Finding Jobs in Dubai
Jobs in Dubai City - Finding Jobs in Dubai by Dubai City Guide Summer 2008
Arguably the world’s most sought-after job market destination, Dubai is ideal for a long-term comfortable lifestyle. Second only to becoming a foreign investor, finding a job in Dubai is the best way to settle down and enjoy great individual and family benefits.
Foreigners are hired on contract, required to be qualified and experienced and remunerated upon performance. The job market is, in theory, non-discriminative, although in practice it’s not always the case. The work week in Dubai is different from the rest of the world - it’s Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Most private companies only give Friday as the day off and expect the employees to work Saturday through Thursday, a 6-day week.
To find a job in Dubai, a candidate must first research the possibility of getting exactly what they are looking for. Not surprisingly, a successful job application will depend on several factors. Salaries are generally commensurate with qualifications and experience, so if you don’t posses the required levels of both or either, you can’t expect your salary to be high. Because Dubai has a multicultural society, businesses are owned by various nationals, mostly Arabs, Indians, Europeans and Americans. So, multilingual abilities are a plus, especially if you speak English, Arabic, Urdu, French, Russian and/or Malayalam.
Searching the local newspapers and online job sites will give a clear idea of the job types available and what’s expected from specific job candidates. Generally, the hospitality industry has many jobs on offer, followed closely by construction, financial, tourism, sales, marketing and teaching industries. The most successful job applications are those sent from within the emirate itself, which means, if you are already based in Dubai, you stand a better chance of finding a suitable job. Most foreigners arrive in Dubai on visit visas and stay for 2-3 months to take up some job hunting.
Recruitment companies are able to help many with their services, but job seekers must be aware of bogus companies, mostly online. If you have to pay in advance for their services, avoid them at all costs. Genuine recruitment companies don’t ask the candidates to pay, they get their payments from the hiring company.
