Restart of UAE work permits hailed as a welcome step

The move could see a rise in nursing, doctor and senior management roles being filled in UAE

TEACHER/LECTURER: The average salary in UAE is Dh9,000 with lows of Dh4,000 and highs of Dh21,000. Headteachers earn an average of Dh46,000 with highs of Dh75,000. University staff are typically well paid, with assistant professors and full lecturers earning between Dh20,000 and Dh40,000. AFP

FLIGHT CREW: Salaries for cabin crew and aircraft technicians range from Dh6,000 to Dh23,000. Pilots can usually secure between Dh20,000 to Dh60,000, depending on experience. EPA

FOOD AND DRINK: The average salary for a bartender, waiter or supervisor is Dh4,000 to Dh5,000, rising to Dh7,500 to Dh8,500 for managers. Chefs and head chefs can expect to take home between Dh6,000 to Dh38,000. Hotels often provide staff accommodation. Hollie Adams / Getty Images

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING: A flooded market with basic accountants often earning Dh5,000 to Dh10,000. Senior auditors can earn Dh30,000 or more. Accountants who move into finance and management can expect significantly higher salaries. Getty Images

CONSTRUCTION: Engineering jobs have been hit hard by a downturn in the sector, but it remains a skilled and respected profession. Junior salaries for site inspectors and engineers begin at a few thousand dirhams, rising to Dh45,000 or more for construction managers. Gulf Talent says salaries in Saudi are higher than the UAE in some roles. Sammy Dallal / The National

NURSES: The true heroes of the pandemic, these professionals worked around the clock to treat patients and save lives. Salaries range between Dh4,000 to Dh14,500 and can be higher for senior nurses in higher-end private hospitals. AFP

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Health and safety has become a key priority. Junior roles in this sector can take home, on average, about Dh5,500 a month. That rises to Dh22,500 for managerial positions. Victor Besa / The National

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR: Non-medical staff are currently in demand as the role of managing patients, their documents, payment and test results is increasingly crucial. Salaries vary but can be in the same region as nurses. Reem Mohammed / The National

CYBERSECURITY: The threat posed by cybercrime has never been more real, with the sale of financial assets, documents and medical records a lucrative business. Systems analysts and software engineers can earn Dh25,000 or more, rising significantly for those with high-end cybersecurity experience. Unsplash

HR, MARKETING AND FINANCE: Senior roles in these managerial classes vary significantly, but are generally well paid and often come with performance-related bonuses. Gulf Talent lists HR manager and HR business partner salaries at up to Dh42,500. An HR director of a major firm can earn twice that. Getty Images

SALES AND MERCHANDISING: As the economy slowly picks up, the retail sector will be looking to fill key roles again soon. Gulf Talent lists sales staff salaries from Dh1,500 to Dh3,500. A sales merchandiser can take home twice that each month. Paulo Vecina / The National

HOTELS: A duty manager at a hotel can earn anywhere from Dh6,000 to Dh26,000 per month. Front of house staff, including concierge, can take take home between Dh1,500 to Dh9,000. Staff accommodation is typically provided. Sarah Dea / The National

LEGAL: Lawyers and legal advisors can earn between Dh7,500 to Dh37,500. That rises to more than Dh53,000 for legal counsel positions, though the average sits at about Dh20,500. Jeff Topping / The National

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION: Jobseekers for secretarial and receptionist roles can expect salaries ranging from Dh2,500 to Dh8,000. Personal assistants and office managers fare better, from Dh4,500 up to Dh22,500 for higher-end firms. Getty Images

The UAE government's decision to again issue work permits for some overseas workers has been hailed as a welcome step by companies looking to hire senior and technical talent.

Recruiters said jobseekers with management experience or hard skills were likely to benefit from the move.

Nurses, doctors and those in mid-to-senior management roles were expected to be the focus of international recruitment drives.

But demand for domestic workers from outside the country was expected to remain low until the end of the year.

What we are seeing more and more from clients is a need for very senior roles as a lot of talent has left

“What this is signalling is a positive shift for the recruitment sector in the UAE,” said David Mackenzie, managing director of recruitment firm Mackenzie Jones.

“Re-introducing work permits for new arrivals to the country is the UAE telling the world that it is back open for business.

“The parameters surrounding the decision means it will only impact certain sectors initially, such as health care and government departments, but it is a positive move.”

For the first time since March, government departments and semi-public sector firms, which are part-owned by the government, were given the green light to advertise vacancies to external candidates in vital sectors including health care and transport.

Previously, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation suspended the issue of all types of labour permits, including for drivers and domestic workers, to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Mackenzie said because the UAE is a very cyclical market, people leave during times of economic turmoil, but quickly look to return when things pick up again.

The impact of the pandemic and other political factors such as the US elections and Brexit have made places like the US and Europe unattractive for jobseekers.

David Mackenzie, managing director of Mackenzie Jones Group. Ravindranath K / The National

In turn, more people were open to work opportunities overseas, such as the UAE, he said.

“We are a UAE company so we always look to recruit locally first as the turnaround time to hire is quicker and candidates are more accustomed to local practices,” Mr Mackenzie said.

“But what we are seeing more and more from clients is a need for very senior roles as a lot of talent has left.

“For that, we need to look externally.”

Those expected to be recruited from overseas were predominantly people without families, due to cost factors, he said.

And salary packages would tend to be combined into a single monthly take-home that includes housing, transport and education benefits all in one, where offered.

The decision, announced by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), the country's main immigration agency on Monday, means domestic workers and drivers can also secure work permits from abroad.

Neeraj Agrawal, press official at the Indian consulate in Dubai, said it could attract more Indians back to the country after many returned home due to job loss over the past few months.

“It’s a welcome step. We see ease of movement going forward for people offered jobs in all categories,” he said.

However, Rohini Bhalla, a senior consultant at GGC HR consultancy in Dubai, said uptake for domestic roles would be slow.

“Hiring someone from abroad brings with it a lot of added expense,” she said.

“A flight ticket over, as well as accommodation costs for 14 days as per the quarantine rules.

“Companies will only absorb that cost if they can’t find the talent locally.

“Because of the job loss and redundancies caused by Covid-19 there are many domestic workers in the country searching for work, so the talent is already there.

“I think this decision will mainly impact frontline workers, nurses and doctors, people with technical skill sets that just aren’t readily available here.”

Since the outbreak, employers have been able to make some overseas hiring, depending on the circumstances and profession.

But foreign workers were largely difficult to bring into the country due to the pandemic until this latest announcement.

How to secure a permit to work in the UAE

A work permit is obtained from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). The process is quite simple and is done in collaboration with the employer.

• The company or organisation wishing to hire a candidate from overseas will send an offer letter outlining the terms of contract, including salary and length of contract (usually 'unlimited' or 'two years')
• Once signed by the candidate, the company will apply for pre-approval of the work permit
• The company or organisation has to complete a number of formalities with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Once complete, the work permit will be approved
• The initial permit allows a candidate to enter the UAE for employment and is usually valid for two months from the date of issue, not entry
• Once in the country, the company or organisation will start the process of applying for a residency visa for the employee
• The sponsoring company will liaise with authorities in the emirate to complete medical testing, obtain an Emirates ID and stamp the UAE residency visa page on the candidate's passport (within two months of entering the country)
• The costs relating to work permit, medical testing, Emirates ID and UAE residency visa should be paid by the employer

What you need for a work permit

• A colour photograph on a white background
• A copy of your passport with at least six months validity
• Some employers may require proof of academic qualifications. In this case, original certificates need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the home country
• You have to be 18 or over