Is it difficult to get a job in Dubai?

Young woman waiting for interview indoors

The United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world and one of the most loyal to foreigners. Eight out of ten jobs in the country are occupied by expats. The state actively contributes to the creation of new jobs. Only due to the World Expo in 2021-2022, 270,000 new vacancies have opened. How to find a job in the UAE at https://layboard.in/vacancies/jobs-in-uae/jobs-in-dubai ?

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, Jetexpo. The agency will advise on the following issues:

list of in-demand specialties
salary range

conditions for obtaining a visa and employment.

The cost of services of such agencies is from $200 to $1,000. In some cases, the money spent is returned by the employer.

Independent search. Most vacancies are posted on the sites:

Bayt
LinkedIn
GulfTalent

Indeed

To get a job in the United Arab Emirates, you can also explore the sites:

Layboard.in

Dubizzle
Edarabia
Naukrigulf
Dubai.com
total jobs
DubaiJobs
Rigzone (vacancies in the oil industry)
JobsInDubai

How to get an internship

The restaurant and hotel industry in the UAE is very interested in interns. There are only two main requirements for candidates: age under 30 and fluency 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 flights, work visas, housing and meals, and are paid about $400 per month.

Demanded industries

The UAE is often associated with the oil and gas industry, but the government of the country is doing a lot to develop tourism. At the same time, only expats work in the service and maintenance sector. The positions are very different: bartenders, waiters, cooks, sales assistants, administrators, realtors, stewards and stewardesses.

In addition, it will be easier for specialists with higher education, whose profession is on the list of demanded ones, to find a job in the UAE. At the moment, according to Linkedin research, these are: IT specialists, doctors, teachers, builders, experienced sales managers, marketers, financiers, HR specialists.

UAE work visa and resident status

Employment in the UAE is possible only on a work visa. The good news is that you can look for a job and discuss moving while in the country as a tourist. That is, even if you have already arrived in the country, for example, from India, you can safely look for job vacancies in the UAE for Russians.

The employer acts as a sponsor of the foreign employee. The company assumes the organizational and material costs of obtaining a work visa and a resident visa.

Work visa (Entry Permit)

Formed first. To obtain a visa, the employer sends the documents of the future employee to the UAE Immigration Service: the original passport, photographs, certified diploma and contract. To pass the procedure of legalization of a diploma, you need:

Get an archival certificate from a graduated educational institution.
Certify the translation of the diploma or certificate into Arabic by a notary.
Confirm the authority of a notary in the Ministry of Justice of the native country.
Certify the seal of the Ministry of Justice in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Provide a diploma and archival certificate to the UAE Consulate for examination.

The process of obtaining a work visa takes two to three weeks. Confirmation is sent by email.

Resident visa (Residence)

Obtaining a resident visa occurs upon arrival in the country. It is issued for two to three years with the possibility of extension. To obtain a resident visa, you need to undergo a medical examination at the expense of the company. The candidate is required to take tests for hepatitis, HIV, and do a fluorography. Alas, if an illness is detected, an employee will be deported from the country.

Visa processing takes about a month. Together with the resident visa, the employee receives a plastic ID-card (identity card). The resident visa is canceled upon termination of the employment contract, but within 29 calendar days, the candidate can legally stay in the country to look for a new job.

Why should you not work illegally in the UAE?

Illegal employment in the UAE (without a work visa in the Emirates) is fraught for both parties. The punishment for the employer is a prison term of 2 months and a fine of up to $82,000. The consequences for the employee are also very unpleasant – arrest for 2-3 months, deportation, and a fine of $ 27 for each day of illegal stay in the country.

Features of employment

Knowledge of the language. You don’t need to speak Arabic. Knowledge of English is a mandatory requirement.

Work schedule. The working day lasts an average of 8 hours. At enterprises in the field of tourism and services, the working day is sometimes 9 hours. The work week starts on Sunday. Weekends are Friday and Saturday. Holidays are on average 30 days a year.

Bonuses. The company always pays for the health insurance of the employee. In most cases, it also covers the cost of living, sometimes food. Some companies compensate for the cost of air tickets for a trip home during the holidays, and provide a car for use. Upon dismissal, compensation is also provided in the amount of wages for 21 days.

Probation. Most enterprises appoint a probationary period of 1 to 6 months when hiring.

Features of the contract. After the probationary period and upon successful hiring, you or the employer have the right to terminate the contract by giving the other party one month’s notice. If the contract is terminated by an employee who has not yet worked for a year, the company may require reimbursement of your employment costs (paperwork, air tickets, etc.).

Sometimes the termination of the contract by an employee entails a six-month ban on further employment from the UAE Ministry of Labor. In particularly difficult situations (for example, an employee terminates a contract without explaining the reasons), the ministry may issue a lifetime ban.

Suppose the contract is terminated by the agreement of the parties. In that case, you can avoid a ban by asking the employer for a special document, “No Objection Certificate”, about the absence of claims against you.

Conflict resolution. In the United Arab Emirates, the activities of trade unions and the organization of strikes are prohibited. If a conflict arises between the employer and the employee, the situation is considered by the Immigration Service and the Ministry of Labor. The decision made can be challenged in court.

The country has a Wage Protection System (WPS). This guarantees that a foreign worker will receive money for his work, even if he got a job with an unscrupulous employer.

Salary and employment in the UAE

Salary. There is no official minimum wage in the UAE. The estimated income level depends on many factors, including qualifications, experience, education, nationality and the specific company.

The average salary in the UAE in 2021 is about $4,000-5,000 per month. A maid or nanny can earn $200-800, and an aircraft pilot $8,000-13,000.

Taxes. A big advantage of employment in the UAE is the absence of income tax. In fact, all earnings remain with the applicant. There is also no tax on doing business, which motivates companies to open their offices here. The mandatory fee (up to 55% of income) is paid only by foreign companies in the resource extraction field.

Benefits – why is it good to live and work in Dubai?

Stable and well-developed economy. Foreign investors willingly invest in businesses in the UAE, so the treasury of the state and individual emirates is regularly and well replenished, new jobs are created, which contributes to the progress of the economy. Dubai is visited by more than ten million people every year, which brings in a good income. Prices for absolutely everything are stable, because the local currency has not changed for several years.

Absence of crime. On the territory of the United Arab Emirates, Sharia laws apply, so the streets are calmer than, for example, in Russia. In the list of countries in the world in terms of security, compiled by Global Finance at the end of 2019, the UAE took 21st place. In every corner in all settlements, video cameras are installed that record any violation, so here you can not worry about forgotten things, wallets, and car thefts.

Developed tourism industry. The UAE government is doing everything possible to make both local residents and tourists feel comfortable: beaches are regularly equipped, and many entertainment and shopping centers are opened.

A constantly evolving real estate market. For the past ten years, construction has not stopped in Dubai. New residential and commercial buildings are continually being built. As a result, there is no shortage of office or residential space. However, foreigners cannot buy real estate in certain areas and enter into full ownership rights.

Image source: Shutterstock.com