Updated: Jan 2019 (Published in 2014)

I get a lot of queries about how to find a Job in UAE. It’s been a year since I relocated to UAE (now almost 6 years). During this year, more than 100 people I knew came to UAE for a job search or consulted me for finding a Job here. So, I decided to develop a comprehensive document to help freshers find an appropriate job here.

This article is for starters who wish to come to Dubai (and the rest of UAE) for job hunting based on my personal experience and knowledge. It worked for most of my peers and it might work for you too. Good luck!

Important tips:

  • It is ideal to take a 03-month visit visa instead of a 01-month tourist visa for Job Hunting. One month is often not enough to find a suitable job.
  • Ensure that your ticket/visa is stamped ‘OK to Board’ before you reach the home country airport.
  • Make sure that you have enough cash to stay, eat and travel during your visit.
  • Don’t forget to bring a laptop along.
  • Ensure that you have arranged for your living before getting here.
  • If you plan to live in Dubai, make sure you reside somewhere near the Metro Stations. It makes local travel convenient and time-saving.
  • Make sure that your living place is equipped with the Internet.
  • Don’t forget to bring your educational documents and professional testimonials along.
  • It is recommended to get your educational documents attested from the UAE Embassy in your home country before coming to UAE. e.g. For Pakistani nationals, attestation of all educational documents from the Board/HEC followed by the Foreign Office and attestation of ONLY LAST DEGREE from the UAE Embassy in Pakistan is required. In case you did an MBA, only an MBA degree is to be attested by the UAE embassy. No need to get the transcript attested.
  • If someone can get you a mobile number in UAE before your arrival, nothing is better than that. You can mention it on your CV and apply online before your arrival. You can also write it on your CV and take several printouts from your home country. Keep in mind, that printing in UAE is expensive.
  • Otherwise, one may mention a friend’s number on the CV and start applying online before coming to UAE. Upon reaching UAE, update the number on the CV.
  • Ensure your CV is up to date.
  • Ensure your CV is accompanied by a brief cover letter.
  • Manage your time wisely. Start applying from day one.
  • Be patient, it sometimes takes more than 03 weeks to get a response from employers.

There are several ways to look for a suitable job in UAE. Some of them are as follows:

– Personal Reference:

The most credible way to get a job in UAE is personal reference. If you know anyone here, send them your CV and request them to look up an appropriate job for you. They might be able to arrange some interviews for you or tell you about any vacant positions (in their company or some friend’s company).

This situation is ideal but very exceptional. Don’t feel bad if someone could not help you get an interview. Most of the people I know have got their jobs by applying online, through HR consultants, walk-in interviews or personal visits.

– Apply Online – via Third Party Websites:

A large number of people I know got hired by applying online through third-party websites. There are a lot of job-hunting portals for the UAE. Some of them are mentioned under this heading.

However, the following should be kept in mind while applying online:

– Profile/CV: keep an updated profile/CV on the job-hunting portal you are using. For tips on DO’s and DON’Ts of CV writing, you can visit: https://goo.gl/7YSVXn.

– Timing: The best time to apply is early in the morning (before working hours start). Hundreds of emails flood the inbox of the employer as soon as he/she uploads a job online (personal experience). Applying early morning increases the probability of being displayed on 1st or 2nd page of their inbox.

– Cover Letter: Your CV/Resume must always be accompanied by a brief cover letter. The cover letter should mention why you are the right candidate for the job. Mention your skills and experience based on the JD (job description) provided in the Ad.

Some of the prominent Job Portals are as follows:

www.dubizzle.com: For freshers, the best portal for job hunting is Dubizzle. This website is your ultimate online destination for job search, bedspace/apartment search.

www.linkedIn.com: It is advisable to maintain an active (and updated) account on LinkedIn. Follow companies operating in UAE, befriend people working for companies and join groups related to jobs in UAE.

www.gncareers.com: Formerly known as GNJOBs, GNCareers is maintained by Gulf News. It is one of the best websites for job search as per my experience.

www.bayt.com: It is good to have an updated account on Bayt. A lot of jobs are uploaded on Bayt daily, however, I doubt it’s worth it for the free users. I am hoping to try its paid account and will update this post based on my experience.

www.monster.com: Yet another job-hunting portal for UAE.

www.nokrigulf.com: Trying everything else? Why not NokriGulf too.

www.akhtaboot.com: I am not impressed by the content on this portal, however, there is no harm in giving this a try as well.

www.indeed.ae: I heard its good too. Never tried though. It is good for finding walk-in Interviews.

http://buzzon.khaleejtimes.com/: I came across this amazing website to find jobs very recently. It is by the famous newspaper Khaleej Times.

– Apply Online – Company Websites/Emails:

Search for companies of your interest and go to their websites. Big companies have often openings on their websites only. Even at times, LinkedIn jobs are redirected to company websites.

– HR Consultants:

There are several HR consultants present across the UAE. You can search the HR consultants and visit them personally (preferred) or send them your CV by email. You may google the HR consultants. NEVER GIVE ANY MONEY TO THE HR CONSULTANTS.

– Walk-in Interviews:

Look up for walk-in interviews on Dubizzle, Gulf News and Indeed. Also, keep in touch with HR consultants to know about the Walk-in interviews in time.

– Newspaper Advertisement: Advertisements in Gulf News can be found online at gncareers.com. So no need to spend money on buying newspapers. If you know Arabic, Al Waseet (an Arabic newspaper) is a good resource too.

Give your Ad in the Gulf News mentioning your skills and experience. Do not forget to mention your contact details. A couple of people I know switched/found jobs by posting their Ads on Gulf News.

– Personal Visits to different business towers:

A lot of my peers disagree with me, but in my opinion, a fresh graduate should visit important business towers for a job search. You may print a lot of CVs and visit offices in business towers. There might be some vacancy in any office and they interview you at the spot.

Managing Expenses:

  • Accommodation: There are several accommodation options depending on your budget and lifestyle. A shared accommodation can be found between 500 AED to 2000 AED per month. Separate rooms are also available between 2000 AED to 5000 AED. Hotel Apartments are often a good option which range between 3500 to 8000 AED per month. Choose your accommodation wisely. Make sure it is equipped with internet and is near a Metro or Bus station. Check Dubbizle for options!
  • Food: The daily food average is between 30 AED to 50 AED.
  • Transportation: The best mode of transportation is the Metro and/or Bus. Using a taxi is expensive. International driving license holders can also rent a car which is again an expensive option.
  • Communications: You can visit www.du.ae or www.etisalat.ae for different mobile internet and calling plans as per your requirements.

Keep some extra cash handy for any unforeseen circumstances.

Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal experience. It was originally written in 2014, however, its content is updated periodically.