Working in Abu Dhabi
> Tips for negotiating the right working contract for life in Abu Dhabi
> What to include in your employment contract
> What to include in your employment contract
Until early 2009, continuous and rapid growth of the UAE economy allowed for an abundance of positions for both internationals and nationals alike. The exponential rate of increase has slowed since, but still continues to attract and support an active expat community.
The tax-free environment of Abu Dhabi has become less of an allure due to skyrocketing housing costs and less disposable income, but those that come to Abu Dhabi for a brief stint often end up staying for a long haul due to the easy lifestyle.
Most expats that relocate to Abu Dhabi do so with an employment contract in place. Otherwise, the best methods to finding a job are to register with local recruitment agencies and to peruse the employment sections of the newspapers. The Gulf News publishes supplements on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; the Khaleej Times on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.
Expats considering moving to the UAE without a contract in place should realize that though the Abu Dhabi government fully recognizes the contribution of such a large foreign workforce to the region’s growth and development, it has nonetheless started advocating for an official policy of Emiritisation over the course of the last 5 years.
This concept pushes for both government and private sectors to hire a larger number of nationals in an effort to curb Emiratis unemployment and to cultivate opportunity for the growing number of graduates. With quotas in place for the insurance, banking and trade sectors expats may find it more difficult than in past to find employment, but there are opportunities for those that have adequate skills and training.
As a general rule the working week starts on a Sunday and ends on a Thursday. Hours vary depending on profession, and it is not unusual to find a split shift in Abu Dhabi with a siesta scheduled in between morning and afternoon slots.
Expats will find that the ease of changing jobs is something they may have previously taken for granted. In Abu Dhabi such a simple task begets great difficulty and much bureaucracy. In fact, expats must basically apply for a new visa when they obtain a new job.
The first step to completing the process is obtaining a “No Objection Certificate” from your original employer. Without this document you are liable to be banned from working – a stipulation that has a six month minimum.
Additionally, many companies write anti-competition clauses into their contracts preventing expats from working in a similar field in Abu Dhabi – obviously a greatly limiting factor if you have a specific skill set.
These measures are put into place to prevent job-hopping and thus protect the high financial investment that companies put into hiring foreign labour.
If your original employer/sponsor does approve the NOC request then documentation must be taken from the Ministry of Labour, typed into Arabic and signed and stamped by both the former and the future sponsor. These are submitted with your trade license and the new company card, hopefully approved and then sent to the Immigration Department to validate the new visa.
Those professionals with Masters or Doctorate degrees are entitled to switch their job as many times as they like.
General recruitment information
The tax-free environment of Abu Dhabi has become less of an allure due to skyrocketing housing costs and less disposable income, but those that come to Abu Dhabi for a brief stint often end up staying for a long haul due to the easy lifestyle.
Most expats that relocate to Abu Dhabi do so with an employment contract in place. Otherwise, the best methods to finding a job are to register with local recruitment agencies and to peruse the employment sections of the newspapers. The Gulf News publishes supplements on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; the Khaleej Times on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.
Expats considering moving to the UAE without a contract in place should realize that though the Abu Dhabi government fully recognizes the contribution of such a large foreign workforce to the region’s growth and development, it has nonetheless started advocating for an official policy of Emiritisation over the course of the last 5 years.
This concept pushes for both government and private sectors to hire a larger number of nationals in an effort to curb Emiratis unemployment and to cultivate opportunity for the growing number of graduates. With quotas in place for the insurance, banking and trade sectors expats may find it more difficult than in past to find employment, but there are opportunities for those that have adequate skills and training.
As a general rule the working week starts on a Sunday and ends on a Thursday. Hours vary depending on profession, and it is not unusual to find a split shift in Abu Dhabi with a siesta scheduled in between morning and afternoon slots.
Job Hopping in Abu Dhabi
Expats will find that the ease of changing jobs is something they may have previously taken for granted. In Abu Dhabi such a simple task begets great difficulty and much bureaucracy. In fact, expats must basically apply for a new visa when they obtain a new job.
The first step to completing the process is obtaining a “No Objection Certificate” from your original employer. Without this document you are liable to be banned from working – a stipulation that has a six month minimum.
Additionally, many companies write anti-competition clauses into their contracts preventing expats from working in a similar field in Abu Dhabi – obviously a greatly limiting factor if you have a specific skill set.
These measures are put into place to prevent job-hopping and thus protect the high financial investment that companies put into hiring foreign labour.
If your original employer/sponsor does approve the NOC request then documentation must be taken from the Ministry of Labour, typed into Arabic and signed and stamped by both the former and the future sponsor. These are submitted with your trade license and the new company card, hopefully approved and then sent to the Immigration Department to validate the new visa.
Those professionals with Masters or Doctorate degrees are entitled to switch their job as many times as they like.
General recruitment information
Travel guide to Abu Dhabi from Word Travels
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