Dubai is synonymous with development and economic growth. The emirate is recognised as a regional and international hub for business, job opportunities and as of recent, tourism. Among the many industries Dubai can be proud of, health care is definitely a forerunner.

From local government hospitals and medical centres to private practices and branches of major American, European and Canadian hospitals, Dubai has all the medical care facilities on par with international award-winning standards. The many hospitals and clinics have brought on the need for various medical jobs in Dubai, including doctors, nurses, attendant staff, paramedics, drivers and clerical posts.

All higher-level staff employed in medical jobs in Dubai need to be certified professionals. Doctors and nurses must be licenced by the government of Dubai. These licences can be obtained after arrival in Dubai, before assuming duties at your work place. Medical jobs in Dubai have no fixed working hours and are taken up on a shift-basis, similar to worldwide medical jobs.

Private clinics have some flexibility, although they too are open daily. If you are looking for medical jobs in Dubai, be prepared to sit for the Dubai Ministry of Health licencing examinations (doctors & nurses only). Medical jobs in Dubai pay moderately well and salaries and benefits are usually dependent on the exact hospital/clinic where you are employed.

The hospitality and leisure industry in Dubai is among the world’s best. The world’s only seven-star hotel is in Dubai and everything from five to two-star rated hotels are abundant in the whole of UAE. There are over 700 hotels in Dubai alone, a significant number compared to other major states in the world. Anyone looking for hotel jobs in Dubai has plenty of opportunities, as there are many existing and upcoming hotels of various kinds in the emirate.

The most common hotel jobs in Dubai are related to food & beverage, but others include front desk administration and management, hotel maintenance, facilities engineering, bellhops and doormen, chauffeurs, sales and marketing professionals, as well as key public relations positions.

Some of the most prestigious and international award-winning hotel groups are based in Dubai. These include JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Raffles, Hilton, Fairmont, Dusit, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Kempinski, Radisson SAS, Movenpick, Copthorne, Millenium, Novotel and Ibis. These hotels constantly advertise current vacancies on their website and most often, job seekers with hotel experience and/or qualifications are welcomed to apply directly. Other than the international chains, hotel jobs in Dubai are also available in the local and regional hotel chains, such as the Jumeirah and Rotana groups.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai

Applicants for hotel jobs in Dubai are expected to be qualified and experienced and under general circumstances, trainee positions are rare. This is mostly because the hotels adhere to high standards and prefer to hire the very best in the industry.

Medical facilities in Dubai are on par with the world’s best. International hospital branches, local government and private hospitals, clinical centres and home-visit health care services are abundant in Dubai. As the number of hospitals and clinics keep increasing, the need for qualified, experienced and attentive medical staff also grows. This reason alone has created many nursing jobs in Dubai over the past few years and the vacancies won’t be stopping any time soon.

Applicants of all nationalities, religions and races are encouraged to apply for nursing jobs in Dubai. A nurse’s salary will depend on the hospital/clinic of employment, as well as experience level. Everyone undertaking the responsibilities of nursing jobs in Dubai must be licenced by the Ministry of Health.

Nursing jobs in Dubai are available under every medical discipline, such as surgery, physical therapy, dentistry, psychology, pediatrics, post-natal, emergency response etc. Hospital nurses are usually provided with permanent accommodation facilities, a meal allowance and other benefits.

Clinics and hospitals are regulated by the Ministry of Health and most nursing jobs in Dubai are based on shifts. Nursing jobs are also available in many private practice clinics, but the remuneration and working hours in these are solely at the discretion of the employer.

Dubai is recognised worldwide as a place to earn lots of money. Not surprisingly, the tax-free income system and the millions of job opportunities have only contributed to solidify this recognition. People from all over the world stream into Dubai every year with hopes of securing a job. Among the many opportunities, the use of varied computer technologies in different companies have created many IT jobs in Dubai for professionals possessing different skills and knowledge.

The most well-known provider of IT jobs in Dubai is the Dubai Internet City, home to the Middle East bases of corporate giants such as Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Cisco Systems, Computer Associates, PeopleSoft, Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Nokia, Samsung, Sagem, Sony-Ericsson and more.

The total number of ICT-related companies in the Dubai Internet City belong to several categories, including software development, business services, web based and e-commerce, consultancy, sales and marketing and back office. Besides DIC, IT jobs in Dubai are also found in almost every small, medium and large business that relies on intranet and internet for their daily operations.

If you are planning to apply for IT jobs in Dubai, check out the various recruitment websites available. Also, if you can visit each company’s website individually, you are likely to spot more opportunities. Salaries available for IT jobs in Dubai range from $1000 to $10,000 per month.

