Abu Dhabi has joined its neighbor emirate of Dubai in being a hotspot for tourists and expats moving for work alike. Its impressive attractions and booming economy have captured the attention of the international community.
Moving to Abu Dhabi for work comes with its own pros and cons. On the one hand, you get to gain valuable work and life experience in a vibrant international environment, further your career, and explore new professional opportunities. On the other hand, in recent years, Abu Dhabi has become a very expensive city with high rent prices and substantial everyday living expenses. This is why expats moving to Abu Dhabi are advised to carefully consider their financial situation and consider their potential earnings against essential expenses.
Top industries in Abu Dhabi
Employment opportunities for expats in Abu Dhabi are abundant in the hospitality and service sector (trade, restaurants, hotels, transportation, storage, communication, insurance, real estate, business services, community, social and personal services, entertainment, etc.). While this is true, there are three main sectors that are in high demand of relevant professionals: oil & gas, construction, and finance & banking.
Oil & gas sector
Abu Dhabi's oil and gas reserves contribute a significant portion of the emirate's economy, making it the leading sector for work opportunities in Abu Dhabi. Professionals specialized in field work like drilling, refining, and engineering, as well as those in more administrative roles, will find a large number of potential job opportunities.
Construction sector
The high demand for workforce in the construction sector has been driven by Abu Dhabi's continued and rapid growth in its development of infrastructure and real estate. There is no shortage of jobs for professionals such as engineers, architects, project managers, and laborers as more and more projects continue to emerge.
Finance & banking sector
Part of Abu Dhabi's growth has come from its focus on investment opportunities within the emirate, which has naturally attracted a large number of businesses and prospective investors. Professionals in corporate banking, investment management, and other roles within the finance and banking sector are currently in high demand in order to support this continued growth.
Work conditions in Abu Dhabi
Taking into account the high cost of living in Abu Dhabi, most companies will offer expats rather generous packages. With that, expat salaries tend to increase only slightly every year as the cost of living in the emirate continues to rise. For example, salaries increased by an average of 2% in 2023, while the cost of living increased by around 7%. That being said, it seems that this is slowly changing, as 2024 sees a predicted salary increase of 4.5% at the start of each individual company's financial year (which usually begins in February).
So, what can you expect in your Abu Dhabi benefits package?
Naturally, your salary, bonuses, commissions, etc., will be determined by the position you are applying for, your professional expertise, and the company hiring you. In many cases, however, expats moving to Abu Dhabi on a work contract are offered company housing (or housing allowance), return tickets to fly home during the holidays, an allowance for their children's education, and other perks.
As per UAE labor law, employers offer at least 30 days of annual leave in addition to public holidays. You will also have up to 90 days of sick leave — with 15 days of full pay if you provide a valid medical certificate. Women are entitled to at least 45 days of maternity leave after they've worked for the company for at least a year. For a year and a half after delivery, women are also offered two additional 30-minute breaks for nursing their child.
Important:
Your employer is obligated by law to provide you with health insurance. Some companies will also offer coverage for your dependents — but in some cases, you will need to purchase medical insurance for your family separately.
Job hunting in Abu Dhabi
One of the great things about the internet is that you can easily start your job hunt from outside the UAE. In fact, getting acquainted with Abu Dhabi's job market is an absolute must prior to arranging your move.
Newspapers and websites
There are lots of local publications [Gulf News, Khaleej Times, or Emarat Al Youm (available in English)] that regularly post the most recent job offers. Plus, there are a number of job-hunting websites where you can find work listings in Abu Dhabi under different categories.
Check out Bayt, Gulf Talent, Indeed, and others.
Social media
Another great tool in your job hunt is professional social media — like LinkedIn. Keep your profile updated, add a link to your CV, and tweak your profile to match the positions you plan to apply for. You may also want to change your LinkedIn status to “open to finding a new job” and your location to “Abu Dhabi” so that potential employers and head hunters can more easily find your profile.
Recruitment and headhunting agencies
Experienced professionals may find it more convenient to go through headhunting agencies. In this case, you can get in touch with a recruitment agency directly and describe the position you are looking for. A number of recruitment agencies have their offices in Abu Dhabi — including Michael Page and Robert Walters.
Events
If you are already in Abu Dhabi, you can focus on expanding your professional network in the emirate. Attend professional meet-ups, conferences, exhibitions, and clubs. You can also check out the National Career Exhibition in the UAE.
Writing your CV and cover letter when looking for work in Abu Dhabi
To prepare for an active job hunt, have your CV and cover letter ready. There is no specific CV format to keep to when applying for jobs in Abu Dhabi. Expats working here come from all over the globe — and local employers are used to a variety of CV formats and writing styles.
With that, it is important to put your best foot forward and make sure your experience and skills are presented in a clear and favorable way.
There are two popular ways of organizing your CV. One is focused on your work experience, and you will list the jobs you've recently had in reverse chronological order. The other is skill-centered. This would be a preferable option for those who don't yet have much work experience. In this case, you center your CV around a specific skill set rather than work experience. Alternatively, you can always use a combination of the two formats.
Note that in the UAE, it is customary to include more personal information in your CV than, for instance, in the US. Most CVs will mention age and nationality and include a photo. However, this is not mandatory, so you can leave these details out if preferred.
Together with your CV, you should also include a cover letter to increase your chances of standing out among other applicants. A cover letter is basically an introduction to your CV and a chance to catch your potential employer's attention by standing out from the crowd. Cover letters shouldn't be over a page long, and it's best to keep them succinct and focused. Your cover letter should say why you are applying for this position at this company and what makes you a good candidate for the job.
