Managing Partner, Middle East and Africa
Murtaza Khan
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Languages
- English
- Urdu
- Arabic
Contact information
Fragomen UAE Ltd.
Level 8, Office 802, Liberty House, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box: 506626
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Murtaza is Fragomen’s Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa with over 20 years of immigration experience. He has been based in the Middle East for over 14 years and is responsible for Fragomen’s practices and network partners across the region. In this capacity, he has extensive experience working with large global and regional private sector companies, public sector organisations and SMEs.
Murtaza has deep knowledge of regional business immigration regulatory frameworks across the Middle East and Africa, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia and UAE (onshore and free zone). His experience extends to practical mobility and deployment issues, particularly the transfer of skilled migrant workers into the region. He advises clients on the implementation of various policies, such as nationalization schemes (Saudisation/Nitaqat, Emiratisation), short- and long-term skilled and unskilled migration categories, Embassy/Consular processes and operating with government service centres. Murtaza’s client portfolio includes a giga project in Saudi Arabia, in addition to working with Fortune 500 companies in a variety of sectors and individual skilled migrants. He delivers strategic immigration and mobility advisory support and programme design and management tailored to the region’s requirements and best practices.
Experienced in business migration across the region, Murtaza has spoken at numerous global and regional events, and has published several articles expressing thought leadership on migration. As a representative of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Business Mechanism, he advised and provided input on intergovernmental processes facilitated by the United Nations in adopting the Global Compact on Migration in 2018. He continues to represent the private sector at the GFMD. During 2020, he provided detailed recommendations from a private sector perspective on the governance of labour migration at regional consultative processes, including the GFMD Abu Dhabi Dialogue Regional Consultation and African Union Regional Consultation. He has also provided governance of labour migration recommendations regarding the United Arab Emirates in 2018 and Qatar in 2019. Murtaza has co-authored a detailed publication on “The Challenges and Opportunities of Business Immigration Structures in the Maghreb Region” in January 2020.
Education
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, Associate Chartered Accountant, 2004
- University of Durham, B.A., with honors , 2001
More from Murtaza
Professional accomplishments
Member, AmCham Abu Dhabi
Publications and lectures
Quoted, “Immigration Services: Start work easily Citywide.” The Monocle 100: Dubai, Page 17, 15 November 2024.
Panelist, “Harnessing Technology and AI to Innovate and Transform your Talent Mobility Programme.” Fragomen's Middle East & Africa Conference: Vision, Innovation, and Transformation, Dubai, UAE, 12 November 2024.
Panelist, “Connecting Regions: Chinese Multinationals Navigating the business and mobility landscape in Africa and the Middle East.” Fragomen's Middle East & Africa Conference: Vision, Innovation, and Transformation, Dubai, UAE, 12 November 2024.
Speaker, “AmCham Networking Luncheon: Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency Program Unpacked.” AmCham Saudi Arabia and Fragomen, 3 June 2024.
Speaker, “Expanding Your Business in the Middle East: The Benefits of the Dubai International Financial Center.” DIFC and Fragomen, 2 May 2024.
Speaker, “AmCham Business Summit 2024.” AmCham Abu Dhabi, 24 April 2024.
Author, “How to Navigate the Complex Compliance Frameworks in GCC Countries?” The HR Observer, 29 February 2024.
Author, “Channel Chief.” Intelligent Tech Channels, 5 February 2024.
Speaker, “Powering Productivity: Exploring Robotics, AI, and Beyond.” AmCham Abu Dhabi, 6 September 2023.
Author, “Successful Perspectives: Murtaza Khan.” Boardroom by EMIR, 31 July 2023.
Speaker, “Fragomen Business Breakfast - Global Immigration Trends: East Africa Perspective.” Fragomen, 13 July 2023.
Author, “Bahrain Targets Big FDI Projects With Golden Licence.” fDi Intelligence, 11 April 2023.
Author, “In London I Had Two Cars Stolen – Here Crime Is Non-Existent.” The Telegraph, 30 April 2023.
Author, “Why Increasing Numbers of People Are Relocating to Dubai.” Euronews, 2 January 2023.
Author, “Immigration made simple.” Khaleej Times, 12 October 2021.
Author, “ Year-round sunshine, pool days and zero taxes: How to move to Dubai and work remotely for a year.” Egypt Independent, 21 June 2021.
Speaker, “Can the UAE become a global hub for remote workers?” Ministry of Economy, UAE and Emerging Markets Intelligence & Research, 22 March 2021.
Author, “Open borders enable easier transfer of skilled labour, expansion of firms.” The East African, Middle East and Africa, 3 March 2021.
Speaker, “Saudisation – A challenge and an opportunity.” Clyde & Co and Mercer, March 2021.
Author, “More Kenyans to travel within Africa as demand for skilled labour increases.” Kenyan Broadcast Public Service, 10 December 2019.
Quoted, “UAE one of the best places to live in the world for migrants.” The National, 15 October 2019.
Quoted, “UAE salary packages among best in GCC.” Zawya, 2 July 2019.
Author, “UAE to accept long term visa applications from February 3.” Arabian Business, 21 January 2019.
Murtaza’s insights
November 15, 2024 | Media mentions
November 12, 2024 | Conference
September 20, 2024 | Diversity
