Some of the residents feel they've been turned away due to their nationality.

A Dubai lawyer has warned employers against discriminating during the hiring process as they can be fined up to Dh2 million.

Shiraz Sethi, Senior Associate at Stephenson Harwood Middle East, highlights that the penalties for breaking the UAE's Anti-Discriminatory Law passed in 2015 include jail terms of between six months and 10 years, and fines ranging between Dh50,000 and Dh2 million.

Sethi's comments follow complaints of discrimination by some residents seeking temporary roles in the promotions industry. Some of the residents feel they've been turned away due to their nationality or, in one case, where a girl wore a headscarf (hijab).

They allege that certain marketing firms post adverts on Facebook with brutally honest requests, like only certain nationalities need apply, while others offer different emoluments for the same job to different nationalities.

"The law is drafted broadly and attempts to encompass all discriminatory conduct and practice irrespective of how it has been expressed - through speech, writing, drawing, photography, singing, acting or miming - and irrespective of the means by which it has been expressed - online, by phone or video, and whether written or oral," said Sethi.

"Whilst it appears that the law is primarily aimed at preventing and criminalising hate crimes and the incitement of hatred, particularly in light of recent global events, the law also seeks to prevent discrimination more broadly and may have knock-on consequences in an employment context.

"In light of Article 17 of the law, my advice to clients is simple: if you are operating within the UAE, then it is imperative for companies to ensure that their internal policies and procedures are implemented correctly and regularly updated so as to forewarn employees of the potential pitfalls that they may be subject to under the law."

Colour of your passport

Some women in Dubai looking for temporary promotions jobs said certain job advertisers hire based on nationality and "good looks".

Promotional jobs in Dubai are popular among students already on a residence visa, and they can legally work on a temporary labour card.

Pakistani expat Heba Qadeer, 23, said, she got paid Dh4,900 for 40 days - the same job where other candidates (Europeans and Russians)received a much higher payment.

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