Passport and visas
Before coming to the UAE, make sure that your passport is authentic and valid for at least six months.
Foreigners planning to work in the UAE must know that they cannot work on visit visas or tourist visas. They need legitimate work/residency visa/permit to be able to live and work legally in the UAE. The employer needs to procure the work and residency permits. Working without first obtaining the proper visa status is illegal and can lead to penalties and legal liability. The penalties apply to both: the employer and the employee.
Health screening
Foreigners planning to work in the UAE will need to undergo medical tests at government approved health centres in the UAE. Candidates will be tested for communicable diseases/conditions such as those related to HIV and/or TB. Those found to be HIV positive or having tuberculosis will be deported immediately by the UAE authorities. Hence, if you suspect that you suffer from a communicable disease it is advisable to get tested in your home country first.
As per Cabinet Resolution passed in 2016, all resident expatriates while renewing their residence visas have to undergo TB screening. Those found with scars or active TB or found having drug-resistant TB will be issued a conditional fitness certificate and be issued residence visa for one year. They will then have to undergo treatment in the UAE.
Certifications attestation
In the UAE, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) attests documents digitally; while outside the UAE, it attests them through its embassies and consulates.
Document attestation is a procedure that confirms the validity of seals and signatures on documents and instruments, regardless of where they originate.
Types of documents attested
MoFA attests various individual affairs’ documents including birth, death and marriage certificates; as well as, commercial documents such as contracts and agreements, minutes of meeting, trademark registrations and company closure documents.
Steps for getting documents attested
For documents issued in the UAE
For documents issued in the UAE, the original document needs to be attested first by the relevant government entity. However, this is not required for digitally issued or electronically attested documents.
For documents issued outside the UAE
For documents issued outside the UAE, the original document should be attested first by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing country. Afterwards, the document can be attested by a UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country by applying through the UAE’s MoFA online channels.
If there is no UAE mission in a particular country, applicants may contact MoFA for assistance.
Customers can process all transactions related to attestation services through MoFA’s official website and its app UAEMOFA available on Android and iOS. Upon the approval of the transaction, applicants in the UAE can send the original documents to MoFA via courier and receive them back attested, through the same courier service.
Read more on documents’ attestation services and find the steps to apply.
Refer to this guide on documents attestation (PDF, 13.0 MB)
Additional tests
Medical professionals such as physicians, lab technicians and others are required to take an exam from Ministry of Health and Prevention in order to practice the profession in the UAE.
Restricted professions
Some professions, such as that of a lawyer licensed to appear before the judge and carry out the defence can be practised only by UAE nationals. Read about Emiratisation.
Your rights and duties
Read the UAE Labour Law and be aware of your rights and duties as an employee in the UAE. One of your important rights is entitlement to possession of your passport.
Related links
- Work in Abu Dhabi- Abu Dhabi Residents Office
- What you need to know about work in Abu Dhabi- Find Wonder- Abu Dhabi.
Updated On :
29 Oct 2024
