Some companies in the UAE have encountered difficulties in obtaining work visas for potential employees from certain South Asian nationalities. When businesses with a significant number of employees from a particular nationality apply for new visas for individuals of the same nationality, they receive a message from authorities encouraging them to “achieve demographic diversity while hiring.”
According to a Khaleej Times report, contrary to viral claims circulating on social media, visa experts and agents have clarified that the UAE has not halted the issuance of visas to Indians, Pakistanis, or Bangladeshis in the country.
A Dubai-based business service center, when inquiring with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), was informed that establishments must prioritize diversifying their workforce by allocating the “first 20 per cent of available quotas to different nationalities.” This initiative aims to promote demographic diversity within organizations and is not tied to any specific nationality.
Companies facing the “achieve diversity” message have been advised to consider hiring an employee from a different nationality to meet these diversity requirements.
Khaleej Times reached out to the MoHRE for an official statement on the matter. A representative from the ministry’s call center confirmed that the 20 percent diversification requirement applies universally to all companies, regardless of their workforce’s existing nationalities.
Firosekhan, managing director of Dubai-based Profound Business Service, dispelled rumors of a visa ban, stating that they successfully secured a visa for an Indian applicant at a company with a diverse workforce. However, when attempting to obtain a visa for an applicant at a company predominantly staffed by Indians, they received the “achieve diversity” message.
Abdul Gafoor, general manager of Al Mas Businessmen Service, emphasized that the UAE seeks to introduce diversity into workplaces. Many companies in the UAE employ a substantial number of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis, making it challenging to apply for new visas for individuals from the same countries in such cases.
In 2022, the MoHRE introduced a three-tier classification system, with achieving diversity in hiring being one of the criteria for companies to obtain a higher classification, which offers discounts on work permits and transfer fees.