Dubai is an economical hub and no one will argue with that fact. With so many trade activities going on in Dubai, it’s only practical to have a number of general and specialised banks to support the financial aspects of these businesses. Finding banking jobs in Dubai is not difficult if you have the qualification and experience needed to work in a competitive financial environment.

Global giants such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, ABN-AMRO, Lloyds and Citi Bank, as well as regional and local banks are all constantly seeking suitable candidates to join their various divisions. Candidates with qualifications, such as a banking and finances degree and minimum 2 years of experience in a bank, have a higher success rate with banking jobs in Dubai.

Divisions in banking such as personal, corporate, credit/loans, merchant, offshore, investment, development etc in different banks have contributed to the various banking jobs in Dubai. Bank employees generally work 6-day weeks, because of 24/7 banking facilities available worldwide at present. Other than jobs with actual financial involvement, banking jobs in Dubai also include back office, data processing, marketing and sales positions.

Preference is usually given to UAE nationals for some banking jobs in Dubai. These include positions such as teller, client servicing executive and operations manager. This is mostly because bilingual candidates (Arabic & English) are necessary for these posts. Nationality, religion and gender are not taken into consideration under general circumstances. The only requirements for successful candidacy when searching for banking jobs in Dubai are experience and qualifications.

Think about the amazing structures built all over Dubai and everything else that’s under construction and you can get an idea of how important architecture is in Dubai. Towering business complexes, exquisitely designed shopping malls and massive apartment buildings blend in perfectly with the quaint Islamic architecture prevalent in the country.

Modernized and heavily subjected to Western and European concepts, architecture in Dubai is complex, creative and on par with international excellence. This high-quality and variety in the field has created a lot of opportunities for anyone seeking architecture jobs in Dubai.

With the various architecture jobs in Dubai, the demand is high for professionals with proven track records in the industry. Relevant qualification holders with some experience in the field stand a better chance of acquiring employment with an architectural firm in Dubai. Other companies hiring candidates for architectural jobs in Dubai include structural engineering consultants, construction contractors and real estate developers.

Overall, all applicants for architectural jobs in Dubai must be fully qualified for the posts they apply for and possess relevant experience as specified in the job vacancy. Architectural jobs in Dubai carry a very high pay range, often on the highest end of stipulated income levels for professionals.

Dubai is synonymous with duty-free shopping. The myriad shops located inside th Dubai International Airport is what started the amazing phenomena and it has now spread to shops inside the city as well. The airport duty free shopping center is still the best known and most popular shopping opportunity in the world. A massive range of goods are sold at the duty-free shopping complex, including electronics, liquor, jewelery, cosmetics, tobacco products and perfumes. The Dubai duty free shopping concept is ranked among the top worldwide airport retail operations.

The Dubai duty free shopping outlets were opened on December 20th in 1983. Since then, each anniversary is celebrated with a lot of excitement and most shops offer discounts on the range of 25-30% during the day. This large shopping centre has managed to bag 70 global awards and has being named the Best Duty Free Shopping by the Business Traveller magazine.

In the past 20 years, the Dubai duty free shopping complex has experienced a growth surge, with an annual turnover of over 600 million. It’s one of the reasons why Dubai duty free is known to be among the top three global airport retailers. Because it aims to provide international travellers with bargain shopping opportunities with minimum hassle, there’s a wide and varied range of exceptional quality merchandise for sale in the outlets. Over 35,000 different product ranges are on offer at Dubai duty free shops and the daily sales average is close to an incredible 40,000.

Duty free shopping has some limitations and these will depend on whether you are entering Dubai or departing, as well as regulations based on your destination. Most duty free outlets are located on the departures terminal, while only a handful are available in the arrivals section. Dubai duty free shops are open 24 hours.

There’s not much in Dubai that hasn’t been explored, talked about and brought in hordes of tourists. But, if you are looking for a true off-track experience, you should venture in to the outskirts of Dubai, to the other emirates located within 40 to 120 km from central Dubai.

Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital is located 120 km from Dubai and if you are looking for something different, try visiting the Emirates Heritage Club, Al Bateen Dhow Yards and Jebel Hafeet mountains. Al Ain, located further from Abu Dhabi city, is a place filled with scenic beauty and is an oasis. The next scenic region close to Dubai is in Fujairah, the mountainous side of the country. Endless secluded beaches are also a highlight of Fujairah.

