Gulf Job Scam Warning Signs: Spot Fake Offers and Report

By JobSahar Team. Last checked: Oct 31, 2026

Key takeaways

• A real Gulf employer does not ask you to pay for your visa, work permit or recruitment.
• In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the law says the employer pays these costs.
• Be careful with recruiters who only use WhatsApp, free email addresses or "urgent" deadlines.
• Check every offer with the official government service before you pay, resign or travel.
• Report scams to the labour ministry and the police in the country concerned.

Every year, many people lose money to fake Gulf job offers. The scammers often use the names of real companies. They make the offer look official. Then they ask for a "visa fee" or "processing fee" and disappear.

This guide shows the warning signs. It also explains how to check an employer and where to report a scam. It uses official government and employer sources.

Warning sign 1: They ask you for money

This is the biggest warning sign.

In the UAE, Article 6 of the Labour Law says the employer may not charge the worker recruitment and employment fees, "whether directly or indirectly". The u.ae portal also says the employer is responsible for recruitment costs.

In Saudi Arabia, Article 40 of the Labor Law says the employer pays recruitment fees, iqama and work permit fees, and the return ticket at the end of the job.

Large employers say the same. Emirates Group says it "will never ask for money transfers or payment of any kind from job applicants". Etihad says no member of its group "will ever ask for payment of any kind".

Watch for words like:

• "visa processing fee" or "visa charges"
• "refundable deposit" or "security money"
• "medical fee", "training fee" or "registration fee"
• "pay now to block your seat"

If someone asks you to pay to get a job, stop.

Warning sign 2: WhatsApp-only or free email recruiters

Real companies use their own email domains. Emirates Group says its official emails come from addresses such as @emirates.com or @dnata.com. It warns that contact through WhatsApp, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, Outlook or social media is "likely fraudulent".

Be careful if:

• the "HR manager" only talks on WhatsApp or Telegram
• the email ends in @gmail.com, @yahoo.com or @outlook.com
• there is no office address or company landline
• they refuse a video call or a face-to-face interview

Warning sign 3: A fake offer letter

Fake offer letters can look very real. They copy logos and stamps. Check for these signs:

• No interview. Etihad says it interviews candidates, face to face or by video or phone, before any formal offer.
• Salary too high for the job. Compare it with real ads for the same job.
• "Guaranteed visa" or "100% selection".
• Spelling mistakes, a wrong company name or a blurry logo.
• Pressure to accept and pay within hours.

In the UAE, a real job offer is issued through MOHRE. It is written in Arabic and English, and can also be in one of nine other languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Nepalese and Sinhalese. You can check it on MOHRE's Offer Inquiry page with the transaction number, your passport number, nationality and date of birth.

Warning sign 4: They ask for passwords or bank details

Emirates Group says it will never ask for your user ID, password or login details. Scammers may pretend to be HR to get into your careers account.

Never share:

• your bank card number or PIN
• your OTP codes
• passwords for job portals or email
• your original passport (copies are enough before an offer)

In the UAE, the law also says an employer may not keep a worker's official documents.

Warning sign 5: "Come on a visit visa, we will change it later"

In the UAE, a visit or tourist visa does not let you work. The u.ae portal says working on one brings penalties. It also says a residence visa cannot be processed while the person is outside the UAE.

A real employer gets you a work permit and an employment entry permit before you start work.

How to verify an employer

Do these checks before you pay, resign or travel.

For any Gulf job:

1. Find the company's official website yourself. Do not use links from the message.
2. Check that the email domain matches the website.
3. Look for the same job on the company's official careers page.
4. Call the company on a number from its official website.
5. Ask for a video interview with a named manager.

Extra checks for the UAE (from u.ae):

• Check the job offer on MOHRE's Offer Inquiry service.
• Check a Dubai entry permit on the GDRFA website. Check other emirates on ICP's eChannels.
• Search the company's name in the National Economic Register.
• Ask MOHRE: 600590000, or ask@mohre.gov.ae.

Extra checks for Saudi Arabia:

• Your contract should appear on Qiwa for you to approve. Do not accept terms that differ from your offer.
• Call HRSD on 19911 if you are unsure.

For more UAE-specific checks, see our guide on how to check a UAE job offer is real.

Where to report a job scam

Report quickly. Save screenshots, phone numbers, bank details and receipts. These help the police.

United Arab Emirates

• Labour issues: MOHRE, 600590000 or ask@mohre.gov.ae. From abroad: +971 6 803 4000.
• Online fraud: the eCrimes platform in the MoI UAE app, Dubai Police eCrime service, Abu Dhabi Police Aman service, or the Public Prosecution's "My Safe Society" app.
• Emergency: call 999 or visit the nearest police station.

Saudi Arabia

• Labour issues: HRSD unified call centre, 19911.
• Fraud and crime: report to the police. Check the national portal (my.gov.sa) for the current online cybercrime and fraud reporting service.

Oman

• Labour issues: Ministry of Labour call centre, 80077000 (mol.gov.om).
• Fraud: report to the police. Check the official government portal for the current reporting channel.

Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain

We could not confirm current hotline numbers from official sites when we last checked. Please use the official websites:

• Qatar: Ministry of Labour (mol.gov.qa) and the Ministry of Interior.
• Kuwait: Public Authority for Manpower (pam.gov.kw) and the Ministry of Interior.
• Bahrain: Labour Market Regulatory Authority (lmra.gov.bh) and the Ministry of Interior.

In your home country

If an agent in your home country took your money, report it to the local police. Also tell your country's labour or emigration authority, and your embassy in the Gulf country.

If you already paid

• Stop all payments. Scammers often ask for "one more fee".
• Call your bank at once. Ask if the transfer can be stopped.
• Do not send more documents.
• Report to the police with all your evidence.
• Warn friends and family so they do not fall for it.

Browse real jobs on JobSahar by country: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Or see the latest jobs and more guides.

Legal note: This guide is general information, not legal advice. If you have lost money, contact the police and the official authorities.

Official sources

• u.ae: Tips to avoid labour and visa fraud
• u.ae: Cyber safety and digital security
• u.ae: Job offers and the employment process
• UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (English text, u.ae)
• MOHRE: Offer Inquiry
• MOHRE: Contact us
• HRSD: Saudi Labor Law (English)
• HRSD: Contact us
• Oman Ministry of Labour
• Bahrain LMRA
• Emirates Group Careers: Recruitment fraud
• Etihad Careers: Recruitment privacy policy and fraud notice