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To find a job in Dubai and to move to a modern metropolis with excellent infrastructure, it is important to have an understanding of the local labor market. The city is accessible to qualified specialists from many fields. When considering vacancies in Dubai, you should not forget about the peculiarities of living in the UAE, because it is an eastern country with its own strict rules and special mentality.
About 88.5% of the population of the United Arab Emirates are expats, which means that the country has created optimal conditions for foreigners. Let's talk about how to get a job in Dubai, what working conditions and salaries await foreign specialists, and also consider the basic requirements for applicants.
Content:
- Overview of the labor market in Dubai
- Advantages of Dubai for foreign workers and businessmen
- Main sectors of the economy and demand jobs in UAE
- How to find work in Dubai on your own
- Where to find a job in Dubai: online platforms and employment agencies
- How to make a CV for a job in Dubai
- Candidate requirements
- Working conditions and wages in Dubai
- How much can you earn in Dubai: average monthly salaries by industry
- Working hours, vacation and social guarantees
- Living and working in Dubai: what to expect
- Useful information on employment
Overview of the labor market in Dubai
Are you thinking about how to find a job in Dubai? Pay attention to the most popular sectors where foreigners are often hired:
- catering business;
- hotel service;
- construction;
- tourism;
- real estate;
- finance.
Today, you can find a wide variety of vacancies in the local labor market. Indians and Pakistanis often choose low-skilled jobs without knowledge of English. They usually work in construction, utilities and cleaning businesses. There are many Lebanese immigrants working in the advertising industry. Work in Dubai is often related to tourism, hotel and restaurant business. In the service sector, employees of Caucasian appearance with good command of English are usually required.
Expats with higher education and work experience in their field can also find many offers from different companies. There is every chance to build a successful career in the UAE if you are a competent and diligent specialist in your industry.
Advantages of Dubai for foreign workers and businessmen
Many foreigners want to get employed in Dubai companies or launch a business here. This is due to the following advantages of the city:
- Growing economy with international investment, low taxes and no foreign exchange restrictions.
- Large international companies operating in the fields of finance, trade, media, innovative technologies and hospitality.
- Developed commercial infrastructure: free economic zones, modern office centers, co-working spaces, logistics complexes, a vast Expo City area with trade and exhibition areas.
- Two international airports and seaports providing convenient communication with other countries.
- Being cosmopolitan. The emirate is home to people of different nationalities and cultures, which creates an environment for interesting communication, partnerships and the development of international relations.
- High quality of life: warm climate and location on the seashore, well-thought-out urban infrastructure, qualified medical care, a large selection of places for recreation, shopping and spending time with family.
- Opportunity to obtain a resident visa by investing property in Dubai.
Main sectors of the economy and demand jobs in UAE
The key sectors of the emirate's economy are:
- Banking. The city is home to the main Middle Eastern financial center, Dubai International Financial Centre. This is a free economic zone where 17 of the world's largest banks, more than 200 consulting companies, and a number of large funds are registered. Demanded specialists in the field are bank employees, analysts and financial consultants and auditors.
- Tourism and hospitality. The emirate is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and has a number of artificial islands that significantly expand its coastline. Local luxury hotels and resorts are in great demand among tourists from all over the world. The most popular jobs in Dubai for girls in this field are administrator, receptionist, concierge, maid, waitress. Men can consider working as a trainer in Dubai, as any major hotel has its own gym or fitness center. Doormen, drivers, cleaners and other service personnel are also required.
- A popular sector is construction. There are always engineer, architect, and designer jobs in Dubai in this industry, since new areas are being actively developed in the city, modern residential and commercial complexes are being erected, roads and metro stations are being built.
- Real estate market. In 2023, sales of houses and apartments in the emirate increased significantly. In June alone, the number of transactions increased by 18.8% compared to the same period in 2022. Realtor jobs in Dubai are one of the highly paid options, especially if the specialist is highly qualified. Wages in this industry have no upper limit, since the rocker gets a percentage of the sales.
- Oil and gas industry. Engineers, geologists, technical specialists and managers are most in demand in this area.
- IT sector, which requires programmers, systems analysts, information security specialists and database analysts.
- Healthcare. Dubai clinics, medical centers and pharmacies often have vacancies for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and administrators.
How to find work in Dubai on your own
Finding a job in the emirate on your own is not difficult. There are a number of online resources with vacancies. Information about available jobs is often posted on the official websites of companies.
Where to find a job in Dubai: online platforms and employment agencies
Among the popular online platforms for finding work in the Emirates are:
- Indeed
- GulfTalent
- Bayt
To start searching for vacancies, you will need to create your profile, add detailed information about education, experience, and, if necessary, attach examples of work. It is advisable to add a photo: employers are more willing to communicate with applicants who have posted their photos. You can also subscribe to the newsletter with the latest vacancies in your specialty to be among the first to know about new offers.
You can contact specialized recruitment agencies such as Robert Half, Hays, Charterhouse and others. These are often international companies operating in different countries around the world.
How to make a CV for a job in Dubai
Your CV and cover letter are the first thing that characterizes you to a potential employer. To create a CV, you can contact a specialized agency or make it yourself. It is important to indicate the following information:
- your contact details;
- work experience in chronological order, starting with the last place;
- key skills;
- education, information about advanced training courses and certificates related to professional activities;
- achievements, ready-made cases, examples of work;
- level of proficiency in foreign languages, English and Arabic are especially important.
Sometimes you need to tailor your CV to a specific vacancy.
It is advisable to note in your cover letter:
- why you are interested in the vacancy;
- your advantages and personal qualities that will benefit the employer;
- motivation to work in this particular company.
