To secure a job in Dubai and move to a modern metropolis with excellent infrastructure, it’s crucial to understand the local labor market. The city is open to qualified professionals from various fields. When considering employment opportunities in Dubai, it’s crucial to keep in mind the distinct aspects of living in the UAE, as it is an Eastern country with strict rules and a distinct mentality.
Where to look for a job if you want to live in the UAE
Recruitment agencies. The easiest and most common option is to contact a recruitment agency. For example, Global Vision, Work Emirates, Perun, and Jetexpo. The agency will advise on such issues:
- List of in-demand specialties.
- Salary range.
- Conditions for obtaining a visa and employment.
- The cost of services provided by such agencies ranges from $200 to $1,000. In some cases, the money spent is refunded by the employer.
Independent search. Most vacancies are posted on job sites:
- Layboard.in
- Bayt
- GulfTalent
- Indeed
To get a job in the Arab Emirates, you can also explore the sites:
- Dubizzle
- Edarabia
- Naukrigulf
- com
- Totaljobs
- DubaiJobs
- Rigzone (oil jobs)
- JobsInDubai
How to get an internship
The UAE restaurant and hospitality industry is very interested in interns. There are only two main requirements for candidates: under 30 years old and proficient in English.
On average, an internship lasts 3-6 months and is often followed by an invitation to a permanent job in the UAE. Interns are paid for flight, work visa, accommodation and meals, and are paid about $400 per month. Internships can be viewed on the Rotana and Jumeirah Group websites.
Industries in demand
The UAE is often associated with the oil and gas industry, but the government is strongly dedicated to developing tourism. That said, only expats work in the service and maintenance industry. Positions are varied: bartenders, waiters, cooks, sales consultants, administrators, realtors, stewards and stewardesses. You can also find a crane operator job using the sites left above.
In addition, finding a job in the UAE will be easier for specialists with higher education, whose profession is included in the list of in-demand jobs. At the moment, according to Linkedin research, these are: IT specialists, doctors, teachers, builders, experienced sales managers, marketers, financiers, HR specialists.
Guidelines for Creating a Resume and Cover Letter
Your resume and cover letter are the first impression you make on a potential employer.
When creating a resume, you can either use a specialized agency or do it yourself. Ensure that your resume includes the following details:
- Your contact information.
- Work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent position.
- Key skills.
- Education, including professional development courses and relevant certifications
- Achievements, portfolio pieces, and examples of your work.
- Proficiency in foreign languages, particularly English and Arabic.
Tailoring your resume to match a specific job vacancy may sometimes be necessary.
In your cover letter, be sure to address:
- Why are you interested in the position.
- Your strengths and personal attributes that would be advantageous to the employer.
- Your motivation for wanting to work at this particular company.
Carefully review the job description, as some employers may require you to address specific questions or provide particular information in your cover letter. Finish by thanking the interviewer and expressing your hope for the possibility of cooperation.
Requirements for candidates
For desirable positions with competitive salaries and opportunities for career advancement, applicants who meet the following criteria are usually recruited:
- Age from 18 to 30 years, for highly qualified specialists – up to 40 years. Companies rarely take employees over 45 years old.
- Mandatory knowledge of English. The higher the level of language skills, the more vacancies can be picked up.
- Attractive appearance is an important criterion for selecting candidates in the service sector.
Work visa and documents
For official employment in the UAE, you will need to obtain a work visa. It is issued by the company-employer. The period of validity of the visa permit is 2 years.
Initially, the employer issues a work permit to the future employee. Within 60 days after arrival in the UAE, the applicant signs a contract, receives an Emirates ID (UAE national identity card), undergoes a medical examination and submits a package of documents to open 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 has 180 days to leave the country or sign a new contract to extend the visa.
Working conditions and salaries
Working conditions in most Dubai companies are good: offices are air-conditioned and workplaces are comfortable. Employees are provided with days off, annual vacations, social benefits, and the average salary in Dubai is about 5800 $ per month.
Along with the base salary, some companies additionally pay annual bonuses, bonuses for over-fulfillment of the plan and bonuses based on KPI results.
How much you can earn in Dubai: average monthly salaries by sector
The most modest salaries are in the service sector:
- Domestic staff – from 1300 to 3000 $.
- Waiters – from 1000 to 2700 $.
- Receptionists – from 1500 to 4200 $.
- Cab drivers – from 1000 to 2500 $.
Employees with education and high qualifications earn more:
- Teachers, educators – 2400-7100 $.
- Accountants – 2100-6300 $.
- Office managers – from 2700 $.
- Programmers – from 5400 $.
- Engineers, architects – $3,500-$11,000.
- Business development managers – $4,500-$14,000.
- Pilots – $5500-16,500.
- Interior designers – $5,500-$8,900.
- Marketing directors – $19,000-$32,000.
Working hours, vacation and social guarantees
In 2023, new regulations were introduced regarding the employment sector in the UAE. Now the working week in the country lasts 4.5 days. Weekends are Saturday, Sunday and the second half of Friday. The total duration of the working week has been reduced from 48 to 40 hours.
Employees also have the chance to receive an additional day off per week if they fulfill all their duties in fewer days. In addition, open-ended labor contracts were abolished. Now the maximum contract term is 3 years.
Employees are entitled to an annual paid vacation of 30 days. Some firms offer additional benefits: health insurance coverage for the employee’s family members (for the employees themselves it is compulsory by law), payment of transportation and apartment rent, children’s schooling.
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 system of wage protection, which guarantees that an employee will receive money for his or her labor, even if the employer proves to be unethical.
