Want a job in UAE? Get police clearance

Private companies are demanding a police-issued clean criminal record from job applicants in the UAE.
Those failing to produce police clearance or with a bad standing at previous jobs or colleges are weeded out by HR managers and job agents even if they are otherwise deemed ‘job-worthy'.
Employers and recruitment agencies told XPRESS on the sidelines of the Careers UAE job fair in Dubai this week that job seekers face closer scrutiny nowadays.
It is not clear why more companies are going to greater lengths to investigate applicants, but headhunters said the credit crunch had seen a rise in dodgy candidates "desperate to get their foot in the door".

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Others said the procedures are "best practices" at big firms which smaller companies want to copy. Ammar Shehada, business development manager at recruitment firm Ershaad.ae, said: "The majority of employers are asking for police background checks, work references, academic documents or professional certificates after shortlisting potential candidates. Recruitment agencies must ensure they are forwarding the right candidates to employers by ensuring that whatever is mentioned in the CV is true, as we recruit human beings and not a piece of paper. Otherwise it's all a waste of time, effort, money and reputation

Conduct certificate

Fee: Dh110 (expats); Dh60 (Emiratis)
Documents: Passport or Emirates ID, fingerprints
Time: Two-three working days
Location: Dubai Police HQ, near Al Mullah Plaza

Timings: 7.30am to 2.30pm

Also needed for: Immigration/ visa application for many Western countries, applying for government positions and for sponsoring maids