The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a large workforce for foreign companies to tap into. If you are considering setting up a new subsidiary, you will need to find top talent to...
Read MoreThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a large workforce for foreign companies to tap into. If you are considering setting up a new subsidiary, you will need to find top talent to fill your open positions while following United Arab Emirates employment compliance laws. As you recruit talent for your international team, you'll also need an understanding of the culture and business etiquette in the UAE.
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a large workforce for foreign companies to tap into. If you are considering setting up a new subsidiary, you will need to find top talent to fill your open positions while following United Arab Emirates employment compliance laws. As you recruit talent for your international team, you’ll also need an understanding of the culture and business etiquette in the UAE.
Globalization Partners can help by giving you access to local talent in days. We hire employees and assign their services to you, while they work on our locally compliant payroll and ensure that we meet all of the UAE’s labor laws.
Before you begin staffing in the UAE, you’ll need to ensure that you’re making the most of your time by utilizing the best recruitment channels.
Many employers in the United Arab Emirates rely on recruitment agencies and advertisements posted on their company websites. These methods can be effective. That said, social media is gaining popularity as a way for qualified professionals to connect with prospective employers. You may want to spend some time updating your company’s pages on LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media platforms.
As the employer, your duty to comply with anti-discrimination law begins as soon as you start the recruitment process. The UAE has several laws in place to ensure fair treatment throughout the hiring process and in the workplace. Much of the recent legislation focuses on preventing gender-based discrimination.
In the UAE, employers cannot discriminate against candidates based on:
Under UAE law, employers are also obliged to give preference in recruitment to UAE nationals followed by nationals of other Arab countries.
You can take a few steps to ensure that your company is compliant with these regulations during the recruitment process. First, you should be mindful of the language you use in your job advertisements, making sure you don’t mention traits you’re looking for in a prospective employee unless they’re legitimate requirements of the job.
You should also avoid asking about protected characteristics during the recruitment process. It’s okay to have a conversation about a candidate’s family, but do not ask about their marital status. Let the candidate lead the discussion when it comes to personal factors.
If you are going to hire expatriate employees, the UAE requires employers to submit an employment contract before turning in an application for visa sponsorship. The contract you use depends on where your business is located in the UAE, but may be a simple template in Arabic. However, we recommend you add other terms such as benefits, compensation, and termination requirements. A strong employment contract written in both English and Arabic can help ensure both you and the employee agree to specific terms and protect your subsidiary in the event of a termination.
In November 2021, the UAE announced significant changes to its employment laws that came into effect on February 2nd, 2022. Among these changes was the requirement that all employees be hired under fixed-term contracts less than three years in duration. In October 2022, the UAE amended this regulation and longer fixed-term contracts are now permitted as long as the length is mutually agreed upon by the employer and worker. Indefinite contracts are not permitted and any existing unlimited contract needs to be switched to a fixed-term one by February 1, 2023.
United Arab Emirates employment compliance can prove tricky. Typically, companies establish a branch office or a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or in a free trade zone to sponsor work permits and hire employees.
If you choose to work with Globalization Partners, we can ensure that you have access to that talent that you need in the UAE.
Make sure all employees working for your company have the appropriate visas and work permits. If an employee lives and works in the UAE without a visa, he or she will be asked to leave the country. This matter of compliance could lead to both your company and the employee in question becoming blacklisted from working in the UAE.
As of January 1, 2022, the UAE implemented a 4.5-day workweek for government employees, moving its weekend from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday. The typical work hours for government employees run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with Friday’s hours shortened to 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Most private sector companies including Globalization Partners have adapted to this change in a weekend. Private companies working hours can vary. Normal working hours must not exceed eight hours per day or 48 per week. Overtime is permitted up to two additional hours per day, paid at 125% of their normal hourly rate or 150% when overtime occurs between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. During Ramadan, the UAE’s local laws stipulate reduced working hours by two hours each day.
Onboarding employees is a process that differs for every company. You can choose what onboarding procedures are best for your employees, but we recommend going over the employment contract with new workers during their first day or first week. In advance, put together any training or documents employees will need to succeed in their new roles.
Before you can have access to talent in the UAE, you will either have to set up a local subsidiary to hire employees or work with a company whose employees can provide service to you in the UAE. By choosing United Arab Emirates to retain services with Globalization Partners, we can help you start working faster. While setting up a subsidiary on your own could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, Globalization Partners can get your project started within days.
Globalization Partners can hire United Arab Emirates employees who will provide the services your company needs to succeed. Contact us today to learn more.
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