Recruitment fees in the UAE: who pays, and what to do if you are asked to pay

What the employer pays for

• Recruitment and employment fees, including what a licensed agency charges to find staff.
• Your work permit and your residence visa (residency permit).
• The medical test you need for the residence visa.
• For workers recruited from abroad, the travel to take up the job.

These rules come from the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 6) and the guidance the UAE Government and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) publish for workers. The employer also may not take these costs back later by deducting them from your salary.

Can a recruitment agency charge you?

Only agencies licensed by MOHRE may recruit or place workers in the UAE, and the law puts recruitment costs on the employer. A genuine agency is paid by the employer, not by you. If an agency asks you for a "registration", "processing", "placement" or "visa" fee, treat it as a warning sign and check the agency with MOHRE before you go any further.

How job scams ask for money

• A fee for your visa or work permit.
• A "processing", "registration" or "file opening" fee.
• Paid training, a uniform or equipment before you start.
• A medical test booked and paid through the recruiter.
• A "refundable" security deposit or "insurance".
• Payment for a "guaranteed" interview or job.
• Gift cards, vouchers, crypto or transfers to a personal account.

What to do if you are asked to pay

1. Do not pay, and do not send copies of your passport, Emirates ID or bank details.
2. Keep the messages, phone numbers, email addresses and any receipts.
3. Check the offer: if it has a MOHRE transaction number, look it up on MOHRE's online enquiry service, and confirm the vacancy with the company through the contact details on its own website.
4. If you paid money or shared bank details, call your bank straight away.
5. Report the scam to the police: in Dubai through the Dubai Police eCrime platform, in other emirates to that emirate's police. Complaints about an employer or an agency can go to MOHRE through its official channels.
6. If you saw the job on Fursae, use "Report listing" on the job page.

How Fursae protects you

Job seekers never pay a fee on Fursae, and no employer or agency on Fursae may ask you for money. Only businesses that our team has checked can publish jobs, and every listing has a report button that our moderators review.

Quick answers

Do I have to pay for my UAE work visa?

No. The employer pays for your work permit and residence visa and the medical test needed for it. If someone asks you to pay for a visa to get a job, treat it as a warning sign.

Is it legal for a recruitment agency to charge job seekers in the UAE?

The UAE Government states that charging recruitment fees to prospective employees is illegal, and recruitment costs are the employer's under the Labour Law. Only MOHRE-licensed agencies may recruit, and a genuine agency is paid by the employer.

Can my employer deduct recruitment or visa costs from my salary?

No. The employer bears recruitment and employment costs and may not recover them by deducting from your salary.

Where do I report a job scam in the UAE?

In Dubai, report it to Dubai Police through the eCrime platform; in other emirates, to that emirate's police. If you paid money or shared bank details, call your bank immediately. Complaints about an employer or agency can go to MOHRE.

Sources

• UAE Government portal: protection of workers' rights (recruitment costs and fees)
• UAE Government portal: employment laws and regulations in the private sector
• Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Regulating Labour Relations (UAE Legislation portal)
• Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
• MOHRE online enquiry service
• Dubai Police eCrime platform