Why Background Verification Matters More Than Ever in the UAE

Over the past few years, we have seen the UAE talent market grow at an incredible pace. With that growth comes opportunity, but also risk. One area that often gets overlooked is background verification.

A lot of companies here still rely on attestation. Don’t get me wrong, attestation is important. It confirms that a document’s seal and signature are genuine. But here’s the catch: it doesn’t tell you whether the content is true. A degree can be attested and still be fake.

That’s where verification comes in. Verification means going back to the source, checking directly with the university, the previous employer, or the licensing body. It’s the only way to know if what’s on paper matches reality.

What I have Seen in Practice

In our work at Baker Tilly UAE, we regularly uncover 10–15% discrepancies, especially in education and employment checks. These aren’t minor typos, they are cases where the qualification or experience claimed simply doesn’t exist.

And this isn’t just a UAE issue. Globally:

• 94–96% of U.S. employers conduct background checks (PBSA/HR.com survey).
• 70% of job seekers in the U.S. admit to some form of misrepresentation during hiring (CareerBuilder).
• 58% of hiring managers have caught a lie on a resume (CareerBuilder).
• The cost of a bad hire can be as high as 30% of first-year earnings (SHRM citing U.S. Department of Labor).
• According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), education and employment misrepresentation is among the most common red flags in occupational fraud cases.

Now compare that to the UAE, where many companies still stop at attestation. With over 80% of the workforce being expatriates, and documents coming from multiple jurisdictions, the risk is even higher.

Why This Matters for UAE Businesses

Fake degree scandals have already made headlines here. Regulators are tightening expectations, and clients increasingly demand proof of due diligence. The good news? Background checks are allowed in the UAE as long as you follow the rules, get consent, respect PDPL and DIFC data laws, and keep the process transparent.

How We Approach It

At Baker Tilly (UAE), we have built a process that’s fast, compliant, and thorough. We verify education, employment, licenses, identity, and more always at the source.

And here’s something we are proud of: Baker Tilly (UAE) is a member of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). That means our methods align with global best practices and ethical standards for screening.

If you are still relying on attestation alone, it’s time to rethink. The risk is real, and the fix is straightforward: add verification to your hiring process. It protects your business, your clients, and your reputation.