Fake Gulf Job Offers: 10 Warning Signs and How to Verify a Visa

September 16, 2026 8 min read

Last updated: September 2026

A fake Gulf job offer usually asks you to pay money quickly, uses only WhatsApp or social media, and gives you a visit visa instead of a work visa. Before you pay anything or travel, check the visa or permit number on the official government website of the destination country, and check your agency with your own government.

This guide lists 10 warning signs and shows how to verify job visas for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, plus what Nepali and Indian workers should check at home.

Quick summary: A visit or tourist visa does not let you work in the UAE or other Gulf countries. In the UAE, a real job offer comes through MOHRE and can be checked with its reference number. Saudi visas can be checked on the MOFA visa portal, and Qatar visas on the MOI portal. Nepali workers should check the demand and labour permit on DoFE’s official portals. Indian workers should use a recruiting agent listed on eMigrate. Never pay a “visa fee” to a stranger.

10 Warning Signs of a Fake Gulf Job Offer

Visit visa sold as a work visa. The agent says “come on a visit visa, we will change it later.” Working on a visit visa is illegal and can bring fines, detention or deportation.
Money demanded before anything is checked. “Processing fee”, “visa deposit”, “medical fee” or “security money” sent to a personal bank account or mobile wallet. In the UAE, the employer must pay recruitment costs.
Contact only through WhatsApp, Facebook or TikTok. No office address, no landline, no official email.
Salary is too good to be true. A cleaner or helper job with a very high salary, free car, and no experience needed.
No interview or a fake interview. You are “selected” in minutes without any skills check.
Offer letter with errors. Spelling mistakes, wrong logos, a Gmail or Yahoo email, or no reference number.
Company name you cannot find. The company has no real website, or it copies the name of a big, famous company.
Pressure and urgency. “Only 2 seats left, pay today.” Scammers do not want you to take time to check.
They keep your passport or ask for documents first. Asking for your passport, bank details or OTP codes early is a big red flag.
The agency is not licensed. Their name does not appear on your government’s list of licensed recruiting agencies.

Common Scams to Know

Visit visa trap: Workers fly in on a visit visa, pay for a “job”, and the job never comes. They then overstay and face fines.
Fake offer letters: Scammers copy real company logos or misuse real employer logins to make papers look genuine. Always check the number, not just the paper.
Social media job pages: Pages and groups using names of hotels, airlines or oil companies ask for fees by message.
Impersonating officials: Dubai Police warned in August 2026 about fraudsters posing as official bodies online to sell fake jobs and visas.

How to Verify a Job Visa by Country

Country / group	Official place to check	What you need
UAE – job offer / work permit	MOHRE application status inquiry (mohre.gov.ae)	Reference or transaction number on the MOHRE offer letter
UAE – Dubai entry permit	GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae)	Entry permit / visa details
UAE – other emirates	ICP smart services (icp.gov.ae)	Entry permit / visa details
Saudi Arabia	MOFA visa portal (visa.mofa.gov.sa)	Visa or application number, passport number, nationality
Qatar	MOI visa inquiry (portal.moi.gov.qa)	Visa number or application number
Nepali workers	DoFE portals (foreignjob.dofe.gov.np, feims.dofe.gov.np)	Pre-permission (LT) number, passport number, agency name
Indian workers	eMigrate (emigrate.gov.in)	Recruiting agent name or registration number

UAE: check MOHRE, then GDRFA or ICP

Ask the employer for the job offer issued through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). It should be signed and carry a reference number.
Go to the official MOHRE website or app and use the application status inquiry with that number. The details (company, job title, salary) should match what you were told.
Check that the company is real on the UAE’s National Economic Register.
When you receive the entry permit, check it on the GDRFA website if it was issued in Dubai, or on ICP’s smart services if issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah.
Make sure it is an employment entry permit, not a visit or tourist visa.

MOHRE also offers help through live chat on its website and by email at ask@mohre.gov.ae, as listed on the official UAE government portal.

