Finding a job in Dubai - 4 strategies

Dubai is a popular destination not only for sun-seeking holidaymakers but also for professionals who are looking to grow their careers and for those seeking a better quality of life. We know from experience that Dubai can offer all of the above and much more!

Because of the career opportunities and earning potential that Dubai offers, it has become a destination of choice for many serious job seekers from all over the world.

The inherent diversity of Dubai and the UAE means there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to conducting a successful job search. How to go about securing a job offer will largely depend on your individual circumstances.

One of the biggest questions that Dubai job seekers ask is whether or not they need to be on the ground in Dubai in order to secure a role. The answer to this question largely depends on the kind of role that you are seeking, and it’s important to make an informed decision so that you do not end up wasting valuable time and resources.

In this article, we’ve broken it down into four categories of job-seekers, with advice on how each should approach their job search. We have also included a video that goes into detail on the same subject. We hope you find it useful!

Skilled Professionals:

By skilled professionals, we are referring to those who have completed a degree or professional qualification but have not highly specialised. For example, an Accountant, Mechanical Engineer, Graphic Designer or an HR Officer.

If you do a job-search in Dubai for roles matching your skillset you are likely to discover:

• More than 20 roles advertised in Dubai that you could fulfil
• Hundreds or thousands of applications for each job posting

From this data, you would be right to assume that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people currently based in Dubai who do what you do. 

If you fall into this category, it will likely be difficult for you to find a job in Dubai if you are not in the country.

This is simply because there are so many applicants applying who are already based in the UAE, and companies prefer to hire local applicants. This is for a number of reasons such as; the interview process is easier, local candidates can often start quicker and the company will not need to offer any relocation assistance. Hiring someone already based in the county is less costly and risky for an organisation.

Coming to Dubai and job-searching on a visit visa can help to strengthen your position against local candidates as it will be just as easy for companies to interview you and you could probably start right away, without needing to relocate. You also demonstrate a certain degree of commitment to an international move by being here on the ground.

However, it’s important to understand that it is a competitive market and there is no guarantee that you would be offered a job within the timeframe that you have been allocated for your stay.

If you decide to job-search on a visit visa, then you should always have a back-up plan in case you don’t find a job. You should also make sure that you don’t overstay your visa as you will be subject to fines and penalties. 

Highly-Specialised Professionals:

This refers to individuals who are highly-specialised in their field. You may have been working for a long time in a senior position or perhaps have studied in a narrow field.

You will likely have a skillset which is in demand and not many people can do what you do. 

If you do a job search for roles matching your experience, you may well find:

• Fewer than 10 roles advertised in Dubai that you could fulfil
• On average there are fewer than 100 applicants for each role

You could probably estimate that there are fewer than 50 people currently based in Dubai who do what you do. 

Because your skillset is in demand, companies will be willing to recruit you from your home country and potentially help with relocation. 

Whilst visiting Dubai on a visit visa may be helpful for building your network and understanding the market, it may not be essential for finding a job. 

The important thing is to ensure that you are considered for roles when they become available, especially as this may not be very often. 

You can do this by optimising your LinkedIn profile - ensuring that you will show up if a recruiter is searching for someone with your skillset. It may also be helpful to register with a handful of specialised recruiters. They will often be the ones hiring for positions you would be interested in and they can advise you on the market as well as notify you when positions become available. 

We can help you optimise your LinkedIn profile for Dubai - click here

Local Expertise Required

Some roles require local expertise. Perhaps you are a Public Relations Officer, in which case you would need to have Arabic-language skills and connections in government offices. Or maybe you are in sales and have been applying for roles that request a strong regional customer base. 

Some roles explicitly require local expertise for very valid reasons. If you don’t have the experience they are looking for you will not be considered. 

As these roles are requiring local expertise, you need to carefully consider job-searching on a visit visa if you don’t have the required experience. You may find that despite your best efforts, you are not considered for any positions. 

An alternative option could be to pursue an international move within your current company or to study the relevant skills before you visit. 

