How to find a job in Dubai

Most of us search for “How to find job in Dubai“. And as I remember it was one of the most popular questions that people were asking me once I moved to Dubai. That’s why I want to share with you the way I got my first work contract. As well as what I figured might be the best way to find jobs in Dubai, plus what employers are looking at. Of course, you cannot compare a waitering job with the job of an engineer, doctor or lawyer, but some general tips might apply to all.

I still can remember the moment when the idea of moving here came into my mind. I Believe I had figured out I needed more money and it was hard to find a decent job in my country. So my friend and I decided to come here for a one-week vacation. It’s funny to remember now, I was thrilled with the country, with their technologies, with their progress, and that’s how the thoughts about coming here, came into my mind. I didn’t have many friends here, so my only source of information was the Internet.

I found an agency, which helps people to find jobs in Dubai. That was a really long and disappointing experience. Here’s my advice, be sure only to collaborate with a decent agency, who have already sent a lot of people abroad. Be sure to ask around before signing a contract. There are only a few decent and responsible agencies out there. 

When you have finally decided to move here and you need to find job in Dubai, your thoughts might jump up and down. You might wonder where and when to start, which steps should be taken. Let’s begin with step number one. 

1. Think about which positions you can apply for. Learn about the market.  

At first you might think that sounds silly. You were working as an English teacher in a good school or you have got a bachelor’s degree in Economics. You already know you have the experience and you wouldn’t give it a second thought. However, I strongly suggest that you learn the situation in the labor market first. For example, its very hard to get a job as an English tutor. Because the city is full of the expats from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, For whom English is a native language, and they will have higher chances of getting a job. I understand that your English might be perfect and your grammar even better. But this is the trend in the market.

If you are an English tutor, your chances of getting a job in Asia (China, Vietnam, Indonesia) are much better than in Dubai. It’s the same situation with entertainment.  It is possible to find job in Dubai as a dancer or singer, but demand is low and competition is high. On the opposite side, hospitality and retail keep growing. Literally every week new hotels are being opened. As an option, and lot’s of people are actually doing this, you can find a good with less?A higher? salary and less? qualifications. After you will master your English, get to know more people, and the city generally, you can go for for a better job. 

2. Get into the job websites, network, all the companies with a “career” section.

This is the part of the plan where you have to be super patient and persistent. Now, when you understand which position or positions you want to get, check all the duties, responsibilities and skills, and make sure to include them into your C.V., to show that you are perfectly capable of doing this job. Make your CV look wonderful, highlight all your strengths, but keep it short and sweet. One page is enough, believe me, no one has time to read a long C.V., not in Dubai.

You can find a very detailed article about “How to create a CV” here –  https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-CV-(Curriculum-Vitae). After this, you need to start sending your CV. A simple rule – the more the merrier, at least when it comes to sending your CV. Try everything. (www.indeed.ae/; www.bayt.com/; https://www.naukrigulf.com; https://www.gulftalent.com). LinkedIn, go to the company website, careers section – and send. You really need to be pushy with this. Plus choose the right season. It might not be a good idea to start looking for a job when the low season starts, or during Ramadan. 

3. Consider your salary and expenses 

I know some people prefer to search for a job in Dubai after they have arrived in the city. There are a few reasons behind this. First of all, there are a lot of companies who are looking for people who can join immediately, And do not want to hire someone from abroad who needs some time to adjust themselves to the city, new culture etc.

Someone who needs to finish their previous job and schedule their flight. Plus they don’t need to pay for your tickets. While it might seem a little bit risky, on the flip side these companies pay higher salaries, as I often notice. So if you feel confident enough about yourself and your chances of getting a job. Take a risk and buy your flight tickets to Dubai.

First things first, you need to calculate your costs very carefully and remember that the timing is crucial.

The high season starts from October. It might be a good idea to start to search in August, Especially if you are looking for a job in hospitality. Summer time is very very quiet, as well as Ramadan (dates change every year). Now when you decide on a date, the position or positions you want to apply for, think carefully about money and how long you are planning to stay in Dubai before you find a job.

On average, if you have realistic expectations and are suitable for the position, you should be able to find a job within one month. So plan your expenses in advance, you can check all the prices for essential things https://expatlifeindubai.com/prices-in-dubai/ . The best plan is to take money with you to live for 2-3 months, just to be on the safe side. 

For those people who are planning to have the interview via Skype and receive the job offer online, it’s still a good idea to keep some money which can cover the return flight ticket and 200-300$ on top of that. Because as much as we do not like any kind of emergencies, they still happen. Plus you can never predict how much you adapt to the new city and new life.

