Before You Land in Dubai: Essential Tips for Job Seekers

Pre-Travel Guide for UAE Job Seekers: Strategic Preparation for Success

1. The ideal times to visit the UAE for job searching are from February to May and from September to December.

2. It is advisable to go with a 2-month visit visa (which will cost you between AED 600 to AED 850 depending on your travel agency) but if your travel agent warns you that there are chances that your visa application may be rejected (especially since March 2020 due to COVID 19 Local govt has imposed restrictions on international flights and visas issuance several times) then apply for 1-month visit visa as it will cost you less (between AED 350 – AED 550 depending on your travel agency). One month visit visa can be extended to 2 months later while staying inside the country (subject to extra charges avg. AED 500 for an inside country status change). As of today, a visit or tourist visa can be extended a couple of times while staying inside the country.

3. Prior to departure, plan or budget your trip and bring enough money to cover expenses such as visa fees, airfare, living expenses, local transportation, etc.

4. Try to search online for fellow professionals (if you don’t have relatives/friends in UAE) and hire a room/bed space with them if possible.

5. Get your degrees/professional certificates attested by the relevant authorities in your home country before arriving in UAE and once you have arrived then attest your degrees/professional certificates from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs office as well. 

6. To save money, bring your daily necessities from home rather than purchasing them in the UAE (such as a blanket or towel).

7. Try to move to the UAE early in your career (after completing your studies) with adequate abilities because prior work experience from your home country typically carries less weight in the UAE.

8. Your chances of landing a job will rise if you are proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint) and ERP software (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, QuickBooks, Tally, Peachtree, Sage, etc). You can focus on software or skills relevant to your industry if the above is irrelevant.

9.  Must carry your laptop and relevant accessories while traveling to UAE.

10. Try to connect with as many professionals as you can before arriving in the UAE through LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Your professional network is important to your career, and personal contacts in the UAE may be the most important factor in helping you land your first job in the market (perhaps, total dependence on relatives and friends is definitely not a good idea).

11. Start creating your profile on well-known job search portals and websites like Bayt, Dubizzle, Gulf Talent, Naukri Gulf, BAC Middle East, Hays, Charterhouse, Michael Page, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. at least two (2) months before your arrival.

12. Create a succinct, professional CV that is 1 to 3 pages long depending on your level of expertise, and if at all possible, try to include references from the UAE. You should save a few copies of your resume from your hometown along with some A4-sized plain white envelopes. Always have it prepared to give to any prospective employers, recruiters, or contacts. Keep a few of your passport-size photos on hand as well in case you need to utilize them. Save time and do it before taking off.

13. Explore your industry’s best players in UAE, visit their websites and search for professionals working in those organizations where you intended to join. Start a conversation with them and try to build affiliation to make an appointment (LinkedIn is the best place to develop such contacts).

14. Preferably, try to fix at least 5 to 6 prospective meetings prior to departing for UAE.

15. Try to familiarize yourself with UAE laws and regulations that are pertinent to your job function (for example, for accountants and financial experts, the UAE Labor Law, VAT and imports Law, etc).

16. Keep a soft copy of your resume or curriculum vitae on your phone or other mobile device so you may share it quickly if someone requests for it.

17. In short, planning (before traveling to Dubai) is the key to landing a successful career in UAE.

 

"IF YOU DON'T PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL," they say.

Other Job Seekers Tips post arrival in UAE

1. Get a sim as soon as you arrive in the UAE, then register your WhatsApp account using the UAE number.

2. Change your location on LinkedIn and Facebook etc. 

3. Put your status open to work on LinkedIn.

4. Use WhatsApp, LinkedIn messaging, etc. to simply inform your circle that you are looking for a job in the UAE on a visit visa.

5. Connect with Hiring managers and your co-professionals on LinkedIn.

6. Do recommend others whenever you are not a qualified applicant for a position or have received multiple offers.

7. Join WhatsApp groups for job seekers, participate in them, and help out whenever possible.

8. Plan your every day, get ready early in the morning, and divide your day into at least three activities: i) Online application
ii) Networking
iii) Skills development. 

9. Write your desired jobs on Google on a daily basis and through the tools bar select the timeline of posted jobs like 24 hours then apply to recent ones.

10. Must know about each and every word of your CV and prepare of possible questions that can be asked based on your CV. 

11. Mention important information on the front of your CV like expected job role, education, contact details, skills, visa Status, and experience. 

12. Contact and inform all your friends about your stay in UAE, share your CV, and take information from relevant persons.

13. Be patient and have trust in Allah because He has a better plan for everyone so keep trying for a Job till the last day of your stay in UAE.

14. Create a support network of your friends & professionals, share experiences with others, and use all channels for job applications.

15. Prepare the interview through YouTube tutorials.

16. Write questions for each interview and search for the appropriate answers to questions by reading and discussing with other relevant persons.

17. Always use a complete degree name like Chartered Accountant (Finalist) not use CA Finalist. 

18. In response to the expected salary question from the interviewer, ask about their budget and then give a range showing flexibility.

19. Download the 2GIS App from the Google Play Store. It can operate without an internet connection and will direct you to the locations of all businesses in the UAE.

20. Send a thank you email after the interview by getting a business card during an interview from the interviewer.

21. Keep strong follow-up of interview

22. Call at 800-60 for any assistance regarding UAE labor laws.

23. Call to Road Transport Authority (RTA) at 8009-090 to help with local transport services.

24. Try to stay near any metro station in Dubai during the visit for easy and convenient movement.

Best of  Luck🤞

Note: Please comment if you like it and share this post with your family, friends, and network who are planning to visit Dubai/UAE in the near future.