adarshdesai24

Hi,

I have received an offer letter to start work in Dubai. It's a 12 month contract in the IT domain. The consulting company is recruiting me and the end client is a bank in Dubai.

Fearing Covid travel restrictions and travel bans, the company is asking me to enter the country with a Visa On Arrival stamp on my British Passport.

They have said that they will process the work visa after arriving.

I find this dodgy and don't want to break the law, I have clearly mentioned that I do not want to start work with a 30 day visa on arrival. Any suggestions? Is it common to enter Dubai and then start the work and then apply for a work visa?

Thanks.

Millhouse

I'll give you some made up stats, what they offering is probably how;

70% of the people start work in the UAE.
5% of the people on this (very privileged and biased) forum started work in the UAE
100% of the people that get screwed by their future "employer" started work in the UAE

You choose what box you want to be in

Really they should be inviting you on an employment visa... if you come as a tourist you run the risk of them not paying you, and after a few months not giving you a visa and telling you to do one. At that point you'd have no recourse.

SandyMcSand

what he said. I wouldn’t take that risk, this place can be a bit rogue irrespective of the size/reputation of the firm.

scot47

Did they ask you to pay for the ticket and tell you they would refund you ? if so, the alarm bells should go DING-A-LING. Remember that the old name for this area was "The Trucial Coast" and before that - "The Pirate Coast"