The United Arap Emirates
Working & Living the United Arab Emirates
The UAE was formed in 1971. There are seven Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Qwain. The capital city is Abu Dhabi. Other than Umm Al Qwain and Ajman, each of the Emirates has at least one international airport.
If you require any information or you are stranded and need help in Dubai e.t.c you can contact the consulate through information below.
ADDRESS
Kenyan Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Jumeirah 2, Off Al Wasl Road, Street 15, Villa 5
P.O. Box 214933, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
TELEPHONE: (+971) 4-342 8111
FAX: (+971) 4-342 8181
EMAIL: dubai@mfa.go.ke or cg.dubai@mfa.go.ke
OFFICE HOURS: 09.00-13.00
HEAD OF MISSION: Mr Kariuki Mugwe, Consul General
ADDRESS
Kenyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Al Manhal, Falah Street No.9, Behind New Blood Bank ,Khalidiya
P. O. Box 3854,Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
TELEPHONE: (+971) 2 66 66 300
FAX: (+971) 2 66 52 827
EMAIL: abu_dhabi@mfa.go.ke or abudhabiconsular@gmail.com
OFFICE HOURS: 09.00-13.00
HEAD OF MISSION: Mr Mohamed Gello, Ambassador
- You need a valid passport with a valid tourist/employment visa. It does not matter which Emirate you are going to.
- You are allowed to stay in the UAE as long as you have a valid work visa and a work permit.
- Medical tests (AIDS, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, leprosy and syphilis) are also needed for work and residence permits.
- The official language of the UAE is Arabic. Persian, English, Hindi and Urdu are also used.
- Islam is the official religion of the UAE, with 96% of the native population being Muslim.
- It is against the law to spread the ideas of any other religion. However, you are allowed to practise your own religion freely, and there are many places of worship, such as temples and churches, in many parts of the country.
What clothes are acceptable in public varies from one state/Emirate to another. States like Sharjah are generally stricter than states like Dubai, but it is better for both men and women to dress modestly (avoid sleeveless clothing or short pants/skirts/dresses).
- The unit of currency in the UAE is the Dirham (AED) and it is divided into 100 fils. There are paper notes for AED 5, AED 10, and so on, and there are coins for 5 fils, 10 fils, 25 fils, 50 fils and AED 1.
- The exchange rate for AED 1 is about Ksh 27. Keep checking online for current rate (click here)
- Most cities have public bus systems. Dubai has a metro rail as well.
- Taxis are also available across cities.
- The primary transport network is the national roadways.
- The work week in the UAE starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday, and the weekend is Friday and Saturday. Friday is the normal weekday holiday for all employees, except those who are being paid on a daily wage basis.
- During Ramadan (a Muslim month of fasting), many retail businesses are closed during daylight hours and open after sunset.
- The maximum hours of work for an adult are eight hours a day or 48 hours a week. These can be increased to nine hours in commercial establishments.
- If an employee is made to work for more hours than normal, he/she is entitled to overtime pay,which should be at least 25 per cent more than the pay for normal working hours.
- If an employee is made to work overtime between 9:00 pm and 4:00 am, he/she has to be given overtime pay that is at least 50 per cent more than the pay for normal working hours.
- If an employee has to work on a Friday, he/she has to be given another day off, or paid 50 per cent more than a normal day’s work for working on Friday.
- Employees are entitled to annual leave, sickness/medical leave and maternity leave.
- Employment in the UAE is governed by the UAE labour laws, elaborated on their website www.mohre.gov.ae.
- Employment contracts have to be endorsed by the Ministry of Labour to be legally valid.
- In order to avoid fraud/cheating by agents, the prospective employee should verify the contract details from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) website (https://eservices.mol.gov.ae/molforms/offerinquiry.aspx)
- Before coming to the UAE, workers should understand the nature of their work. It is common that once they reach the UAE, they have difficulties in adjusting to the work environment and want to go back immediately.
- Workers should be clearly informed regarding the conditions of leave as per the laws and regulations of the UAE. Usually, there is leave entitlement only after completion of one year of service as mentioned in their contract.
- The worker should have a signed copy of the employment contract. A written contract is a must, and the contract should be carefully read before accepting a position. A verbal contract is worth nothing.
- The worker should be advised to not sign on any blank paper or any document he or she is not sure about.
- As per UAE labour laws, it is illegal for the employer to keep the passport of the worker, but this is still a common practice. In such cases, the worker should have a signed acknowledgement copy of the passport from the employer.
- After arriving in the UAE, the worker should ensure that the employer starts the procedural formalities for the stamping of the residence visa on the passport, and for the issuing of the Emirates ID, labour card and health insurance card within sixty days of their arrival.
- Employers have to arrange for medical tests for workers every six months and should give proper medical care to workers in case of diseases or injuries that are caused by working conditions. The employee is entitled to a full salary for the first six months or till completion of treatment, whichever is longer.
- The worker should immediately report any case of mistreatment/harassment by the employer to the MOHRE, Government of UAE (previously known as Ministry of Labour) and can call their toll free number 800665.
- Domestic workers are not covered under the regulations of MOHRE. They are governed by the UAE Immigration Authorities.
- Employers may have to pay for the cost of returning home once the work contract ends.
- A worker who has completed one year of continuous service is entitled to severance pay once the employer ends the contract.
- Engineers and professionals are allowed to change their job after two years of continuous service under an employer if they have valid residence visas and No Objection Certificate (NOC)s from the sponsor.
- Female employees can get maternity leave of 45 days if they have been working for an employer for at least one year. If you have completed less than one year, you can still get maternity leave, but you will only be paid half your normal salary during the leave.
- You can contact the Indian Mission/Post if the employer does not follow the conditions of the contract or if the employer mistreats you or if they don’t pay you your regular salary.
- You can submit complaints to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs if the employer makes unlawful deductions from your salary.
- Domestic workers are not protected by the UAE’s labour laws.
- In case of death, the employer has to pay death compensation equivalent to 24 months’ basic salary, with a minimum of AED 18,000 and maximum of AED 35,000.
- All complaints have to be filed with the UAE Ministry of Labour or the authority of the free zone in which the worker is employed. Counselling may also be taken from the IOM offices in Dubai.
- Smoking, eating and drinking is strictly prohibited in a mosque area.
- Health card: After arrival, workers have to take a medical and blood test in order to get a residence permit; they will also be provided with health cards.
- An Emirates ID card, also known as Resident ID card, is issued by the government and is needed to use any local service.
- Employees also need to have work permits issued by the UAE government, the cost of which will be paid by the employer. If the worker is unemployed for more than three months, the work permit can be cancelled.