Dubai Police have turned their attention to a growing menace for job-seekers and HR departments alike: fake visa and sponsorship offers that empty bank accounts and leave victims stranded without legal status. In guidance issued on 20 January, the force’s Anti-Fraud Centre warned residents and overseas applicants to shun social-media adverts promising guaranteed employment ‘with visa’ in exchange for upfront fees.
Investigators say scammers typically clone legitimate company names and build professional-looking websites to win victims’ confidence. Once a payment—often Dh10,000 or more—is wired for ‘visa processing’ or ‘training’, the fraudsters disappear. Recent cases involved shell companies obtaining small batches of genuine visas, flying workers to Dubai and then forcing them into illegal day-labour jobs until the permits expired.
If you need a secure, transparent way to process legitimate UAE visas, VisaHQ offers a fully digital application workflow that connects directly with government channels, provides up-to-date requirements, and removes the guesswork—and the scammers—from the equation. Both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams can start the process or request guidance at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/.
![Dubai Police target fake work-visa rackets in new anti-fraud campaign]()
The crackdown is part of the broader ‘Beware of Fraud’ programme that also tackles phishing and bogus investment schemes. New rules require firms renewing trade licences to submit bank statements, Ejari tenancy contracts and DEWA utility bills, making it harder for paper companies to survive licensing audits. Violators face up to three years in prison and stiff fines under Article 451 of the federal penalties law.
For mobility professionals, the alert reinforces the need to channel all recruitment through Ministry-authorised agencies and to verify establishment cards and quota allocations before onboarding staff. Multinationals are being urged to brief overseas hiring partners—especially in South Asia—on the red flags: unsolicited WhatsApp offers, free-email domains and requests for payment before a formal contract. Employees already in the UAE who suspect fraud can call 901 or use the e-crime platform to file a report.
By tightening the noose around fake-visa syndicates, Dubai hopes to protect its labour market’s integrity and reassure legitimate employers that talent pipelines remain secure.
Investigators say scammers typically clone legitimate company names and build professional-looking websites to win victims’ confidence. Once a payment—often Dh10,000 or more—is wired for ‘visa processing’ or ‘training’, the fraudsters disappear. Recent cases involved shell companies obtaining small batches of genuine visas, flying workers to Dubai and then forcing them into illegal day-labour jobs until the permits expired.
If you need a secure, transparent way to process legitimate UAE visas, VisaHQ offers a fully digital application workflow that connects directly with government channels, provides up-to-date requirements, and removes the guesswork—and the scammers—from the equation. Both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams can start the process or request guidance at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/.
The crackdown is part of the broader ‘Beware of Fraud’ programme that also tackles phishing and bogus investment schemes. New rules require firms renewing trade licences to submit bank statements, Ejari tenancy contracts and DEWA utility bills, making it harder for paper companies to survive licensing audits. Violators face up to three years in prison and stiff fines under Article 451 of the federal penalties law.
For mobility professionals, the alert reinforces the need to channel all recruitment through Ministry-authorised agencies and to verify establishment cards and quota allocations before onboarding staff. Multinationals are being urged to brief overseas hiring partners—especially in South Asia—on the red flags: unsolicited WhatsApp offers, free-email domains and requests for payment before a formal contract. Employees already in the UAE who suspect fraud can call 901 or use the e-crime platform to file a report.
By tightening the noose around fake-visa syndicates, Dubai hopes to protect its labour market’s integrity and reassure legitimate employers that talent pipelines remain secure.
