The PRO-Ready Job Description: 7 Things PROs Check Before Approving
Your PRO Is Your First Line of Defence
Your Public Relations Officer (PRO) submits job descriptions to MOHRE as part of every work permit application. They do not just forward the document. They review it against MOHRE requirements because a rejection means resubmission, which delays the visa by 5-10 working days and costs your company real money.
Experienced PROs can spot a problem JD in seconds. Here are the seven things they check before hitting submit, with real examples of what passes and what fails.
1. Job Title Matches the MOHRE Classification
MOHRE maintains a list of approved job titles mapped to occupation codes. Your internal title might be ‘Brand Ambassador’ but MOHRE needs ‘Sales Representative’ or ‘Marketing Coordinator.’
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Fails: ‘Digital Ninja’ / ‘Customer Happiness Champion’ / ‘Growth Hacker’
Passes: ‘Digital Marketing Specialist’ / ‘Customer Service Representative’ / ‘Business Development Manager’
Fix: Use the MOHRE-approved title as the primary title. Add your internal title in brackets if needed for internal clarity.
2. Skill Level Matches the Visa Category
The UAE has different visa categories based on skill level. A skilled worker visa requires duties that reflect skilled work and qualifications to match.
Fails: JD describes data entry and filing but requests a skilled worker visa.
Passes: JD describes financial analysis, report preparation, and client advisory, supported by a degree requirement.
Fix: Align duties with the visa category. If the role genuinely requires a degree and specialist skills, the JD must say so. If it does not, apply for the correct visa category.
3. Salary Meets the Minimum Threshold
Each visa category has a minimum salary. Submitting a JD with a salary below the threshold is an automatic rejection.
Fails: ‘Salary: negotiable’ or a figure below the skilled worker minimum.
Passes: ‘Salary: AED 8,000-12,000 per month’ (above the threshold for skilled category).
Fix: Confirm the current salary threshold for your visa category before finalising the JD. This changes periodically.
4. Duties Are Specific and Measurable
‘Assist with general operations’ tells MOHRE nothing. PROs need duties that clearly describe what the person will do.
Fails: ‘Support the team with various tasks as required.’
Passes: ‘Prepare monthly reconciliation reports for accounts payable. Process vendor invoices using SAP. Coordinate with the audit team for quarterly reviews.’
Fix: List 5-8 specific duties. Each starts with an action verb. Each describes a measurable activity.
5. Qualifications Match the Candidate
PROs check that educational requirements match what the candidate’s attested documents will show. MOHRE cross-checks.
Fails: JD says ‘Bachelor’s degree required’ but the candidate holds a diploma.
Passes: JD says ‘Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field.’
Fix: State the exact qualification level. If a diploma is acceptable, say so. Do not write ‘degree preferred’ when you plan to hire a diploma holder.
6. The Role Is Not Emiratisation-Reserved
Certain roles in priority sectors must be filled by UAE nationals. PROs check this before submission because a work permit for a non-national in a reserved role will be rejected.
Fix: Check the latest MOHRE Emiratisation list before writing the JD. If the role is reserved, recruit an Emirati candidate and access Nafis subsidies.
7. Document Language and Format
MOHRE accepts JDs in English and Arabic. Some PROs prefer bilingual JDs because they reduce back-and-forth with the Ministry.
Fails: Informal language, abbreviations, slang, or text-speak.
Passes: Formal, professional language matching MOHRE’s classification terminology.
Fix: Use formal language. No abbreviations. If submitting in English only, ensure terminology matches MOHRE’s English classifications.
PRO-Ready Checklist
Before sending any JD to your PRO, run through this:
- Job title is MOHRE-approved (not a creative internal title)
- Duties match the visa category skill level
- Salary meets or exceeds the minimum threshold
- 5-8 specific, measurable duties listed
- Qualifications match what the candidate can document
- Role is not on the Emiratisation reserved list
- Language is formal, professional, free of slang
- Reporting line makes organisational sense
- Location and working conditions are specified
Every rejection adds days. Every resubmission costs money. A PRO-ready JD saves both.
Before sending a JD to your PRO: run the role through the free GCC Job Description Generator so the first draft includes country-aware duties, package wording and compliance prompts.
