Job Spectra
Jobs in Dubai for Indians: how to find a legitimate job and avoid the traps
Find an employer that will apply for your work permit through the UAE's official process, verify any Indian recruiting agent on the eMigrate portal, and confirm in writing who pays what. The UAE government places the work-permit approval fees and the AED 3,000 bank guarantee on the employer. If your passport is ECR, you also need emigration clearance before starting work.
How can an Indian find a legitimate job in Dubai?
Find an employer that will apply for your work permit through the UAE's official process, verify any Indian recruiting agent on the eMigrate portal, and confirm in writing who pays what. The UAE government places the work-permit approval fees and the AED 3,000 bank guarantee on the employer. If your passport is ECR, you also need emigration clearance before starting work.
Seven checks before you accept a Dubai job
- Get a written job offer naming the employer, the job title, the salary and the contract length.
- Confirm the employer will apply for your work permit through the official UAE process, and ask for the permit status in writing before you travel.
- If an Indian agency is involved, check its registration on eMigrate and ask for a receipt for anything you pay. Know the legal limit on agent fees.
- If your passport is ECR, plan for emigration clearance through eMigrate before you start work.
- Ask who pays for the visa costs. The UAE government states the employer bears the approval fees and the AED 3,000 bank guarantee.
- Do not travel to work on a visit visa. The permit and entry permit are what make employment legal, and you lose the protection of an attested contract.
- Keep copies of everything, and know where to complain: the Protector of Emigrants, the Indian mission, the MADAD portal, or the OWRC on 1800 11 3090.
Who does what in a legal UAE hire
| Step | Done by |
|---|---|
| Work permit and entry permit | The UAE employer, through MoHRE and the residency authority |
| Emigration clearance (ECR passports only) | The worker or the agent, through eMigrate |
| Medical fitness test, Emirates ID, labour card | The worker after arrival, arranged with the employer |
| Approval fees and AED 3,000 bank guarantee | The employer, per the UAE government |
Where Job Spectra fits
Job Spectra is an international recruitment and visa consultancy with an office in Deira, Dubai, and offices in Bengaluru and Sugauli (Bihar). Browse our live overseas vacancies, read our Dubai jobs page, or submit your CV for review. Our Trust Center explains how to verify us before you commit, and applying the checks above to us is exactly what we recommend.
Official sources
- UAE Government: recruiting on the mainland
- MEA: FAQ on issues of intending emigrants
- eMigrate portal (Government of India)
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Information only, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for a Dubai work visa?
The UAE government page states the employer pays the work-permit approval fees and the AED 3,000 bank guarantee. Ask for any charge to be itemised in writing, and keep receipts.
Can I go to Dubai on a visit visa to look for work?
A visit visa does not authorise employment. The legal route is an employer-obtained work permit and entry permit, and for ECR passport holders, emigration clearance.
How do I check a recruitment agency for Dubai jobs?
Look the agent up in the list of registered recruiting agents on the eMigrate portal and ask for a receipt for any payment.
Do I need a medical test for Dubai?
The UAE government says the employee must complete a medical fitness test after entering the UAE for the residence visa process.