The UAE is definitely a global magnet for business these days. Cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi are attracting talent from around the world, creating intense competition for top candidates. However, the reality is that hiring in the UAE goes beyond just finding the right candidates. Essentially, it also involves successfully working through labor laws and visa requirements specific to the region.
Quite often, if your hiring procedure is too lengthy, you will lose the best candidates who will be hired by your competitors. On the other hand, if your procedure is non-compliant, you will be penalized with hefty fines. Below is an easy-to-understand manual on establishing a recruitment system that is fast as well as legally acceptable.
You must know your way around the regulations even before you advertise a vacancy. The UAE recently introduced a new Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), which has dramatically altered the functioning of businesses.
Some major points that you should not forget:
Complying with the law means at least having your contract sample templates updated to precisely match these requirements.
Prioritizing speed in recruitment would mean using the most understandable communication. Job advertisements, if not precisely worded, may result in a large number of resumes. This will consume your precious time unnecessarily.
Make sure your advertisement includes:
Reading all the CVs manually is impossible if you want to be fast. Use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter keywords. Still, don't rely only on bots. In the UAE, personal connections and professional networks (like LinkedIn) are very influential.
Furthermore, many firms in the UAE partner with recruitment agencies to conduct initial screenings. These agencies have huge databases of pre-vetted candidates, so you can reduce your time-to-hire dramatically.
This is the point at which most companies get stuck. In the UAE, a "hire" doesn't mean a job until the visa is stamped.
To speed this up:
If you are a private sector company with more than 50 employees, you will have to comply with Emiratisation targets. If you don't, monthly fines will be imposed on you. One way to be consistent with the hiring process is to have a strategy for hiring UAE Nationals. Professional recruitment services in UAE can introduce you to highly skilled Emirati talents who fit your company culture so that not only can you meet the government quotas, but you can also help your business to grow.
Don't make the interview process unnecessarily long. Ideally keep it to three steps at most:
Aim to have the whole process done within a week. Highly sought-after candidates in Dubai generally get multiple offers within 10 days.
The government of the UAE is quite stringent when it comes to labor rights. For example, there is the Wage Protection System (WPS), which ensures employees are paid on time. An expedited process won't do if you overlook these formalities, as your company license might get suspended due to non-compliance.
Apart from being costly, it is time-consuming and tiring to put together an in-house team taking care of everything. That is the reason why lots of companies opt for outsourcing recruitment services in the UAE. These professionals take care of the legal paperwork, find candidates, and make sure each recruitment adheres to the latest MOHRE regulations.
Do you want to hire more people without getting overwhelmed with legal documents? TASC Outsourcing is one of the best recruitment services in UAE. We not only find suitable candidates for companies but also take care of the whole onboarding and visa process. In case you are searching for recruitment agencies in UAE to get specialized personnel or need someone to handle your HR compliance aspects, TASC will gladly be your partner. Interested in expanding your business? Get in touch with TASC Outsourcing now and we'll assemble your ideal team while you concentrate on your business.
Generally, it will take around 2 to 4 weeks based on the speed of the candidate providing the attested documents and undergoing the medical test.
WPS is an electronic method of salary payment. This system enables government officials to check whether employers pay their personnel the right amount and pay them on time.
Yes. Both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the law requires employers to provide health insurance for all their employees.
You may talk to them, but they cannot work legally until their visa is converted into an employment visa or temporary work permit.
UAE labour law states that the probation period cannot exceed six months. In fact, if any employer wants to end a worker's contract during the probation period, they should inform the worker 14 days beforehand.