If you are determined to find a role in Dubai, you may find it beneficial to visit in order to network and build relationships. Networking goes a long way in Dubai, it is often said that whom you know matters more than what you know. By developing a network, you may find an open door into a good opportunity.

Semi-Skilled or Lower-Skilled Workers

This refers to those with fewer or no traditional qualifications. You might be a Construction Worker, a Nanny or Maid, or perhaps work in hospitality or retail. 

A lot of these roles are actively recruited for in other countries, especially so in countries with a lower economic status. Often there will be agencies that you can register with to assist with the job search. 

The key consideration is to ensure that you have done your research. It’s important to work with a trusted agency and make sure that you know your employment rights and that these are upheld. 

Tips for those searching on a visit visa:

Manage your expectations

Managing your own expectations during a job search is very important. Having unrealistic expectations can result in feeling demotivated, frustrated and under pressure.

If you are currently working and simply keeping your eye out for a better role, you have the luxury of time, however, because your efforts are not focused it may take even longer before the right role comes up.

If you are currently out of work or your current job is coming to an end, you do not have the luxury of time. It’s in these situations that it is very important to manage your expectations and plan well.

Failing to plan ahead and budget adequate time and financial resources, particularly in a foreign country, can leave you in a difficult financial situation if time drags on and costs begin to mount.

From the very beginning of your job search, it’s important to have a clear picture of your resources, including your finances, your time and your visa allowances.

This is particularly important if you are coming to look for work on a visit visa.

Do not overstay your welcome

If you decide to come to Dubai on a visit visa in order to look for a role, it’s very important that you do not stay beyond the time you are allowed to remain. Doing so can result in overstay fines and other immigration problems. Ensure that you have a plan and the financial means to return to your home country in the event that you do not secure a job. You can always reapply and come back at a later date.

Do as much groundwork as you can before you travel

Your job hunt can begin before you even land in Dubai. For example, if you only have a 30-day visit visa, you do not want to spend all of that time sitting and applying for roles or connecting with people on LinkedIn, registering for job boards and trying to get in touch with recruiters.

All of this can be done from home before you even arrive. Then, once you arrive in Dubai, you can spend those 30 days speaking with recruiters, meeting with connections and interviewing for roles.

If you are already in Dubai working but know that your job may come to an end, the same will apply. Most of the groundwork should be done before your job comes to an end.

Set aside a budget for your trip

Dubai can be an expensive place to stay, even when job hunting. People often make the mistake of failing to adequately budget and set aside financial resources for their time on the ground.

You should always plan for the worst-case scenario, which in this case would be not securing a role and having to fly back to your home country.

Make sure you take the following costs into consideration:

• Accommodation costs.
• Transportation to and from interviews, bear in mind that the metro will not get you everywhere and you may need to take taxis.
• Money for food each day, if you plan to eat out each day then budget a higher amount.
• An emergency amount to cover unforeseen circumstances.

Do as much research as you can before you arrive. What are the cheaper parts of town to stay in? Try to keep costs low, do you have a friend or contact that you can stay with? Consider staying in accommodation where you can prepare your own food.

If you are already in Dubai and your job is coming to an end, be realistic with your budget. At what point will you stop looking and return home? You should know your financial limits and stick to them.

To develop a Dubai job search strategy click here

See what other clients had to say:

Thanks so much for all the wonderful tips that you shared with me during our session. I feel so much more confident that I can do this job search now that I know how these tools work - Ursula, Dubai

When I decided that it was time to change jobs, I sought Hannah's help. I found her to be very professional and dedicated. I was very pleased with the end result since the outcome exceeded my expectations…Hannah earns my highest recommendations - Faris, KSA

I had a great experience with Hannah. She’s very professional, supportive, diligent, and shared with me her candid feedback & advice. I’ve gained so much from her service, and I do highly recommend her! - Dina, Qatar

I found Hannah fully dedicated to her work, and has demonstrated a deep knowledge of her field and a natural ability to share her expertise. I strongly recommend Hannah Mason as a professional coach…any jobseeker can learn a lot from her - Umesh, Nepal

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