How to get a job in Dubai from India?

In this post, you will learn everything about how to get a job in Dubai from India. I am Shraddha Maheshwari, a Chartered Accountant from India. I recently grabbed a job opportunity with one of the largest Big 4 companies in UAE and the Middle East.

Getting a job in Dubai is much easier than finding a job in the EU, UK or US. That being said, getting a decent job here still requires investing a fair amount of hard work, research, time and money. Dubai is the best launching pad for a career and life in the western world. Most people live and work here for 2 to 4 years and then seek employment in countries like Canada, USA, UK, etc.

This post is based on my real experience. I did not find this information anywhere on the internet. So I am sharing all that I know and all that I have found in the last two months.

Ways to find a job in Dubai from India

There are two ways to get a job here in Dubai for us Indians. And both ways have their pros and cons.

First is you can sit in India, and apply for your dream job position from India. You get to give the interviews online from the comfort of your home. And after you are selected the company will process everything from your visa to flight tickets to hotel bookings on your arrival. In this case, you don’t have to worry about anything. Your initial expenses are low and the risk is also low. But here is the catch. The company will select you in the interviews only if they can’t find anyone who is already in UAE for the same job. The company will obviously try to minimize their expenses. So we can say that this situation is almost fictional. You may get a job sitting in India, but the chances of getting a good job are low. But, of course, if you can get internally transferred from within your company, then that’s the best way.

Now, this brings us to the 2nd way of finding a job in Dubai. Most people come here in this way, and this is also how I found my job. You first apply for a UAE tourist/visit visa of 3 months. Then you book your flights, pack your bags, fill your pockets with enough Dhirams and come here to hunt for the job of your dreams. This has been the greatest gamble of my life. But it was well worth it. When you are physically in Dubai or UAE, you have more chances of getting interviewed, and landing job offers. After you get the job, your company will process your work visa, residence permit and Emirates ID for you.

Job market for Chartered Accountants in Dubai and UAE

Now I am working and living in Dubai and I have met people from many different countries in my office. The work culture is extremely diverse here. In India, we Chartered Accountants have the entire market to ourselves. But here in Dubai, you will find that there are ACCAs, CPAs, Pakistani CAs and Indian CAs, all competing against each other. There are also people from the Middle East countries like Jordan, Egypt, etc. So you get my point, the market for accountants, auditors and tax practitioners is quite competitive out here. But Dubai welcomes everyone with open arms. And there are enough opportunities for all of us. I am pretty sure this will be similar for doctors, engineers, techies, etc.

How to search a job in Dubai from India ?

There are several websites in UAE where you can search for jobs. But most of the good quality jobs can be found on Linkedin and Indeed.ae. Gulf Salary is another good website that you can check. It also has a paid version where they circulate your resume with a lot of companies in a short time period. I personally did not opt for the paid version of Gulf Salary, but I have heard from colleagues that it is good. You need to prepare and finalise your detailed resume. And upload the same resume on all the websites. Stay active on all three websites, especially on Linkedin.

I got my job from Linkedin. I had updated my resume and experience on my Linkedin profile and mentioned that I am open to work opportunities. The HR of the company messaged me herself and asked me for my resume. That’s how I landed the interviews. And the interviews were tough to crack. They ask a lot of technical stuff and judge your capabilities before rolling out the offer letter. You need to be technically sound and well aware of the current situation in your area of expertise. Internal reference is not necessary, but it can be helpful to get noticed faster. But in my case, I did not have any internal references in the organization where I got the job.

My advice to semi-qualified CAs in India

Complete your CA course first, and then come here. There are enough good opportunities for semi-qualified CAs in Dubai and UAE. But the opportunities for a qualified Chartered Accountant are far far better. This is my perspective, you can still come here and get good opportunities as a semi-qualified CA. But the entire career path is much better for a qualified Chartered Accountant. If you have prior working experience in India it is not counted here, unless your work experience is from Big 4s or Big 6s (including GT and BDO). Alternative qualifications like ACCA certified by UK or CPA certified by US are also helpful, and add up to your resume.

Salary for Indian Chartered Accountant in Dubai

The salary for a Chartered Accountant fresher ranges from 7k to 12k AED per month. Salaries for semi-qualified CA ranges from 4k to 8k AED per month. And if you have prior big 4 or big 6 experience in India the salaries are anywhere from 20k to 25k AED per month. And let me tell you a secret, all of this income is tax free.

Do NOT settle for less, and know your worth. Some employers may try to take advantage of your lack of knowledge. And they might offer you a job at a very low salary. Do not accept it. Your entire lifestyle and standard of living depend on your salary. More salary equals more travel, activities and adventures in Dubai and the UAE.

Finding job in Dubai for other professionals

There are many opportunities for engineers, doctors and techies in Dubai and UAE. Most of the information in this post applies to you as well. You will have to follow the same process. And know your worth before arriving here. Please consult seniors and people in your field who have been here and done that. There is a lot to learn and know from them, and it will make things easier for you too.

The labour laws in Dubai and UAE

Remember that there are strict labour laws in UAE to protect you. This is not like India. The employers are regulated, and they cannot make a default in the payment of your salary.

Do not give your passport to anyone, except for the visa processing. Keep multiple true copies of your passport with you, just in case. Apart from that, there is no reason to worry. Dubai and UAE have amazing laws for women safety, and theft, robbery and such crimes are very low. It is a very very safe country to work, live and enjoy life.

Best cities to work in the UAE

There are only two major cities in UAE – Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Out of these Dubai is slightly cheaper and has much more activities. Dubai also has a metro system. Abu Dhabi is slightly expensive, and there is no public transport like the Dubai metro.

Honestly, I love Dubai, and the metro here makes my life simple. Dubai is also the top travel destination worldwide as per trip advisor. But if you get a good package in Abu Dhabi, you can work there and travel here in Dubai on your weekends. Apart from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, there are places like Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain and more. They are all laid back towns, and not much developed.

Related post: Living in Dubai – Ultimate Guide

There’s only one thing that is not that great here – the weather. If you can manage the burning summers of July and August, then habibi welcome to Dubai!