Looking for a job in UAE? Walk-in interviews next week

The Indian Embassy is organising a job fair exclusively for Indian job seekers who are availing the six-month temporary job visa as part of the ongoing amnesty scheme in the UAE.

The job fair will be held at the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) on Mina Road, Abu Dhabi on September 16, from 9am to 2pm.

Around 10 to 15 companies looking to hire are expected to attend, according to Indian Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri.

Indian expats who have taken the six-month temporary job visa can attend walk-in interviews at ISC by submitting their resumes, work experience and their passport.

"When the amnesty scheme started on August 1, we learned that quite a few Indian nationals were interested in regularising their stay by getting a job within the six-month window allowed under the amnesty programme. We discussed this with some of the major Indian businesses. We are delighted that several of them came forward with offers to recruit those Indians who fall within the framework of the amnesty scheme and who have the requisite skills," Suri told Khaleej Times.

"The job fair at ISC is intended to facilitate the link between the job-seekers and potential employers. We hope this initiative will enable many amnesty seekers to get alternate jobs and stay legally in the UAE," added the envoy.

Ramesh Panicker, president of the ISC, said seven to eight companies have already confirmed their participation. "We will have a clearer picture in the next two days. We expect around 10 to 15 Indian-owned companies, mainly from the construction, transportation and other sectors, to participate in the job fair."

Panicker emphasised that the job fair is tailor-made for amnesty-seekers, and hence not open for people on visit visas or other job seekers. "We have an amnesty team that is closely coordinating with the embassy, and all arrangements will be made to receive the job seekers," said Panicker.

Amnesty-seekers eager to find sponsors

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai last week announced that they issued over 25,000 new sponsorship visas and renewed around 2,900 residencies during the ongoing amnesty.

As part of the three-month long 'Protect Yourself by Modifying Status' initiative that will end on October 31, those who wish to exit the country can do so without paying fines or facing jail term. Individuals also have the option to regularise their status by getting a new visa or sponsor. The amnesty allows amnesty-seekers to get a temporary visa valid for six months by paying a fee of Dh500.

With just two months left for the amnesty to end, many expatriates, including Indians are desperately trying to legalise their status by finding a new sponsor.