Jobs

Dubai is a land of opportunity for skilled professionals with plenty of rewards on offer.

Looking for a job

If you’re looking to live and work in the UAE you have three options. You can search for jobs while in your home country; you’ll often be interviewed by phone or Skype, rather than here in the country. Once you have a job offer, your employer will start to process your residence visa. Depending on your contract, your employer may pay for your flight (and often tickets for any family members), one month’s temporary accommodation, shipping costs, vehicle hire, and the services of a relocation company to help you find a new home. Alternatively, you can arrive in the UAE on a visit visa, which means that you have 30 days (or up to 60 days if you renew it) legally to look for work and live in the country.

To work anywhere in the UAE you need to be aged 18 to 65 years, be sponsored by an employer, and have a residence visa. Expats can work in either the public (government) or private sectors; many companies in the private sector operate within Free Trade Zones (FTZs), where foreigners can work, trade or establish their business under more relaxed laws. All companies are governed by UAE Labour Law, although there is a noticeable difference in salaries, benefits, holidays, annual leave, and end of service payments between the public and private sectors.

All-inclusive packages with accommodation and education allowances are not as common as they once were, although basic benefits still apply such as annual flights home, health insurance and around 22 calendar days of annual leave.