directly on the official government page.
- Compare the offer details you retrieve with your written offer. If a lookup fails, confirm which authority handles the job and ask the employer to check the transaction number. A failed lookup by itself does not prove fraud.
Check the employer and the offer terms
Find the employer’s website independently and contact its HR team using the number or email published there. Ask whether the company issued your offer, whether the recruiter is authorised and which legal entity will employ you. For example, a recruiter may use a hotel’s trading name while the official offer lists the company that operates the property. Ask HR to explain any difference in writing.
Compare the job title, work location, basic salary, allowances, working hours and probation. If the recruiter promised accommodation or transport, confirm whether the written offer provides it directly or includes an allowance. Save a copy of the signed offer and compare it with the employment contract before signing the contract. If the terms differ, request a corrected copy and clarification through the relevant authority.
Who pays UAE recruitment fees?
Under Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law, employers covered by the law cannot pass recruitment or employment costs to workers, directly or indirectly. If someone asks you to transfer a visa processing fee, recruitment deposit or offer activation fee to a personal account, pause and verify the request independently. Save the message and any payment instructions so you can show them to the relevant authority.
Common signs of a fake UAE job offer
- A recruiter asks for immediate payment to reserve a vacancy.
- The recruiter refuses to provide a transaction number or identify the authority handling the permit.
- A link asks for bank details, a one-time code or a passport scan before you can verify the sender.
- The written salary, location or employer changes after you accept, and HR cannot explain the change.
Free zone offers and employment entry permits
Ask which authority issues your work permit if the employer operates in a free zone. Use contact details from that authority’s own website to confirm the verification route. The offer and an employment entry permit are separate documents. If you receive an entry permit, follow the UAE government’s fraud prevention and permit verification guidance. It directs readers to GDRFA for Dubai permits and ICP for permits from the other emirates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I verify a job offer from outside the UAE? Yes. If MOHRE handles the offer, use its online inquiry service. Ask the employer for the official transaction details first.
Can I start working on a visit visa? A visit or tourist visa does not authorise employment. Confirm that the required work authorisation is in place before you start.
What if I already sent money? Save the original messages and payment receipt. Contact your bank or payment provider promptly and ask about recovery options, then report the matter through the appropriate official channel.
