Dubai, the brilliant economic center and cosmopolitan metropolis of the UAE, is an attractive destination for international professionals seeking exciting career opportunities and an enviable lifestyle. With its thriving economy and focus on innovation and development, Dubai is a magnet for talent from around the world. However, before a foreigner embarks on this exciting adventure, it is crucial that he or she understands the step by step of obtaining a Dubai work visa.
In this article, you will learn about the different Dubai work visa to make the most of the job prospects of a foreign professional. From the employment visa to the investor/partner visa, we will explore in detail each option available to make this route easier for those who want to start a new life in Dubai.
Types of Work Visas Available in Dubai
Dubai is one of the main economic and commercial centers in the world, which attracts professionals from all over the world who are looking for interesting job opportunities. In case a foreigner is interested in working in Dubai, it is important that he or she understands the different types of work visas available in Dubai.
In this sense, there are mainly two types of visa in relation to working in Dubai. First of all, we have the employment visa whose main characteristic is that a sponsor or company requests the professional services of a foreigner so that the competent authorities can issue it.
On the other hand, there is also an Investor/Partner Visa. This visa must go through an exhaustive analysis, especially in relation to whether the business that the investor wants to undertake in Dubai is beneficial for the local and national economy.
Employment Visa in Dubai
The Employment Visa is one of the most common types of UAE work visa.
For its part, the issuance of this visa is for those professionals who receive a job offer from a company based in Dubai and which acts as their sponsor. Likewise, the Employment Visa is a fundamental requirement to work legally in Dubai and offers foreign workers the opportunity to take advantage of the numerous job opportunities that this prosperous city offers.
To obtain an Employment Visa it is necessary to follow a series of steps and meet certain requirements:
- Submission of the visa application to the Department of Residency and Foreign Affairs of Dubai by the contracting company.
Firstly, the employer or company that wishes to hire a foreign professional must submit a work visa application in Dubai to the Department of Residency and Foreign Affairs. This application must include visa documentation in Dubai, such as a copy of the employment contract, the employee’s valid passport, educational and professional certificates, and recent photographs.
- Meet certain criteria:
In addition to the documents indicated above, the foreign professional must meet certain criteria to obtain the Employment Visa. These criteria usually include having relevant education and demonstrable work experience in the field corresponding to the employment.
Meanwhile, once the visa application is approved, an Employment Visa is issued that allows the foreign worker to live and work legally in Dubai for the duration of the employment contract. Now, if the employer wants his or her employee to continue working in his company, he or she can apply for a visa extension.
Investor/Partner Visa
This is a special type of work visa for those who wish to establish their businesses or invest in Dubai. This visa aims to attract international entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen who wish to contribute to the economic growth of Dubai.
Requirements for visa change
The change of visa in UAE will depend on certain legal requirements established by the competent authorities. These requirements may vary depending on the type of visa and the individual situation of the applicant. Next, we will present some general aspects to consider about changing your visa in the UAE:
- Sponsorship:
In UAE, the visa system depends on sponsorship. This means that an individual or a company acts as a sponsor of the visa applicant. The sponsor is responsible for the processing and renewal of the visa, and for assuming certain legal and financial responsibilities.
- Job change:
If the Dubai work visa holder wishes to change jobs and therefore change work visas, they will generally need to obtain a new job offer from a company in the UAE. In this regard, before changing jobs, it is essential to obtain approval from the new employer and follow the procedures established by the UAE Department of Residency and Foreign Affairs.
- Sponsorship transfer:
If the holder of the Dubai work visa wishes to change it is necessary to carry out a sponsorship transfer. This involves obtaining approval from the current sponsor for the change of sponsorship and making applications to the relevant authorities and the employment visa cancelation
- Specific visa requirements:
Each type of visa in the UAE has specific requirements and conditions. These may include the presentation of documents such as a valid passport, recent photographs, educational certificates, medical tests, criminal record certificates, and other relevant documents. For their part, these requirements and documents may also vary depending on the nationality of the applicant.
Employment Contract Rights
These are some of the main rights granted by an employment contract in Dubai:
- Salary and employment benefits:
The employment contract should clearly establish the salary that the employee will receive for the services they will provide, as well as any additional benefits, such as bonuses, incentives, accommodation, transportation, health insurance, and paid vacations. Furthermore, this salary must meet the minimum salary requirements set by Dubai labor laws.
- Working hours and days off:
It must specify the number of daily or weekly working hours and the worker’s days off and annual vacations. In this regard, Dubai labor laws establish limits on the maximum number of working hours per day and per week. Also, the Dubai labor laws protect the right of the employees to enjoy regular breaks.
- Protection against discrimination:
The employment contract must include clauses that prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or other factors. In this sense, foreign employees have the right to receive fair, equitable treatment, and without discrimination.
An employment contract in Dubai must respect and protect the employee’s basic employment rights, such as protection against unfair dismissal. Let us remember that the duration of the Dubai work visa depends on the validity of the work contract. Therefore, if the employer unjustifiably dismisses a foreign employee and he or she does not take appropriate legal action, he or she risks losing his or her Dubai work visa.
This is why it is important to do a work visa status check to verify work permit validity.
Also, employment contracts must comply with Dubai laws and provide a solid basis for resolving any employment disputes.
End-of -Service Benefits for employee
In Dubai, employees are entitled to receive end-of-service benefits, which are a form of compensation upon ending their employment. In this sense, end-of-service benefits are based on the duration of employment. Below we will present some key aspects of end-of-service benefits in Dubai:
- Calculation of benefits:
Generally, the way this benefit is calculated is similar. In this sense, in employment contracts in Dubai, the rules for calculating this benefit are as follows:
Example:
If an employee has a basic salary of 10,000 AED and served in a company for 4 years, the calculation will be as follows:
- 10,000 ÷ 30 = AED 300 which is equal to the value of the employee’s work day.
- Then, you must multiply the value of the work day by 21 days, which is the total duration of work.
- AED 300 X 21 = 6,300. End-of-service benefit result.
For its part, it is important to note that when the employee’s duration in the job is greater than 5 years, the calculation will be made instead of 21 days for 30 days.
- Benefit Payment:
This end-of-service benefit is paid to the employee upon termination of employment. This is regardless to voluntary resignation or termination of the contract by the employer.
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