The Middle East has been experiencing rapid population growth by virtue of a thriving economy, plus the influx of overseas individuals who have relocated there to pursue their career goals. This is especially true where the Dubai job market is concerned. Dubai has become an economic high growth area and is one of the leading cultural and trade hubs of the Gulf region. Dubai has become a thriving market that is free and open because there are currently no:
- Exchange controls
- Restrictive quotas
- Trade barriers
Currently, 86 airlines and over 170 different shipping lines service the economy, so it is easy to see why the area has become one of the world’s busiest business regions.
There are a few aspects regarding the Dubai job market and living in the area that you should be aware of. The labour laws of the region are very protective of employees and govern a number of facets of the job market. These include hours of the working week, sick leave and holidays, medical benefits, repatriation, and termination rights. Most employment is conducted on a contractual basis where foreigners are concerned. Additionally, there are no trade unions in the area.
The standard working day in most industries is eight hours long and the average working week is 48 hours, although this may vary at certain times of the year such as during the month of Ramadan. In the hospitality and retail trade industries, the normal workday is nine hours, whereas the more dangerous and difficult jobs will have shorter working weeks. Also, Fridays and Saturdays are considered to be the weekend.