Fake job offers are one of the most common scams aimed at people who want to work in the UAE. They often look professional. They use real company names, real logos and real addresses. This checklist helps you test any offer before you send money or documents.
The one rule that catches most scams
If they ask you for money, it is almost certainly a scam.
The UAE government portal u.ae says: “If the hiring company or the agency asks you for money to process the visa or medical test, it is not a genuine company.”
UAE labour law agrees. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 6(4), says the employer “is prohibited from charging the worker for the fees and costs of recruitment and employment or collecting them from him, whether directly or indirectly.”
Scammers know this rule. So they give the fee a different name. Read visa fee job scams in the UAE for the common names they use.
The fake job offer checklist
Tick each item. One red flag is a reason to slow down. Two or more is a reason to stop.
| # | Red flag | What a real offer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asks for any fee: visa, medical, training, file, deposit, ticket | No payment from you |
| 2 | No interview, or only a WhatsApp chat | At least one real interview by phone, video or in person |
| 3 | Salary far above normal for the role | Salary in line with similar job ads |
| 4 | Email from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook or a look-alike domain | Email from the company’s own domain |
| 5 | Pressure to pay or reply “today” | Normal deadlines with time to check |
| 6 | Company cannot be found on official registers | Company is in the National Economic Register or a free zone register |
| 7 | No MoHRE transaction number, or the number does not show on MoHRE | MoHRE job offer you can check |
| 8 | Asks for bank card details, PIN or OTP | Never asks for these |
| 9 | Asks you to receive money and send it on | Never asks this |
| 10 | Visa “copy” you cannot verify | Entry permit you can check with GDRFA or ICP |
Examples of each red flag
Example 1: The “visa processing fee”
“Congratulations, you are selected as Store Supervisor at a Dubai hypermarket. Salary AED 9,500 plus accommodation. Please pay AED 1,850 for visa processing within 48 hours to confirm your seat.”
Three flags: a fee, a high salary for the role, and time pressure.
Example 2: The free email address
From: [email protected]
u.ae advises: “Check for the email ID from which you receive job offers. It should reflect the domain name of the organisation.” Watch for look-alike domains too, with an extra letter, a hyphen, or a different ending such as .co instead of .com.
In 2023, The National reported warnings from big UAE employers. Etihad said its emails come from an @etihad.ae address. Burjeel Holdings said it never sends offers from free email services. Al Futtaim said: “No Al Futtaim business will ever request payment or fees for processing job applications.”
Example 3: The offer with no interview
You sent your CV once. Two days later a full “offer letter” arrives with a logo and stamp. Nobody spoke to you. Real employers interview first. Read Dubai job interview questions to know what a real interview looks like.
Example 4: The part-time “task job”
“Earn AED 300 to 800 daily from home. Simple tasks. Just like and review products.”
Dubai Police warned in October 2026 about fake part-time job offers. Gulf News reported that they aim to steal banking information or recruit people into illegal financial transactions. Police said a key warning sign is being asked to receive money in your personal account and transfer it on for a commission. If that happens, stop all contact.
Example 5: The fake visa or residency offer
“We can give you a 2-year visa and job. Pay AED 6,000 and we arrange everything.”
Dubai Police warned in July 2026 about “fraudulent ads and messages offering jobs, residency, or visit visas in exchange for money”, spread through social media and messaging apps, as reported by Gulf News.
How to verify an offer: 5 checks
1. Check the MoHRE job offer
MoHRE is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the federal labour ministry. Gulf News explains the steps on the MoHRE website:
- Go to Services, then Employee Services, then Transactions Inquiry Service.
- Choose Enquiry for Job Offer.
- Enter the transaction number from your offer and the other details asked.
If it does not appear, the offer may be fake or not yet submitted. Ask the employer, and do not pay anything.
2. Check the company exists
The National Economic Register, described on u.ae, lets you look up a business licence by business name, licence number, register number or activity. If the company is in a free zone, also check that free zone’s own website.
3. Call the company yourself
Find the phone number on the company’s official website. Do not use the number in the offer email. Ask HR if the offer and the person who sent it are real.
4. Check any visa or entry permit
Gulf News reported MoHRE’s advice: verify Dubai visas through the GDRFA website, and visas from other emirates through ICP. GDRFA is the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. ICP is the federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. Our sister site explains how to check a UAE visa status online.
5. Check the agency licence
If an agency is involved, follow how to check a recruitment agency licence in the UAE.
Warning: Do not send a passport scan, Emirates ID copy or bank details until you have done these checks. Scammers use them for other fraud.
Who gets targeted
- People abroad, because they cannot visit the office.
- People in a hurry, such as those whose visit visa is ending.
- Nurses, drivers, hotel staff and labourers, where bulk hiring is common.
- People looking for part-time or online income.
What to do if you find a fake offer
- Do not pay. Stop replying.
- Save every message, email, number and payment request.
- Report it. See visa fee job scams in the UAE for official channels.
- Warn others in your community. Many scams spread through WhatsApp groups.
For more warnings, visit our scam alerts section. For safe ways to apply, use our list of recruitment agencies and read how recruitment agencies in Dubai work.
