The Consulate General of India in Dubai has issued an urgent advisory dated 12 October 2026 cautioning Indian nationals against unregistered agents who promise “guaranteed” work or residence visas for the UAE, Canada and Europe. The mission says it has received a surge of complaints involving advance-fee scams, forged job offers and fake UAE entry permits. Under UAE law, only licensed recruitment firms can charge placement fees—and even those fees must be paid by the employer, not the worker. Yet scam operators in India’s small-town job markets have reportedly collected between ₹80,000 and ₹3 lakh per head, luring victims with videos of high-pay warehouse jobs. The consulate urges job-seekers to verify offer letters through the UAE’s MoHRE website and to use India’s e-Migrate system, which mandates employment-contract attestation for emigrants with Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. For Indian companies seconding staff to Dubai, the advisory serves as a reminder to engage only vetted PRO (Public Relations Officer) services to process work permits. Employers found using fraudulent intermediaries could face blacklisting under India’s Emigration Act and penalties in the UAE. Mobility managers should circulate the advisory through HR portals and pre-departure briefings. The consulate is also collaborating with UAE authorities to shut down online adverts that misuse its name or logo. Victims have been asked to email evidence to visa.dubai@mea.gov.in and file police complaints in both India and the UAE so that cross-jurisdictional investigations can proceed. With remittances from the Gulf topping US$43 billion last year, protecting migrant workers from fraud is a diplomatic and economic priority. The advisory underscores the need for due diligence and official channels when arranging overseas assignments.
