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Employee Onboarding Checklist (GCC)

What do HR teams in the UAE and Saudi Arabia need to do before and after a new hire joins?

A new-hire checklist for GCC employers — from signed offer to work permit, visa, medical, payroll, day one and probation — with country-specific steps for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

How the checklist adapts

Choose the country and the checklist swaps in the government steps that apply: in the UAE, the MOHRE work permit and contract, medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa; in Saudi Arabia, Qiwa contract documentation, iqama, GOSI registration and Mudad payroll; in Qatar, contract authentication and the QID. Toggles add or remove IT setup, a buddy and a probation review date. Every line has a tick box so you can print it and work through it.

Before you use it

Government steps change — confirm current requirements with MOHRE, Qiwa or your labour authority.
This is a template, not legal advice.

Confirm the hire with an appointment letter, prepare terms with the UAE contract template and share the employee handbook.

Frequently asked questions

What should an onboarding checklist cover in the UAE?

The documents and approvals before day one (signed offer, passport and qualification copies, MOHRE work permit and contract, medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa, health insurance, payroll on WPS), a structured first day, the first month's training and check-ins, and a probation review.

How is onboarding different in Saudi Arabia?

The contract is documented on Qiwa, the iqama is issued through Muqeem or Absher, the employee is registered with GOSI and salaries are paid through Mudad. The checklist switches to these steps when you pick Saudi Arabia.

When should I start onboarding?

As soon as the offer is signed — visa and permit steps take the longest, so start them first and plan the start date around them.

Who should own the checklist?

HR owns the government and payroll steps; the hiring manager owns day one, training and probation check-ins. Share a printed or PDF copy with both.

Every week this role stays open costs you. Post it free today.

Post the job on MenaJobs free in about 2 minutes. We review every post, and once approved it reaches job seekers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

Post a job free

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Free HR tool · No sign-up

Employee Onboarding Checklist (GCC)

What do HR teams in the UAE and Saudi Arabia need to do before and after a new hire joins?

A new-hire checklist for GCC employers — from signed offer to work permit, visa, medical, payroll, day one and probation — with country-specific steps for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Step 1 · New hire1/7

Country

Company name

New hire

Job title

Start date

Manager

HR contact

Step 2 · What to include3/4

Needs a work permit / residence visaIT setup (laptop, email, systems)Assign a buddy

Probation review date (optional)

EnglishالعربيةBoth

ONBOARDING CHECKLIST

[Company name] (to fill in) — ONBOARDING CHECKLIST New hire: [New hire] (to fill in) · [Job title] (to fill in) Start date: [Start date] (to fill in) · Manager: [Manager] (to fill in) · HR: [HR contact] (to fill in)

BEFORE THE START DATE ☐ Signed offer letter received ☐ Copies of passport, photo, qualifications (attested if required) and previous experience letters collected ☐ MOHRE work permit applied for and employment contract issued through MOHRE, signed by both parties ☐ Entry permit / change of status arranged ☐ Medical fitness test booked ☐ Emirates ID biometrics booked and residence visa stamped (ICP / GDRFA) ☐ Health insurance arranged ☐ Employee added to payroll and WPS with bank details ☐ Laptop, email account and system access ready for day one ☐ Desk, access card and welcome pack ready ☐ Buddy assigned and briefed

FIRST DAY ☐ Welcome from [Manager] (to fill in) and team introductions ☐ Building, safety and emergency briefing ☐ Employee handbook and key policies shared and acknowledgement signed ☐ Bank account / WPS details confirmed ☐ Job description and first-month goals agreed

FIRST MONTH ☐ Role training and system training completed ☐ Weekly check-ins with [Manager] (to fill in) ☐ Buddy check-in at the end of week 2 ☐ First payroll checked with the employee

PROBATION ☐ Mid-probation feedback given ☐ Probation review and confirmation letter issued

Government steps change — confirm current requirements with MOHRE, Qiwa or your labour authority. Adapt to your company's policies. This is a template, not legal advice.

5 fields still show as [highlighted placeholders] — fill them in or edit after copying.

Get this checklist in your inbox (English and Arabic) plus our GCC HR letter formats.

How the checklist adapts

Before you use it

Government steps change — confirm current requirements with MOHRE, Qiwa or your labour authority.
This is a template, not legal advice.

Confirm the hire with an appointment letter, prepare terms with the UAE contract template and share the employee handbook.

Frequently asked questions

What should an onboarding checklist cover in the UAE?

How is onboarding different in Saudi Arabia?

When should I start onboarding?

As soon as the offer is signed — visa and permit steps take the longest, so start them first and plan the start date around them.

Who should own the checklist?

HR owns the government and payroll steps; the hiring manager owns day one, training and probation check-ins. Share a printed or PDF copy with both.

Every week this role stays open costs you. Post it free today.

Post the job on MenaJobs free in about 2 minutes. We review every post, and once approved it reaches job seekers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

Post a job free