The labor market in Dubai
Dubai is one of the most desirable destinations for any expat in a peaceful and secure country. Home of sand, fuel, and ocean, this city's success story is such that everyone wants to be a part of it. Hosting major international events, Dubai remains one of the world's prime destinations for work and investment.
Economy and infrastructure in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates has the most diversified economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Being the most vibrant city in the UAE, Dubai is also known for being a leading trading hub for the entire Middle East and Africa. Today, trade, tourism, and foreign investments are the most significant contributors to the Dubai economy. Even though the market is changing every day, more and more expats are willing to take the risk of leaving their own country and contributing to Dubai's economic growth. Besides, the city has a massive infrastructure with huge malls, attraction parks, exhibition centers, etc.
The most promising fields in Dubai
Employment opportunities in Dubai continue to increase year after year. While work opportunities are available across several different sectors, the three industries most in demand at the moment are IT, healthcare, hospitality, and tourism.
IT sector
Dubai continues to invest in technological development, putting IT sector professionals in high demand. It was recently ranked among the top 15 cities for tech workers globally and 12th for having the highest number of tech companies. Some of the most in-demand roles include cloud computing, software engineering, and data science.
Some of the top companies in Dubai's IT sector include Google, IBM Middle East, and SAP Middle East.
Healthcare sector
Healthcare has been another one of Dubai's main areas of focus in terms of expansion and development. A big part of this has been Dubai's Healthcare City, a free zone established in order to bring together all core healthcare services. This has naturally created an abundance of work opportunities for doctors, nurses, technicians, and other healthcare professionals in the sector.
Some of the top healthcare companies in Dubai include Aster DM, Siemens Healthineers, and Arabian Medical Enterprises.
Hospitality and tourism sector
As one of the world's top tourist destinations, it comes as no surprise that the hospitality and tourism sector is among one of Dubai's top industries for work. The city welcomed more than 8.5 million visitors in the first half of 2023 alone, and there are no signs of slowing down. This creates a demand for more tourism-centered facilities, creating increasing job opportunities in hotel management, event planning, customer service, and more.
Some of the top companies in Dubai's hospitality and tourism sector are Hyatt, Emaar Hospitality Group, and Jumeirah Group.
The local workforce in Dubai
Currently, the local workforce is made up of 92% of expats in different positions, including management, accounting, health, education, and architecture. It's worth noting that Dubai has the perfect geographical location for international companies. However, it's also worth noting that some positions in these companies are restricted to professionals with specific geographical backgrounds. For instance, you may see job posts asking for “UK/US educated” or “Arabs only”. While there are laws that prohibit these types of job discrimination, they are usually justified due to the nature of the role. Depending on the industry you work in, you might find that the same applies to salaries. Again, despite the specific laws against this, it is usually justified by the level of responsibility given to each individual. In order to avoid this, it's best to look into the company culture before joining.
Work contract in Dubai
All expats are employed under contract and require a visa to obtain employment in Dubai. Non-skilled expats, usually from India, Pakistan, etc., are mostly employed in the construction industry. Many of them are contracted by recruiting agents and are based in labor accommodations. At times, their passports are retained by their employers on arrival. However, this is an illegal practice and can be disputed by the employee. Also, their working day could go beyond 10 hours. Other nationalities are spread in different sectors. UAE nationals, on the other hand, are mainly employed in the public sector.
Job Emiratisation
Due to the large number of expats moving for work opportunities in Dubai, like in the rest of the country, the UAE government set up a nationalization program called Emiratisation. This program has been set up in order to ensure Emiratis are given opportunities within the private sector, as private companies are usually more inclined to hire foreign employees.
Working schedule and holidays in Dubai
A typical working week in Dubai comprises 48 hours. Companies must provide one day off per week by law, while other holidays depend on company regulations. There are usually ten days of paid public holidays per year, and employees are entitled to 30 days of service per year.
Even though the local labour market looks quite challenging, Dubai keeps attracting expatriates looking to become a part of its success story.
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