Saudi Arabia: MOFA visa inquiry

Open the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal: visa.mofa.gov.sa.
Choose the visa inquiry option and enter the visa number or application number.
Enter your passport number and nationality, then submit.
Check that the name, visa type (work) and employer match your offer.

Note: the old Enjaz website has been replaced, and its services now run through the MOFA visa portal. Be careful of look-alike “Saudi visa check” websites.

Qatar: MOI visa inquiry

Go to the Ministry of Interior portal (portal.moi.gov.qa) and open Visa Services, then Visa Inquiry.
Enter the visa number (for an issued visa) or application number (for a pending application).
Check the name, visa type and status. You can print the issued visa details from the same service.

Many unofficial “Qatar visa check” sites appear in search results. Only type your details into the official .gov.qa website.

Nepali workers: DoFE and licensed agencies

In Nepal, a foreign job through an agency must first get pre-permission (demand approval) from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE). Before you pay, do these checks:

Check the agency licence. Confirm the manpower company is on DoFE’s list of licensed recruiting agencies (dofe.gov.np). The name must match exactly.
Check the demand. On DoFE’s Foreign Job portal (foreignjob.dofe.gov.np), use the pre-permission detail search with the LT number from the advert. See the company, country, job and salary.
Get your labour permit. Do not travel without the final labour approval (shram swikriti). You can check approval with your passport number on the official portals, including FEIMS (feims.dofe.gov.np).
Pay only with a receipt. Nepal has a “free visa, free ticket” policy for several Gulf countries and Malaysia. Ask DoFE about the current service charge and never pay without a stamped receipt.

Never go to the Gulf on a visit visa to find work. Workers who leave without a labour permit lose legal protection and insurance benefits.

Indian workers: eMigrate

Visit emigrate.gov.in and open the list of active recruiting agents (RA).
Confirm your agent’s name and registration number are listed and active.
A registered agent can only charge the limited service fee set under Indian rules, and must give a receipt. The Ministry of External Affairs has warned about agents asking lakhs of rupees.
If you hold an ECR (Emigration Check Required) passport, your emigration clearance must be done through eMigrate.

Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Filipino workers should also check their agency with their own government’s overseas employment authority before paying.

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

Stop paying. Scammers often ask for “one more fee”.
Save proof. Screenshots of chats, bank or wallet receipts, offer letters, phone numbers and social media page links.
Report in the Gulf. In Dubai, use the Dubai Police app or the eCrime platform. For UAE job-offer questions, contact MOHRE.
Report at home. Nepali workers can file a complaint with DoFE. Indian workers can report illegal agents to the Protector of Emigrants or through official MEA channels.
Contact your embassy if you are already abroad and stuck without a job or valid visa.
Warn others. Share the scam details (not your personal data) in community groups.

Stay alert and get verified job news: join the free Khadi News WhatsApp group.

A strong, honest CV helps you apply directly to real employers and trusted portals instead of unknown agents. WTS CV by Way To Success can prepare a professional Gulf-ready CV for you.

FAQ

Can I work in the UAE on a visit visa?

No. A visit or tourist visa does not give you the right to work. You need an employment entry permit and work permit.

Is it normal to pay for a Gulf work visa?

In the UAE, the employer must pay recruitment costs. Home-country agencies may charge only the service fee allowed by your government, with a receipt.

How do I know an offer letter is real?

Do not trust the paper alone. Check its reference or visa number on the official government website of that country.

What is an LT number in Nepal?

It is the pre-permission number DoFE gives to an approved job demand. You can search it on DoFE’s Foreign Job portal.

Are “visa check” websites on Google safe?

Many are unofficial. Use only government websites ending in .gov.ae, .gov.sa, .gov.qa, .gov.np or .gov.in.

Sources

This article is general information only. Rules and portals can change, so always verify visas, permits and agencies with official authorities.

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This article is based on reports from Gulf media and official sources.