United Arab Emirates : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

There has been a rapid development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the last few years and this has seen a significant increase in the number of national graduates. There has also been a drive by the UAE government to reduce unemployment amongst nationals, by encouraging businesses to hire them and by encouraging university education.

Recruitment quotas for UAE nationals exist in certain occupational areas and all secretaries and PR officers must be UAE nationals. The result of this is that there are fewer recruitment opportunities for UK graduates than in previous years, although opportunities do still exist for experienced graduates, especially in tourism, accounting and finance, ICT and property development.

• Typical problems encountered: expats are being replaced with UAE nationals in the workforce (emiratisation) and there is a high unemployment rate among national graduates.
• How to improve your chances: graduates with postgraduate qualifications, specialist skills or work experience will have a better chance of gaining employment. It may also be worth considering taking a lower paid job to break into the UAE employment market.
• Language requirements: English is the language of business in the UAE, but candidates with good written and spoken Arabic are at an advantage.

Where can I work?

• Major industries: oil and gas, petrochemicals, manufacturing, construction, shipping and telecommunications.
• Recent growth areas: tourism, telecommunications, aviation.
• Shortage occupations: education, healthcare, IT, engineering.
• Major companies: HSBC, W.S Atkins & Partners (engineering consultancy), Microsoft, 3M Gulf (technology company), Johnson & Johnson, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Siemens LLC, BP Middle East, FedEx Express, Clifford Chance (global law firm).
• Search for more companies: Kompass, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UAE Yellow Pages.
• Major cities: Abu Dhabi (capital), Dubai (largest), Sharjah, Al Ain, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah.

What’s it like working in the United Arab Emirates?

• Average working hours: hours of work are usually eight hours per day, five days a week. Friday is the day of rest and Saturday is the second day off. As a Muslim country, some companies operate shorter working hours during Ramadan, although this does not always apply to individuals who are not practising the Muslim faith.
• Holidays: there are ten national holidays each year that change annually, according to the sighting of the moon. Most employees are entitled to at least two days' annual leave for each month of service. 
• Tax rates: there are no personal taxes to pay in the UAE.
• Working practices and customs: business dress is formal, with business men expected to wear a jacket, tie, long trousers and a long sleeved shirt despite the heat. Women are expected to dress modestly. They should avoid skirts that are shorter than knee length and aim not to wear tight-fitting, revealing or transparent garments.