Jobs are plentiful but business in Dubai is all about networking, so be prepared to be pro-active.
Labour Market
Essentially, Dubai is a society made up of a foreign labour force. With the economy designed as a free-trade zone to encourage foreign investment, it is totally geared towards supporting a foreign labour market.
Job Opportunities and Key Industries
Dubai earns 30 per cent of its revenue through tourism, and there are a large number of jobs associated with that industry.Tourism, along with retail, new media, ICT, property, financial services and broadcasting, is currently fuelling Dubai’s massive economic growth. Job opportunities of all types are plentiful, and the potential for entrepreneurship is huge. Nearly every field has the opportunity for development and growth.
Finding a Job
As with the majority of jobs overseas, most are advertised on the Internet, and there are a number of sites that list jobs in the UAE. Many international companies advertise in the UK’s national press, and recruitment agencies also play a major role in finding work for people looking to relocate to Dubai.
Language Requirements
Doing business in Dubai has none of the problems associated with other countries in the area. Arabic is the official language, and any of 150 languages are spoken on the streets, but everyone speaks English. From chauffeurs to the heads of corporations, English is the lingua franca of Dubai business.
Business Etiquette
Business meetings in Dubai tend to be very relaxed, and most are conducted at home, or during an evening out. Meetings generally begin with leisurely chit-chat, and you should expect to be addressed by your surname throughout. Personal connections (wasta in Arabic) are important, and once you are integrated into the business community doors will begin to open for you. Make sure that you carry a stack of business cards with you wherever you go (they are extremely important), and never arrange appointments for Fridays because this is Dubai’s day of prayer and rest.Avoid making calls between 2pm and 5pm on weekdays, when many Arabs take a siesta. During Ramadan, many companies also operate shorter working days, with normal life resuming after the evening meal. In terms of dress, it is illegal for foreigners to wear traditional Muslim clothing, and conservative business suits are standard for male visitors.
Visas and Permits
Jobs are plentiful but business in Dubai is all about networking, so be prepared to be pro-active There is a set government procedure for permit and visa applications, and the process is normally taken care of by company staff hired for the purpose. In the majority of cases, the company bears the cost of providing work permits. Britons get 60-day visit
visas automatically at the airport, making it possible to work normally (though illegally) and simply fly out on a “visa run” every 60 days – returning the same day to receive another 60-
day stamp in their passports. The problem is that, without a work permit and residency visa, you cannot open a bank account, register for electricity and water for a home, take on a car for local use, and so on. Married women, however, can be “sponsored” by their husbands for both work and residency.
Entrepreneurs
It is possible to set up companies of any size in a variety of free zones, such as Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City. This automatically entitles company owners and investors to work permits and residency visas, no matter how small the investment.
Helpful Websites
www.theemiratesnetwork.com Site listing job vacancies in the UAE
www.jobsindubai.com A leading and reliable provider of skilled and unskilled workers to the Dubai job market.