How to Get a Job in Dubai

September 26, 2020 Stan

Dubai is possibly one of the last places left on the planet where there is an active jobs market – at least that’s how it feels to many living in the UK and the USA where job cuts are now the norm as companies feel the economic pinch and rein in spending by cutting back staff.

As a result, there is active interest in working overseas, and one particular location where there is a lot of focus is Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. The city and emirate of the same name offers a tax-free lifestyle to international employers, and what’s more, the sun almost always shines in Dubai and the way of life is incredibly luxurious.

These factors add up in the location’s favour, as does the fact that although affected by the global credit crisis, Dubai employers still have jobs available for well-qualified individuals from around the world in many industries…

If you’re looking to move abroad to live and work for a period of time and you fancy the idea of a tax-free salary and a very exciting lifestyle, then Dubai could well be the number one choice for you. But how do you get a job in Dubai – after all, it’s a location a long way away for most of us, and one where you need a job to have a visa to go and live there? Well, there are a number of ways of finding gainful employment in one of the most vibrant locations in the world, and they include the following: –

1) Visiting an employment expo – in certain countries in the world where Dubai recruits heavily from, such as the UK, there are annual employment expos. These give one the chance to attend and meet up with potential employers in your given industry, see what sorts of jobs are available with which salary package, speak to relocation experts and even learn about how to get a visa to move to live and work in Dubai. For many these expos are the way in to a new life and career in Dubai. They marry employers with job seekers, they provide those wanting a job with the visa they require to move to the emirate and take up employment, and what’s more, they are probably the least hassle way to at least get your name and resume known with recruiters in your particular employment sector. Check out local and national press for details of any expos happening near you.

2) Using a recruitment company – there are specialist recruitment companies dealing in hiring western staff for the UAE and Dubai in particular, there are also specialist recruiters for given industries such as the oil and gas industry, teaching or medical professions, and there are also general recruitment companies that operate the whole world over. You can access these companies online and target the ones most applicable to you. Send in your CV and a covering letter and always follow up with a phone call and find out all about what the recruitment company can do for you. Remember, it is in their best interests to place you as they then win their fee or commission, so work with them to find the right job for you.

3) Targeting employers remotely – you can find out which companies are in operation in Dubai in your given employment sector. You can do so thanks to the Internet or through networking within your industry. Once you have the contact details of companies that you could work for in Dubai, you need to contact each one in turn and find out about any open positions that you might be suitable for. Many companies have listings of vacancies online – others have details of their personnel and recruitment departments. All this information is invaluable to someone looking for a job in Dubai. If you contact companies with a job application or simply by sending in your resume and a covering letter detailing your skills and how and why you would like to work for the company in question, ensure you follow up with a phone call and be proactive in ensuring the company considers you seriously and at least keeps your details on file for any jobs in the future.

4) Visiting Dubai and looking for work – the final approach for those absolutely committed to finding a job in Dubai is to secure a visit visa for a short-term trip to Dubai and then go door to door targeting recruiters and employers. It could be wise to set up meetings and interviews in advance of your visit, and note that the weekend in Dubai runs from Friday to Saturday and that public holidays in the emirate are based on the Muslim calendar – so schedule time in the emirate at the best possible point where you can get around and see as many people as possible. Always have copies of your business card, CV and a covering letter about yourself to hand, and push yourself forward if you are determined to find a job and live and work in Dubai as competition is heating up!