Unemployment is low in Dubai and there are a wide range of jobs available.
It is worth remembering, though, that unless you have a professional qualification
and sufficient experience to set you apart from other candidates, working in
Dubai is not likely to be economically rewarding. Due to the large numbers of
workers from poorer countries, relatively unskilled work will be quickly taken
by workers who are often prepared to accept extremely low salaries. In some
cases, companies must first seek to employ UAE nationals, then nationals of
other Arab countries, before they consider employing a foreign national to fill
a vacant position.
There is a wide variety of business operating in Dubai and it is possible to
find work in many different market sectors. A number of employment agencies
specialise in the Dubai and UAE regions, some of which are shown below:
The English Language newspapers, such as Gulf
News and Khaleej
Times feature advertisements for jobs in their classified advertisement
pages.
A number of sites offer on-line Job Search in Dubai:
- bayt.com - Based in Dubai,
with offices throughout the UAE, the site has a good selection of positions
in Dubai.
- uaejobfinder.com
- there is a charge for registration, but EasyExpat members have reported
good results from this site
- dubaidonkey.com
- site has classified advertisements for jobs, cars and property
Note that a number of EasyExpat members have reported bad experiences with
JobsInDubai.com. You must pay to register your curriculum vitae on this site,
and reports suggest that little is achieved by doing so.
If you are considering relocating to Dubai, the initial interview may take
place by telephone. During the interview, you will have to describe and explain
your experience noted in your CV. Note that in Dubai, it is
common for the offer of employment to comprise a monthly salary, a contribution
towards accommodation costs and occasionally a contribution towards car/transport
costs.
Self Employment
It is possible to work for yourself in Dubai, either by working independently
in a profession or by starting your own company. In both cases you will need
to find a local sponsor. If you work independently, for example, you could work
as a sub-contractor and seek sponsorship from the company for which you provide
your services.
If you start your own company, unless you set up business
in one Dubai's Free Zones (see below), a local partner is required, who
under local law must own a majority stake in the company. The sponsor can be
either an individual, or another company. You will have to negotiate a fee with
the sponsor, which can be either a flat annual rate, paid in instalments, or
a percentage of your turnover. When you have reached an agreement with the proposed
sponsor, you should consult a local lawyer, who will help you to draw up a legal
contract.
Further advice and assistance is available from the Chamber of Commerce:
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
PO Box 1457 Dubai
(Tel. +971 4 221181)
Free Zones
The Free Zones are large, purpose built business districts, aimed at attracting
foreign businesses to Dubai. In legal terms, companies operating in the Free
Zones are treated as being offshore and are considered to be operating outside
the UAE. Locating your business in one of the Free Zones gives you significant
benefits, including 100 per cent ownership of the company for foreign businesses
(avoiding the requirement to have a local partner), no import duty or corporate
tax, and leasehold land ownership.
The free zones are:
New companies, known as Free Zone Establishments (FZEs) can be registered in
the free zones and are treated as a limited liability company, governed by the
rules of the free zone in which it was established. Alternatively, you can set
up a branch of an overseas company in the free zone. It is usually straightforward
and relatively quick to establish a business and each Free Zone will be able
to advise you of it's specific requirements. Ordinarily, you will be asked to
complete a questionnaire by the Free Zone authority, who will the assess your
requirements and provide you with a license application.
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