Background Check In the UAE

Why are background Checks in the UAE important?

In the globalized, digital world of today, employee background checks play a pivotal role in successful hiring, especially when considering international candidates from the United Arab Emirates. Here's why they are of paramount importance:

Ensuring the Candidate's Authenticity

One of the primary reasons to conduct background checks is to verify the details and experiences of a potential employee. Given the robust education system and the plethora of tech opportunities in the UAE, numerous candidates hold promising profiles. However, to ensure you're recruiting the right talent, it's important to verify their qualifications and skills, which includes a criminal record check.

Risk Mitigation

Hiring a new employee involves considerable time, effort, and financial resources. However, it can be time-consuming and costly to onboard a bad hire. According to a comprehensive guide on hiring costs, the recruitment process can be quite expensive. To avoid the repercussions of a wrong hire, such as legal complications, financial loss, or damage to a company's reputation, background checks act as a preventive measure. They help to uncover any potential legal and tax risks, especially crucial when hiring remote employees overseas. Due diligence in this aspect helps the business stay secure.

Maintaining Work Environment Safety

Maintaining a safe work environment is a crucial aspect of the organizational culture. A comprehensive background check can help identify any sensitive information, criminal history or misconduct by a candidate that might pose a threat to the existing employees or the company's operation. This is even more important when considering candidates for remote or distributed teams, as trust and reliability are fundamental for successful remote team management.

Compliance with Local Laws

The United Arab Emirates has strict laws concerning employment practices. To adhere to these regulations and avoid potential penalties, employers need to ensure they are hiring legally eligible candidates. Background checks can aid in uncovering any discrepancies and help avoid penalties for misclassification of employees. For instance, one must have a valid work permit to be legally employed in the UAE. Conducting a background check at a local level helps to ensure compliance with such applicable laws.

Promoting Diversity

The Abu Dhabi Global Market is a rich mosaic of diverse cultures, skills, and talents. Conducting thorough background checks can help companies tap into this diversity, enabling them to attract a wide range of candidates from different backgrounds, thereby enhancing their innovation and competitiveness. HR managers must bear in mind that the potential of diversity is limited without a proper system for verifying the details of each person's background and experience. This, in turn, can only be achieved with the express consent of the candidate, in line with the privacy laws of the United Arab Emirates.

What you should know when conducting a background check in the UAE

Background checks in the UAE require a nuanced understanding of the local legal landscape and cultural context. Employers looking to perform these checks should take note of several critical aspects:

Informed Consent

Foremost, businesses must secure the express written consent of the candidate before initiating a background check in UAE. This requirement is in alignment with due diligence, and global best practices and serves to protect individual privacy rights.

Data Protection

The UAE's data protection law outlines specific regulations to ensure the confidentiality and security of personal data during the background check process. This involves using secure methods to store, transmit, and eventually dispose of any personal information gathered. Businesses should be well-versed with the requirements to avoid any legal and tax risks.

Non-Discrimination

The UAE has stringent anti-discrimination laws in place. Therefore, the background check process must not be discriminatory in any manner. This is crucial in making fair hiring decisions. For example, it should not disproportionately affect candidates of a particular nationality, religion, or gender.

Use of Reliable Sources

Employers must ensure that the sources or agencies they use to conduct background checks are reliable and follow local law. In the UAE, there are several government databases and licensed agencies that provide such services. Companies must also be careful to avoid potential penalties for misclassification of independent contractors, ensuring they differentiate correctly between employees and contractors during the background check process.

Cultural Sensitivity

The UAE is a country with strong traditions and cultural norms. Respecting these norms during the background check process not only aligns with the law but also fosters a positive employer-brand image.

Types of Background check in the UAE

When hiring tech talent in the UAE, you'll want to verify that your potential employees are who they say they are and that they possess the skills necessary to fulfill their job requirements effectively. To accomplish this, various types of background checks are conducted, each serving a different purpose:

Criminal Records Check

This involves checking for any criminal records, which is crucial for ensuring a safe work environment. According to UAE law, employers need explicit consent from the candidate to perform this check. The UAE's Ministry of Interior provides a platform for conducting such checks with the candidate's approval.

Employment History Verification

This check involves confirming the candidate's previous employment history. This is critical in verifying their professional background and assessing whether they possess the necessary experience for the role. It involves reaching out to former employers to confirm job titles, tenures, and occasionally, performance.

Educational Credentials Verification

Verifying a candidate's educational qualifications is especially important in tech roles that require specific degrees or certifications. Universities and colleges can be contacted to ensure the authenticity of the claimed qualifications.

Reference Checks

These checks involve contacting past supervisors or colleagues to gather insights into the candidate's skills, behavior, and work ethic. This provides an in-depth understanding of their potential performance and suitability for your team. Remember, a candidate’s past performance can be an excellent indicator of future results.

Credit History Check

This is usually conducted for roles involving financial responsibilities. It helps in identifying any potential financial stress that could impact the candidate's job performance. This is more common in financial industries or roles where employees have access to sensitive financial data.

While conducting these background checks, remember that misclassification of employees as independent contractors can lead to severe penalties. Hence, ensure you accurately define the job roles.

Processes involved in conducting background checks in the UAE

The process of conducting background checks in the UAE involves several steps:

1. Consent: As per UAE's Data Protection Law, employers should obtain the written consent of the candidate before initiating the background check.
2. Data Collection: Relevant information is collected from various sources, such as former employers, universities, and government databases.
3. Verification: The collected data is then verified for authenticity.
4. Reporting: Once the data is verified, a comprehensive report is created and shared with the hiring team to inform their decision.
5. Data Disposal: Any personal data collected during the process should be disposed of safely to maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection laws.

With the cost of hiring a new employee being substantial, the importance of background checks in streamlining the hiring process cannot be overstated. It not only helps to ensure the quality of your hires but also contributes to the overall productivity and security of your team.

Planning to hire in the UAE? Here's how Skuad can help

Conducting employee background checks in the UAE is a critical step in hiring top-tier tech talent for remote or distributed teams. It ensures authenticity, mitigates risks, promotes a safe work environment, and bolsters diversity. So Skuad performs background checks when you make us your EOR partner.

Navigating this process can be intricate, but with Skuad as your Employer of Record Partner, these complexities are streamlined. Skuad supports you in every step, from hiring, onboarding, managing, and paying your distributed team, to conducting background checks and screening in the UAE. By leveraging Skuad's services, you can focus on what truly matters - building a productive and dynamic team while minimizing potential risks and maximizing growth opportunities.

Get in touch with Skuad’s experts to hire remote teams in the UAE.

FAQs

What is security check in UAE?

Security check in the UAE is conducted to confirm an applicant's identity, criminal record, and level of trustworthiness. Before granting visas, work permits, or other types of official documentation, it is frequently done. It might entail searching for any fraudulent or criminal activity.

How long does security clearance take in UAE?

Depending on the circumstances, such as the kind of clearance required and the applicant's background, the time it takes to obtain a security clearance in the UAE can differ significantly. It typically takes a few weeks to several months. Please be aware that the actual time may differ from this general estimate.