John Tinsley : Gulf Recruitment

To relocate to Dubai or another Gulf country, it is essential that you are sponsored.  This means that you will need to have a firm offer of employment before you will be granted a visa.  Your prospective employer will act as your sponsor, and deal with all the paperwork associated with the work and residency visas that you will require. 

It is not possible to obtain a visa for work unless you have an actual contract of employment in place, and you will be unable to apply for visas yourself. 

Sponsorship means that your employer is responsible for you while you are in the country.  If you should need any help or get into any trouble they are responsible for dealing with the situation.  They are also responsible for making sure that you return to your home country when your contract of employment comes to an end. 

Your sponsor may also be required to hold your passport while you are in their employ.  This is so that it is readily available when the authorities run their usual checks to ensure that there are no illegal workers being employed by the company.  Employers are unlikely to take that risk as the penalties are high but the checks are regularly carried out. 

Changing jobs is a complicated procedure and it is not recommended that you try.  Some Gulf countries will not allow a change of sponsor; this avoids any confusion and the possibility that someone will fall through the cracks. 

For prospective workers looking to get jobs in Dubai it is important to have a fully rounded view of the state to which they’ll be moving. Lifestyle changes in moving from a Western nation to Dubai will be enormous, with religious and cultural differences creating a completely different environment. Care and attention should be taken when learning about not only regional laws and traditions but also social security, of which there is little in Dubai for the expatriate.

Having no form of mandatory employee contribution scheme in Dubai, it is left to expatriates to organise their own form of financial security. Nationals of the Gulf States benefit from the regions huge GDP compared to population size, allowing for individuals to access health care, child care, pensions and more without the need of paying into an ongoing scheme. Meanwhile however, apart from access to healthcare, foreign workers have little access to any other forms of social security, meaning that it falls to the individual to ensure that their income covers all outgoing costs.

There are also no state pension opportunities for expatriates to take advantage of though, depending on the firm, some corporate schemes may exist. It is therefore generally advised that those moving to Dubai for work continue to pay money into home country schemes, allowing for pension trusts to be cashed when eventually ending a contract and moving home. Meanwhile, with the increased income attractions of Dubai it is highly recommended that individuals use some of their excess income to set up financial security accounts in case of an emergency.

With English being an important language in Dubai there are a range of opportunities for teachers who wish to share their native language. Whilst considerable cultural differences often result in very few native English speakers being found in the state education system, the need to school expatriate children and local adults working in a range of hospitality and construction sectors means that individuals can often find jobs teaching English in Dubai.

As advertised in newspaper supplements and a range of professional teaching publications, those looking at teaching English in UAE nations such as Dubai have a number of options open to them. Private schools, mostly educating the children of expatriates, are commonplace with English normally being the main language used. French schools may also offer English teachers the opportunity to find highly paid work.

Meanwhile, with a rise in tourism and nationals wanting to learn the English language, teaching English at language schools is also an option. However, with other foreign expatriates also attending classes the job hours can be difficult due to individuals only being able to attend after work; therefore teachers may have to work late into the evening. Private tuition is also very popular, especially in Dubai, providing a lucrative means of employment though it is often seasonal, falling in line with examination schedules, and therefore is normally conducted by those already working in a teaching position elsewhere.

Lastly there is also some work available as an interpreter or translator for contractual, technical and legal paperwork. In addition some management courses and lecturers require individuals with translation skills, though such work is often only offered on a short term and part time contract.

If you are looking for an IT job in Dubai you must be familiar with what is expected of you.  The exact qualifications you need for an IT job in Dubai will depend on the nature of the job you want to apply for.  You should certainly have some experience as otherwise you will be disappointed.  Employers are looking for people who already have some experience in the field, not for beginners.

You will come across some familiar company names as you begin your search for an IT job in Dubai.  For example KPMG and Oracle are just two of the companies you could work for.

Each separate job vacancy will have a list of the qualifications you need.  For example a recent job posting for IT support staff requested the applicants to have between three and five years worth of experience.  Qualifications required included a Bachelor’s Degree and banking experience.

Another example was for an IT director, who would need around ten years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree.  You will also find that within the body of the job description specific qualifications may be listed, so do look out for these to ensure you have everything that is required of you.

But occasionally – as with the case of an IT job in Dubai for an IT technician –no experience or qualifications at all are asked for.  Presumably in this case they would be prepared to train the right candidate.

A job in Dubai is what is tempting many jobseekers to up sticks and make the move to the Gulf, where the weather is great, the income usually tax free and the quality of life second to none.

Prospective Dubai residents and workers will have to make a few arrangements in advance of going, such as sorting out the UAE visa requirements and preferably securing a job before heading out. They’ll also need to inform the appropriate authorities at home that they’re no longer resident there for tax purposes.

Use Gulf States employment websites and regular employers’ recruitment expos to check out what’s available in the way of landing a job in Dubai. Dubai’s use of Free Trade Zones to organise its employment sectors simplifies the job-hunting process to some extent.

If your skill set is in IT, you’ll find the jobs concentrated in Dubai Internet City. Business and management experts will home in on the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), where companies specialising in insurance and banking are based. Healthcare City and the Biotechnology and Research Park have their own specialisations, and doing a search on their websites will yield a wealth of opportunities.

Once a position is secured, your employer there can sponsor you to make the move and secure a temporary residency permit which will cover your period of employment.

Leaving home can be a wrench, but like everything else it can be a fresh start too, and a job in Dubai could be just what you need to reinvigorate your professional and personal life.