Good to know:
Be aware that as an expat you won't have access to welfare programs. This means that if you plan to come to Abu Dhabi and search for work on the spot, you will need to make sure that you have enough means to support yourself throughout your job hunt.
Job nationalization in Abu Dhabi
In recent years, the UAE has put a strong focus on its Emiratisation strategy. This strategy aims to increase the number of local employees in the job market. You may find that some jobs are only available to Emiratis — and this is particularly true of internships in international companies.
Be prepared that your job hunt in Abu Dhabi may take some time. In the meantime, it may be a good idea to take a language course, attend professional masterclasses, take a class in your field — and more. Basically, anything you can do to improve your chances of landing a job in Abu Dhabi is a good idea.
Qualifications for working in the Abu Dhabi
Occupations in the UAE are generally divided into nine skill levels. Jobs in levels from one to three are white-collar jobs (in business, medicine, marketing, finance, etc.) — to qualify for these positions, you will need related degrees and certificates that prove your expertise in the field. Most companies will accept a degree from your home country — in fact, international qualifications are typically very well received in the UAE. Note that you may be asked to get your degree evaluated at the Ministry of Education. In some cases, you may also need to provide a translated copy.
When it comes to language, you will need a good command of English for most positions. Knowledge of Arabic will definitely give you an edge over other applicants, and making an effort to learn the language will be very appreciated by your employer.
Securing a work visa in the United Arab Emirates
Work permits are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) of the United Arab Emirates, sponsored by your employer. Without it, working in the UAE is illegal. With this work permit, you can enter the UAE for employment. The validity of the work permit is 2 months after the date of issue, during which time your employer should issue your residency visa on your behalf.
The necessary formalities such as medical testing, obtaining an Emirates ID card, a Labour Card are sponsored by the employer, and the work residency permit stamped on your passport within 60 days. The work residency permit is issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) from the emirate where you will be employed.
You are not eligible to sponsor any of your family members unless your work visa is completed. If you enter Abu Dhabi on a tourist visa, you should check before how many days you are allowed to stay in Abu Dhabi, as there is a limit for some countries. Once your visa is processed, your employer should also facilitate visas for your family members. Make sure to discuss this with them upon accepting your job offer.
If you're outside of the United Arab Emirates, you can contact Visa Service centers in various parts of the world. These have been set up by the MoHRE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Their goal is to explain rules and regulations between employees and employers.
Important:
To be eligible to work in Abu Dhabi, you must be sponsored by an employer. Working on a tourist or visitor visa is illegal.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry in the UAE if you are to apply for a work permit.
You can find additional details on our UAE visa guide.
Taxes in Abu Dhabi
We've mentioned at the beginning of this article that Abu Dhabi is known for its high cost of living. With that, you will be happy to know that there is no income tax in Abu Dhabi — and the rest of the UAE. This means that you will be able to enjoy a tax-free salary while earning income from the UAE. The only thing to take into account here would be the taxes in your home country.
If your country of citizenship has a double taxation agreement with the UAE, you won't have to pay any taxes. In most cases, in order to not pay taxes, you will need to register as a non-resident in your home country.
If your home country doesn't have double taxation treaties with the UAE, you will probably need to file taxes at home.
To learn about double taxation treaties in the UAE, check the UAE Ministry of Finance for updates.
For more information on taxes in the UAE, refer to our guide on the tax system in the United Arab Emirates.
Working freelance or remotely in the UAE
After the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people have opted to freelance, and companies have embraced remote working options for their employees. In Abu Dhabi, this is especially noticeable in specific fields like IT, content creation, design, and more.
To work freelance in Abu Dhabi, you will need to go through a few formalities. To get a freelance license, you will need to provide the following documents:
- A copy of your passport;
- Degrees and certificates proving your qualifications in the field you will be freelancing in;
- Evidence of annual income from self-employment for the past 2 years, amounting to at least AED 360,000, or any other proof of financial means to sustain during your stay.
Additional documents may be required depending on your field of work, qualifications, etc.
As a freelancer, you won't be able to hire employees or sponsor visas for your family members in order for them to come to the UAE. If your freelance income exceeds AED 375,000 per year, you will need to register for VAT.
If you decide to start a company in Abu Dhabi, you will be able to benefit from the UAE's business-friendly taxation system: there is no corporate tax in the UAE.
To work remotely and embrace the digital nomad lifestyle in Abu Dhabi, you will need a different type of visa. Obtaining a virtual work residence visa will allow you to live in Abu Dhabi while working for a business outside the UAE. You can sponsor yourself when applying for this visa and can renew it once its one-year validity is over.
To apply for the virtual work residence visa, you will need to provide the following:
- Proof that you are working for an organization outside of the UAE;
- Proof that you receive a monthly income of at least $3,500;
- A colored photograph;
- A copy of your passport;
- A medical fitness certificate.
If you are a digital nomad with your own business, you will need to provide the following in order to obtain your visa:
- Proof of ownership of a company that has been established for at least one year;
- Proof that you earn an average of $5,000 monthly;
- The company's bank statements from the past 3 months.
You can find more detailed information on how to apply for each of these in our UAE visa guide.
Useful links:
The Official Portal of the United Arab Emirates Government
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Visas
UAE Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation
Job hunting websites:
Recruitment agencies:
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