Khor Fakkan

Much closer to Dubai, the emirate of Sharjah offers Khor Fakkan, the peaceful lagoon where you can paddle along on a little wooden boat or just relax on the banks for hours on end. The Ain Al Madhab Gardens, situated between Sharjah and Fujairah, is a magnificent retreat for nature lovers. Wadi Wurrayah is another unique spot you shouldn’t’ miss. Fujairah is the best nature spot within easy reach from Dubai. Dibba and Masafi will take your breath away with the magnificent mountains and peninsulas. Jebel Hajar, which translates to Rock Mountain, is a superb location for trekking and rock climbing.

Eye of Dubai

Apart from nature, Sharjah also has Qanat Al Qasba, also known as the ‘Eye of Dubai’, located near the Khalid Lagoon. Relatively new and yet less crowded Qanat Al Qasba is an event venue, with restaurants, fairs, festivals and shows constantly taking place.

Central Dubai is not a place for nature exploration and extreme outdoor activity, which is what off-the-beaten track is all about. So, next time you visit Dubai, make arrangements with a tour company or guide to take time off to visit the above mentioned sites and attractions. You’ll never regret it.

The United Arab Emirates, and particularly Dubai, spends considerable time on three major sports categories – football, equitation and water sports. Among these football is the most popular, practiced by many and each game followed reverently by the ardent fans. All things equestrian are the second best sporting interest in Dubai, with the ruling family itself participating in many international equestrian events throughout the year. The final category, water sports, is an indulgence rather than a sport, because when you live so close to the sea, how can you resist its allure?

Football

The first sport to become immensely popular in Dubai, football is the city’s passion, life and game. Stadiums such as the Zayed Sports City, which is currently the largest sports complex in the region, encourage many football games between local teams and fans flock to witness the outcome quite frequently. UAE has its own national football team and many Dubai-based companies sponsor their participation in many regional and international competitions.

Schools encourage football as an extra curricular activity and higher education institutes and private companies in Dubai have their own football leagues.

Equestrian Sport

Whether it’s riding lessons or leisurely trotting, equestrian activity is a highlight of life in Dubai. From training a horse to win th Dubai World Cup to teaching a toddler how to balance on horseback, Dubai is a place to encourage everyone to learn to ride a horse like a professional jockey.

The biggest equestrian event in Dubai is the annual Dubai World Cup, which is held under the approval of the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Popular equestrian clubs in Dubai include the Dubai Equestrian Centre, Jebel Ali Equestrian Club and Club Joumana.

Water Sports

Jet ski, wind surf, wakeboard, water ski, surf or dive in and around the Gulf – it’s a great way to enjoy Dubai’s beautiful shoreline. Sailing, yachting and boating are the high-end activities on the list. Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular among tourists, while residents prefer to go aboard a boat and enjoy some fishing.

For the tourist, Dubai is all about sun-fun, beaches, deserts and shopping. But, for the residents, Dubai is so much more than that. Finding good quality leisure activities in Dubai is not very difficult, because the city is filled with theme parks, sporting events, entertainment venues, city parks, historic sites and more. Whether it’s a family-oriented outing or just you, there are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Dubai.

The Favourite Pastime – Shopping

High-rising malls to traditional souqs, Dubai is indeed a paradise for the shopper. Designer wear and brand-specific items can be found at the big malls located all over Dubai. The gold and spice souqs are popular among Asian residents and the Mina Bazaar is a highly frequented flea market, located along the back roads of central Dubai.

Amusement & Theme Parks

SplashLand, Wonderland and Wild Wadi Water Park are among the best tourist attractions in Dubai, as well as firm favourites of the residents. As its name indicates, SplashLand is for water fun of all sorts, with waterslides, bumper boats and log flumes. WonderLand has a roller coaster and various other thrilling rides. Dubai’s most popular water park in Jumeirah, Wild Wadi has over 300 rides for some extreme water fun. Dubai Creek Park, located on the banks of Dubai’s primary waterway, is ideal for leisurely picnics and family outings.

Ski Dubai

Real snow, sub-zero temperatures and slopes – you won’t be able to believe you are in one of the world’s hottest countries. Ski Dubai, the world’s largest indoor ski dome is located in central Dubai and has a variety of snow-related activities for family and friends.

Historical Sites

The Bastakiya District and Al Fahidi Fort located inside it are the most popular historic attraction in Dubai. The area covers an old town structure, which displays life as it was hundreds of years ago. The Dubai Museum, Heritage & Diving Village and Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum House are other noteworthy historic sites in Dubai.

The city never sleeps and comes to its full liveliness at night. Musical concerts, sporting events, nightlife, festivals - there’s always something to do and somewhere to go in Dubai.