If you have the required set of skills, getting a job in Dubai could be one of the best moves you ever made. Not only is the income tax free, but the quality of life in Dubai greatly exceeds that in lots of other countries, and the weather is of course fantastic. Thousands of foreign workers make the move there every year, from English teachers and media experts to computer programmers and bankers.

Dubai banking jobs are mainly to be found in Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC), one of a number of so-called Free Trade Zones. There’s Healthcare City, for example, specialising in the health industry, and if you’re an IT specialist who lands a job in Dubai you’ll almost certainly have your base somewhere in Internet City. This industry division can make it easier to look for Dubai banking jobs and other jobs, as the Zones have their own websites for searches.

You may also drop in on one of the numerous regular expos held throughout the year in various countries by Dubai recruiters looking to fill positions. You can submit your CV, have a chat about prospects and maybe even land a job on the spot.

Inform the authorities before you set off that you’re not resident at home anymore for tax purposes, otherwise your Dubai income won’t work out as tax free as you’d anticipated. You’ll also need a temporary residency permit to live and work in Dubai, and this can be sorted out once your employer has sponsored you with the Dubai government.

If you want to get a job in Dubai you may think the best way to do it is to fly out to Dubai and see what you can apply for and get one while you are there.  But in fact nothing could be further from the truth.

You may be lucky and snag a job in Dubai by trying this method.  But it should be said that you are far more likely to succeed in finding jobs in Dubai if you stay at home and log onto the internet using your computer.  This might sound like a very remote way of finding the work you want, but the truth is that most people who find the job they are looking for, do it through this method.

There is still a lot to be said for research though.  Find out as much as you can about working in Dubai and what kinds of jobs in Dubai are available before applying for anything.  There are countless different websites that will help you in this respect, and there are many employment agencies who might just offer the job in Dubai you are looking for.  They all have websites so access them all and see what turns up.

The point is that you shouldn’t just fly out and hope for the best.  The chances are the answers – and indeed the job – you want can be more easily found if you access the internet instead of visiting Dubai directly.

Those seeking jobs in Dubai will find that there are a number of options available to them.  Positions are available in a number of industries for those who have skills, experience and the right attitude.

Dubai telecom jobs are available at all levels and it is becoming a very competitive part of the job market. The telecoms industry is one of the fastest growing and evolving industries in the Gulf region and the skills of foreign workers are in demand.  Positions such as technology managers, developers and senior managers are regularly being advertised. 

Dubai oil jobs are also regularly advertised as this is one of the main industries of the Gulf States. Much of the world depends on a supply of oil from the region and again, the expertise of foreign workers is in demand.  For skilled and experienced workers there are large salaries on offer, along with benefits such as accommodation costs. 

Oil companies recruit for workers in all departments including financial, administration, engineering, health and safety and medical and workers may find themselves based on land or on off-shore oil rigs.

It is recommended that foreign workers apply to larger organisations.  These offer better long term prospects, more stability and are in a better position to support foreign workers as they settle into a new culture and way of life.  These organisations may use trade press, recruitment agencies or job websites to advertise for staff though many transfer existing staff internally.  Care should be taken if replying to advertisements from recruitment agencies as there are some fraudulent companies in operation. 

Finding jobs in Middle East countries, and especially in the Persian Gulf states of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, has never been easier thanks to the internet. There are numerous websites specialising in finding jobs in the region, from jobs in Dubai to jobs in the Emirates, and roles including Bahrain IT jobs and Dubai bank jobs as well as Dubai gas jobs and jobs in Qatar. If you have the skills that are in demand, there’ll be a job waiting for you, and it’s just a matter of finding it.

Apart from using the resources of the internet, you could sign up to one of the expos that are held regularly in major cities to recruit workers to fill roles in the Gulf States. Here, you can discuss details with a representative, submit your CV and possibly land a job on the spot.

A strong work ethic coupled with a five-day working week makes working life in the Gulf pretty similar to its equivalent in the UK, and the only real differences you’ll find will be the heat and Friday as the day of rest rather than Sunday. You’ll also certainly notice the difference in your wallet, because income is tax free, a major incentive for working there.

With a job secured before you head out you’ll be able to sort out your temporary residency permit before arriving, which entitles you to reside and work there for the duration of your contract or permanent job.

As an IT professional looking for new opportunities, or maybe just looking for any IT job, you could do far worse than considering Dubai. This Persian Gulf state has a wealth of IT jobs on offer, and the relatively high quality of life coupled with tax-free earnings and fantastic weather make it a hot spot for those with the right skill sets.

Specialising in IT, you’ll probably find yourself working in Dubai Internet City, one of Dubai’s Free Trade Zones. Others include Healthcare City and Dubai Media City, each of them specialising in a particular industry sector.

With a normal working day of eight hours, five days a week, it’s not much different to the UK except that Friday and Saturday are the days off, and living expenses are roughly the same.

Job opportunities in IT are also pretty similar to elsewhere, with Oracle and Java high on the popularity list, along with SAP and C++.

The employment opportunities for Dubai IT jobs can easily be brought up on a standard internet search of what’s available in Internet City. Once you’ve honed it down to a few agencies, simply get in touch and submit your CV with a covering letter.

You could also check out the local press in Dubai online, and attend a few of the expos regularly set up by Gulf state recruiters.

Sort out the job and the visa situation before leaving, and soon you could be working just as hard as back home but reaping significant rewards in terms of weather, income and lifestyle that you only formerly dreamed about.