4. Be extra careful about all the details in your job offer 

So now, when you have finally received your job contract and are all ready to pack your luggage and start a new chapter of your life, please do not rush into signing the papers before you carefully read every sentence. It’s vital that everything in your contract is clear and you completely understand and agree with every single point. In case you need to double check anything, do not hesitate to reach out to the employer and clarify the situation. They will even appreciate that you pay attention and take things seriously. Because once you have signed a contract and move to Dubai, it will be very hard to change anything about your job conditions. 

What matters when you search for a job?

1. How badly you want to find job in Dubai

You can have perfect English or even Arabic, work experience, an amazing skill set, but if you are not searching for jobs in Dubai it’s pointless. It’s necessary to dedicate a lot of the time and energy to the search, the labor market here is getting tougher and tougher so you need to be sure to send lots of resumes.

2. Your skills

I have put this as number two because I know a couple of guys who earn a great deal of money without any knowledge of Arabic, and also very Basic English. They work as repairmen in a luxury car service company. In case you have work experience from your country that’s great. Some people come to Dubai to work in hospitality and then switch to office work or real estate or any other field. If you don’t have work experience, it’s still a good idea to start with hospitality. As Dubai has more than 500 hotels and thousand of restaurants, with new ones opening every day, it just might be an easier and faster way to find a job in Dubai.

3. Your level of English and Arabic

One of the first things you need to realize is: the better your English is, the faster you will find a job in Dubai. It’s the first basic thing you might need to improve before moving here. I know a few people who would feel comfortable living here without having at least a basic level of English. Arabic is definitely an advantage and will help you a lot, in terms of communication with local people, and might open the door to the companies which specifically looking for people who are fluent in Arabic. However, there are plenty of the job opportunities which don’t require only English.

4. Your connections

And last but not least, your new company here, would be glad to receive a reference from your previous boss. Be sure to leave your last job on a positive note, in order to receive the best feedback. I’m not sure if the popularity of a good reference is related to Arabian culture but it works very well. As well as that, a recommendation from a friend can help you with a job offer, much better than a brilliant page on LinkedIn.

Salaries in Dubai

Of course, one of the most important questions about your job is the salary. Especially when people have already decided to leave their countries, families, lifestyle etc. Plus, many of us are trying save money in Dubai, some are sending money abroad. Unfortunately, officially in UAE, there is no such thing as a minimum hourly or monthly wage.

This might the one of the reasons why salaries, even for one position, are very different. For example, a waiter in a 3-star hotel can earn around 800$ , however a waiter in a luxury restaurant can make around 2000$ per month. The biggest effect on salary is your working experience in Dubai/UAE or even sometimes, other GCC countries

Please find below salaries for some popular professions in Dubai (but please remember that there are very broad numbers)
  • Hostess (AED 5000 – AED 8000)
  • Cabin Crew ( AED 10000 – AED 14000)
  • Personal Assistant ( AED 7000 – AED 15000)
  • Administrator ( AED 6000 – AED 10000)
  • Accountant (AED 9000 – AED 12000)
  • Fitness Instructor (AED 8000 – AED 13000)
  • Beauty (hairdresser, masseur) , (AED 6000- AED 12000)
  • Business Development Manager ( AED 10000 – AED 35000)
  • IT (AED 12000 – AED 40000)
  • Sales Assistant (in shops) , (AED 6000 – AED 11000)
  • School Teacher (AED 10000 – AED 15000)
  • Nursery Teacher (AED 5000 – AED 10000)
  • Marketing Manager (AED 11000 –  AED 16000)
  • Project Manager (AED 12000 – AED 18000)
  • Graphic Designer (AED 10000 – AED 20000)
  • Maid (AED 4000 – AED 10000)
  • Airplane Pilot (AED 30000 – AED 45000)
  • Interior Designer (AED 12000 – AED 20000)
  • Driver (AED 4000 – AED 9000)
  • Operation Manager (AED 12000 – AED 20000)
  • Human Resources (AED 10000 – AED 15000)
  • Banking ( AED 10000 – AED 18000)

So now, when you have put the plan together, know which position to apply for, and which salary to expect, it’s the right time to start updating and polishing your LinkedIn page, apply through job websites (www.indeed.ae/; www.bayt.com/; https://www.naukrigulf.com; https://www.gulftalent.com) or the Dubai-based companies and apply to their websites directly.

Again, make sure to do this regularly and spend a decent amount of time on it. During my 4 years here in Dubai, I’ve seen so many examples when people did not find a job just because they gave up too early. Only people who are persistent and determined enough will succeed in getting a job. The best of luck to everyone!