Jobs in Dubai

 

Dubai is fast becoming the land of opportunity for job seekers. With such a booming and expanding economy there are many opportunities thus openings for plenty of jobs in Dubai; for those that want to live and work in the Emirate. The real estate sector has acted as a catalyst for this remarkable growth in addition to the almost surreal tourist industry which has helped this fast growing economy. When applying it is advantageous to already be based in Dubai.

 

Below are a few examples of industries and job functions that are quite popular in Dubai. You may want to drill down to each individual page to find out more.

 

Engineering / Oil & Gas Jobs in Dubai

As a country that is rich in natural resources, the United Arab Emirates, predominantly Abu Dhabi has been a major exporter of Oil since it was first discovered in the 1970's. Dubai like its neighbour Abu Dhabi also engages in exporting oil and gas but on a much smaller scale. They are always looking into developing this industry further. There are plenty of requirements for those with an engineering background, supervisor roles and project managers.

 

Someone who has experience working in the Oil and Gas industry in the Gulf, especially in places like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait or the other GCC countries will have an added advantage.

 

IT Jobs in Dubai

Although the government has done what it can to create a solid infrastructure and networks, there is need for IT professionals to come in and utilise the technology. Information Technology is an absolutely huge area so the types of jobs will be quite vast. Companies are now looking to create their own systems so software jobs are very well sought after. Those with several years of experience such as developers, analysts and even testers are all required for internal and client projects.

 

To work in this industry, most employers are looking for candidates who have at least a University education and possess a minimum of a bachelors degree.

 

Sales Jobs in Dubai

Over the last decade, there has been a huge increase in the number of business development roles in Dubai. As businesses look to grow and expand, vacancies for experienced people, especially those that can sell are always available. Business Development Manager roles are suitable to those who are passionate about driving sales, hitting targets and making a great deal of money in the process. Once you have acquired a client, there may also be openings for 'Aftersales Managers'.

 

With shopping being being one of the City's most passionate pastimes, its no wonder that the retail industry has been so popular. International firms are being setup all over the Emirate and want to provide great customer service. As somebody with retail experience, you may want to apply for various positions such as a Sales Manager or Assistant Manager in one of the many shopping outlets in the malls or go directly to an agency. These are more customer facing roles as opposed to being in an office.

Finance Jobs in Dubai

Dubai finance jobs are a growing sector. The construction of the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) has been a key part of bringing together a place where international banking, corporate financial services, stock exchange and other products and services are sold and offered. With banking and finance being such big business, the Dubai government is trying to model itself on the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) which aims to bring about regulation and best practice. Compliance and 'Risk' based roles are also going to be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

 

As a result, those with any financial experience ideally between 5 - 10 years will stand a good chance of being considered in this growing market. Salaries for banking jobs in Dubai or those that require a finance expert can also be very attractive as they are tax free. This is because the Emirate wants to lure talent away from the UK/US/Europe and into the Middle East.

 

Examples of job roles include;

Construction Jobs in Dubai

Dubai is still one of the property hotspots of the world and thus there are many employment opportunities within this sector. They range from skilled labourers (mostly from South Asia & China) to project managers and Architects. The real estate industry are a huge part of what Dubai is today and with bigger and better projects being launched all the time, there little sign of it slowing down. As a result there are plenty of construction jobs available.

Marketing Jobs in Dubai

Dubai is a marketers dream and it's no surprise that there are so many PR and advertising agencies being setup there. Example roles include 'Marketing Manager', 'Online Marketing Manager', Head of Marketing and more. In a nutshell, this covers a businesses whole communications and advertising. Its no surprise that large multinationals are setting up in the UAE and especially in Dubai's Media City. The other benefit is its strategic location and the 'untapped' Muslim market.

What Should Candidates do Prior to Their Applications

Its always good to be prepared. Dubai is a little different to the UK and US. Ensure that before you apply for any roles you need to ensure that all your paperwork is in order. If you have any kind of qualifications such as a degree or diploma, try to get this attested before you leave for Dubai as this will make your life easier. Go to a notary who will attest this and then you will have to go to the relevant UAE embassy in your country to get this approved.

Ensure that you have carried out some due diligence on the company where you are applying for. If you are unsure about the job title then search jobs that are similar, either for roles in Dubai and the UAE OR just generally to get an idea of what it entails. Being able to demonstrate company knowledge to an interviewer is always seen in a positive light and shows passion and enthusiasm.

Apply for Dubai Jobs Online & Write Relevant Cover Letters

Before you submit your CV/resume, make sure that you write an appropriate covering letter. Ensure that you write an individual and unique cover letter per role and not a generic one as recruitment agencies tend to find these useless. A quick overview of your profile, the vacancy you are applying for and outlining why you are suitable for a position should be sufficient enough.

 

If you've had any experience in applying for a job in Dubai then you'll know that it can be quite annoying. Recruitment agencies prefer you send applications via email as they are very busy; at least when you apply online you have an electronic record of when it was sent and to whom.

What to Wear at Your Interview and When To Arrive

Before going to your interview think about what you are going to wear. Try not to dress to casually such as shorts or a t-shirt. Women, please do not wear anything to revealing as this could actually have the opposite effect of what you want. Business dress is always the best option and you can't really go wrong. With regards to attending your job interview in Dubai, try to arrive between 10 - 15 minutes earlier. Anything earlier can make it quite uncomfortable for the recruiter. Do not leave it till the last minute either. Plan your route and do allow yourself enough time for any eventuality such as traffic or an earthquake (just kidding about the latter).

Get back in touch with your Interviewer

Try and write a handwritten note to the person who interviewed you a few days after you saw them. You can mention why you are the perfect candidate. This will show that you are very keen to do the job. This will show keenness and passion. Email may NOT be a good idea.

Accepting or Rejecting the Role

If you are fortunate enough to be offered a role but have decided to accept an alternative job in Dubai, it is a good idea out of courtesy to let the recruitment agent now as soon as possible. Not only do you look professional but there is always a chance that you may require the services of the agent again at some point in the future so you do not want to leave a bad impression or burn your bridges.

Other Information

Most professional roles in Dubai expect you to already have the necessary training and education to carry out your job, this alone can be the career booster you need. This is one of the reasons why salary packages tend to be higher than what you get paid in the Western World. A typical expat package would consist of an airline ticket and a tax free salary. If you have a spouse and children you MUST let your potential employer know since moving to Dubai can be quite expensive. This won't necessarily hinder your chances of getting a placement but it can really hurt you financially later if you decide to call your family over. In addition, as part of your expat package, you may want to negotiate housing costs and education fees for your children. If they do not pay for accommodation then you may get an allowance. If you do have children, healthcare and education fees should also be something you can try to get an allowance on.

 

Before you speak to any placement consultants, tell them exactly the type of role you want and the industries/sectors you have experience in (should already be clear on your CV). Assisting them will help you make your job search a a great deal easier since they can go through their listings of employers and find you the right job.

 

Senior roles are really only offered to employees who have over 15 years of solid experience. This means a combination of a good educational background and experience. Senior generally means more middle management. To get to a CEO or board level, you are looking at approximately over 20 years of experience. It all depends though on the industry sector and the type of positions you are searching.

 

Good luck with find your perfect job in Dubai.