Working in Dubai
Although it is not unusual, it is not advisable to pack up and make the move to Dubai without having a secure job offer beforehand. It is virtually impossible to begin a life in Dubai without a residence permit, since this needs to be presented when buying a mobile phone, opening a bank account, renting a property etc.Those considering a move should be aware that career flexibility in Dubai is very limited. Since residence depends upon sponsorship which is derived from an employment contract, workers are very much tied to their employers. It is not easy to move between companies. Many employment contracts contain clauses imposing a ban on employees working for another company within the same industry within a year of leaving, although there is some doubt as to whether such practices can be applied in the ‘Free Zones’.
Working hours in the UAE tend to follow those in the west, the only exception being the working week which runs from Sunday through to Thursday. Government institutions are open from 7am until 2pm.
Historically, companies sourcing talent to work in Dubai were required to offer generous relocation packages as an incentive for workers to decamp to the desert. Now, with the exception of very senior level positions, those days are all but over. No-one, it seems, needs much incentive to make the move to Dubai and it is becoming increasinglyunusual to find fully subsidised accommodation, furniture/shipping allowances, private schooling, and family vehicles.
What employees can expect is:
- Initial flight to Dubai and hotel accommodation on arrival (usually for a period of one week to a month)
- A return flight to home country once a year.
- Standard healthcare insurance, although this is no longer a requisite for employers to provide.
A word of warning: employees who resign or who are fired before completing a year’s service can be liable for the full repayment of the above. Also, while employment laws do exist in the UAE, they tend to favour the employer. So, it may be that on paper there is a dispute resolution process or even redress, but in reality it may be simpler to keep quiet - a frustrating fact.
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