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Legal specialists have outlined how job offers in the UAE can expose candidates to criminal liability if they involve handling suspected proceeds of crime according to an assessment published by Khaleej Times on September 5 2026. Igor Abalov managing partner at Lawford Legal Advisors told the newspaper that accepting a position with a company that later turns out to be fake or criminal does not by itself mean automatic criminal liability. What matters for the job seeker is their own conduct and state of mind what they knew which warning signs they saw and what they did once suspicions arose he said. Under UAE anti-money laundering legislation handling transferring converting or using funds that a person knows or should have known are proceeds of crime creates exposure with knowledge sometimes inferred from surrounding circumstances.
Abalov explained that the risk becomes more serious when a candidate knowingly helps commit a crime or intentionally deals with criminal proceeds. Warning signs include being offered disproportionate payments for simple transfers being asked to use a personal bank account to receive company funds splitting payments forwarding money to strangers converting funds into cryptocurrency or deleting messages. A legitimate employer should not use a new employee’s personal account as a channel for corporate payments he added in the Khaleej Times report. Once suspicions arise job seekers should stop participating preserve evidence and report the matter to their bank and the authorities.
Recruitment professionals reinforced that genuine employers never require candidates to pay any fees to secure employment according to comments gathered by Khaleej Times. Nicki Wilson managing director of Genie Recruitment stated that one of the clearest rules for job seekers is that they should not have to pay to secure employment. That includes requests to pay for CV services compulsory training introductions to employers interviews or access to vacancies. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation requires employers to cover such costs under labour law and has warned job seekers both inside and outside the UAE to verify offers before sharing personal or banking details.
Approved ministry job offers carry a serial number or barcode that candidates can check through the MoHRE website mobile application or call centre at 600590000 the Khaleej Times article noted. Job seekers should obtain company contact details independently rather than rely on recruiter-supplied information and confirm the employer’s trade licence official website and physical presence. Gulf News reported that the ministry detected 571 cases of fictitious employment of citizens by the end of the third quarter of 2025 along with 52 establishments violating recruitment rules. Ministry figures show violations decreased 38 per cent in 2024 while inspection visits rose 55 per cent compared with 2023.
A recent enforcement action illustrates the scale of the problem after Dubai authorities arrested a suspect on September 3 2026 for promoting fake freelance visas through TikTok and YouTube at prices between Dh7000 and Dh9000. The operation resulted in more than 40 fraudulent visas according to Gulf News coverage of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs investigation. Victims included individuals who paid Dh7500 expecting employment and residency documents that never materialised. Authorities have urged the public to report suspicious offers to prevent both financial losses and potential legal complications for those drawn into money mule arrangements.
Scammers increasingly exploit social media and messaging platforms with offers promising high salaries or immediate hiring that pressure candidates to act quickly the ministry has stated in repeated public warnings. These schemes often copy legitimate company branding yet use non-official email domains and request payments for visa processing medical tests or training. Emirati lawyer Abdullah Al Nasser told The National that such fraud carries penalties including up to two years in prison or fines of Dh20000 with higher sentences for using fake names or companies. Job seekers can avoid these pitfalls by limiting all transactions to official MoHRE channels and treating unsolicited offers with caution.