Read the job description carefully, as some employers ask you to answer specific questions or provide specific information in your cover letter.
In conclusion, thank the person you are writing to and express your hope for the possibility of cooperation.
Candidate requirements
You are likely to get a good offer if you meet the following criteria:
- Age from 18 to 30 years, highly qualified specialists – up to 40 years. Companies rarely hire employees over 45 years of age.
- Knowledge of English is required. The higher the level of language proficiency, the more vacancies you can find.
- Attractive appearance is an important criterion for selecting candidates in the service sector.
- A confirmed diploma.
Work visa and documents
For official employment in the UAE, you will need to apply for a work visa. It is issued by the employing company. The validity period of the visa permit is 2 years.
Initially, the employer issues a work permit to the future employee. Within 60 days after arriving in the UAE, the applicant signs an agreement, receives an Emirates ID (UAE national identity card), undergoes a medical examination and submits a package of documents to obtain a work visa.
You can work on a work visa only in the company that issued the entry permit. If the contract with the employer is terminated, the employee is given 180 days to leave the country or sign a new contract to renew the visa.
Working conditions and wages in Dubai
Working conditions in most local companies are good: offices have air conditioning and workplaces are comfortable. Employees are provided with days off, annual leave, social benefits, and the average salary in Dubai is about $5,800 per month.
In addition to the main part of the salary, some companies additionally pay annual bonuses, bonuses for exceeding the plan and bonuses based on KPI results.
How much can you earn in Dubai: average monthly salaries by industry
The most modest salaries for service sector employees:
- domestic staff – from $1,300 to $3,000;
- waiters – from $1,000 to $2,700;
- reception workers – from $1,500 to $4,200;
- taxi drivers – from $1,000 to $2,500.
Employees with higher education and qualifications earn more:
- teachers, educators – $2,400–$7,100;
- accountants – $2,100–$6,300;
- office managers – from $2,700
- programmers – from $5,400;
- engineers, architects – $3,500–$11,000;
- business development managers – $4,500–$14,000;
- pilots – $5,500–$16,500;
- interior designers – $5,500–$8,900;
- marketing director – $19,000–$32,000.
Working hours, vacation and social guarantees
New regulations regarding employment in the UAE were introduced in 2022–23. Now the working week in the country lasts 4.5 days. Days off are Saturday, Sunday and the second half of Friday. The total length of the working week decreased from 48 to 40 hours.
Employees also have the opportunity to receive additional days off per week if they complete all duties in fewer days.
In addition, open-ended employment contracts were abolished. Now the maximum contract period is 3 years.
Employees are entitled to annual paid leave of 30 days. Some companies offer additional benefits: medical insurance for the employee’s family members (for the employees themselves it is required by law), coverage of transport and apartment rent and schooling expenses.
One of the important advantages of working in the UAE for foreigners is the absence of personal income tax. In addition, the country has a wage protection system, which guarantees that an employee receives money for their work, even if the employer turns out to be dishonest.
Living and working in Dubai: what to expect
If you are planning to find a well-paid job in a Dubai company and move to live in a warm country, you should consider some nuances. One of them are the fact that prices for housing, education, medicine and entertainment are quite high here. It is also important to consider that the UAE has certain rules related to local traditions.
Cultural characteristics and adaptation
The UAE is a Muslim state with special values. Expats should respect the local culture, as in some cases deviation from Islamic norms is punishable by law. Video cameras are installed in almost all public places, and finding a violator is not a problem. Let's list a few basic rules:
- In public, women are encouraged to wear modest clothing that covers their shoulders and knees, while men are encouraged to wear a shirt and long trousers.
- It is important to be polite when dealing with people. You can get a fine for insults and indecent gestures.
- The purchase and consumption of alcohol is only permitted in properly licensed establishments such as hotels, bars and nightclubs. Drinking alcohol in public places and driving while intoxicated are prohibited.
- Any violation of traffic rules is prohibited. There are large fines for this.
- During Ramadan (the annual fast), no food should be eaten in public before sunset.
- Couples are not allowed to express feelings (kissing, hugging) in public places.
- It is prohibited to photograph or film people without their consent.
Accommodation and cost of living in Dubai
The cost of living in the UAE is above average. Renting an apartment or villa in Dubai is the main expense item. Some expats choose to buy their own home as rising prices make local property a lucrative investment. The average cost of apartments is $327,000. Our website offers different housing options for any budget, from new projects to secondary real estate. By comparing prices and characteristics, you can choose the most attractive option.
Rental rates vary greatly by area. The most expensive housing is in the city centre, coastal areas and luxury gated communities. The average monthly rental cost for apartments is about $1,600, villas – $4,000.
Those who travel by car will have to spend about $0.9 per litre of gasoline. It costs about $100 per month to use unlimited Internet.
Education for children of foreigners is paid. An average nursery costs $7,000–$12,000 per year. School tuition costs from $8,000 to $26,000 per year.
Useful information on employment
In conclusion, some useful tips for those planning to work in the UAE.
Foreigners can work in their specialty, having previously confirmed their education diploma. To do this, you need to translate the document into Arabic and have the translation certified by a notary. You are also required to provide an archival certificate from the educational institution from which you graduated and pay a fee of $41.
Keep in mind that employers usually set a probationary period for new employees. The trial period can last up to 6 months, and if the employee does not meet the requirements, the company has the right to fire them in one day.
If the required 30-day vacation was not used in the current year, you can transfer the remaining days or full vacation to the next year.
From 2023, all company employees are required to purchase social insurance in case of dismissal. The fee depends on salary. The minimum cost of insurance is $16 per year. In the event of an insured event, the maximum payment will be $5,450.
