Oil jobs in Dubai, Qatar and other Arab states are generally advertised on company websites, in newspapers, in trade press and with recruitment agencies.  Care is advised when dealing with recruitment agencies as there are some fraudulent organisations in existence.  Check that the agencies you are using are recognised by industry regulatory bodies.

Those who stand a good chance of obtaining employment in the oil industry include those with degrees in engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry and chemical engineering.  People with non-oil backgrounds may find that there are opportunities for them too, with a need for health and safety professionals and medical professionals.  Fire workers will also always be in demand.  Those with qualifications, experience and a good work record stand a good chance of obtaining employment.

The oil industry in the Gulf States is attractive to workers as it pays extremely well.  There are often benefits with regard to paying taxes and there are some who spend just a few years working in the industry and find they have earned enough to retire.  The cost of living in these countries is also relatively low, so well-paid workers can enjoy a higher standard of living there than they would in the West.

Unlike the average British working week which lies between 38 and 40 hours, companies in Dubai normally have employees work from 40 to 48 hours per week. Depending on the firm workers can expect to start their shifts from between 8.30 and 9.00am and work to an evening end of 5.30 to 6.00pm. However it is also not unusual for some companies to split their day in two like many Mediterranean businesses, having employees work from 8.00am to 1.00pm before resuming work from 4.00 until 7.00pm.

Another important aspect of jobs in Dubai and their working day and week is in respect to their religious background. Whilst there are no changes to the working day length between winter and summer, the religious period of Ramadan results in Muslim employees seeing their day decrease to six hours, largely due to the fasting requirements of the period. Whilst by law this reduction should apply to all employees within a company, foreign nationals not of a Muslim background may find that they are expected to continue working a normal day. Meanwhile, in Muslim culture Friday is a day of rest, resulting in weekends falling Thursday and Friday or Friday and Saturday with international firms usually using the latter option.

Such differences in workplace practice may be beneficial or a disadvantage for individuals depending on their preferences. However with Dubai’s extensive advantages in additional income many are happy to alter their lifestyle for the length of a contract.

Because of the substantial geographical distances between the Middle East and many of the countries from which foreign workers originate, the ‘middleman’ function of a recruitment agency – one who understands the needs of their clients, the specific demands of each role and the suitability of each individual candidate – is essential.

Each individual agency tends to specialise in one or two particular areas or sectors – for example, computing and information technology, oil and gas, finance and accountancy, engineering and technical. As with all such agencies, they make a profit by charging each candidate a fee, typically 10-15 per cent of that worker’s agreed rate, and this is covered by the employer. Job hunters should be warned that there are plenty of unscrupulous agencies operating in the Middle East, and candidates should never be expected to pay upfront fees.

Abu Dhabi
Ajman
Dubai
Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Sharjah
Umm al Quwain

Most of these areas are rich in natural gas and oil which have been the driving economic force in the UAE for years now, and jobs are plentiful in those industries as well, whether in the area of industrial construction, IT, or telecommunications.  However, there are other career sectors that are also flourishing in these geographic areas.

These other career sectors include; banking and finance, commercial and residential construction, healthcare, IT, media, real estate, and telecommunications.  Just be aware of the fact that the employment market in many of the emirates has become very competitive.  As a result of this you need to be sure when you are applying for jobs in the Emirates that you have your CV or resume updated.  Additionally, you should compose a covering letter that emphasises the following:

- Why you would be a valuable employee of the company
- What your salary expectations are (never be afraid to ask for what you think you’re worth)
- Emphasise your experience and your expertise as well as any qualifying skills

One of the best things about working in an engineering job in Dubai is the simple fact that there you are on the leading edge of modern engineering. Every single project built in Dubai is cutting-edge, and working at an engineering job in Dubai means that you are one of the pioneers helping to create one of the most luxurious and magnificent cities on the planet.

There are buildings being constructed to rival the most challenging designs of buildings from any country in the world. This is a good reason why so many individuals are working on these jobs in Dubai: the chance to be involved in the construction of a legendary building.

There are at present so many engineering jobs in Dubai that the rate of foreign workers is five to one, so if you want the opportunity to go down in history, now is the time.

There is no doubt that your emotional stability and ability to get along with your co-workers is paramount to working any type of job in Middle Eastern countries. Potential employers are going to scrutinize your interpersonal skills during your interview, and you have to be able to prove to them that you are a team player regardless of the race and culture of your co-workers. Given the sensitive nature of Westerners working jobs in some Middle Eastern countries, it is vitally important that you can integrate into the team without any sort of issue. As long as you can be a team player you can land a job anywhere in the world.

A CV is extremely important when applying for jobs in the Middle East, because often times you will be residing in your home country while you are shopping your CV around looking for various jobs in Gulf countries. Most of the time you only have a few seconds in which to grab a person’s attention and leave them with a desire for more, which will then lead to an interview. Regardless of which type of job in Middle Eastern countries you are applying for, your CV needs to create a hook that reels the big fish in, in order for you to wrap the net around them and land the job of your dreams.

Companies hiring for jobs in Middle East countries, regardless of whether they are Dubai oil jobs, Qatar oil jobs, or Saudi IT jobs, regularly use CVs to determine whether or not an employee is potentially worth the investment, so make sure yours is as up-to-date and polished as it can possibly be.

While it is true that a willingness to learn is important for any potential candidate for employment to possess, it is even truer when looking at jobs in Middle Eastern countries. You are likely going to have to learn a foreign language, not to mention you will have to learn how to work with individuals from different cultures, regardless of whether you are working in an IT job in Dubai or a Saudi telecom job. Considering the fact that you are a foreigner, your learning curve is going to be significantly steeper compared to local candidates, so you must be able to prove to your potential employer that you have what it takes to excel at your task, regardless of which jobs in Middle Eastern countries you are applying for. Be willing to learn, and you will set yourself ahead of the pack.

For those unfamiliar with the region it is better to deal with larger companies who recruit workers themselves or use reputable recruitment agencies.  There are some disreputable agencies who will try to charge applicants a fee for their services.  A reputable agency will charge only the company they are recruiting for.

The central bank of the UAE is based in Abu Dhabi along with a number of other financial institutions and jobs available in this sector are on the increase.  Positions available in the industry range from entry level graduate trainee positions to senior management.  Some foreign workers may find it easier to obtain work with institutions here and then obtain a transfer to the Middle East. 

Abu Dhabi IT jobs are also becoming popular due to the rapid development of the industry.  Positions which are frequently advertised range from trainee programmers to chief executives and skilled IT professionals can be placed in nearly every industry from financial to medical as all industries now require the use of a great deal of information technology.

Many companies will advertise in national newspapers or trade press to find applicants.  Competition is fierce for United Arab Emirates jobs but candidates who are skilled and experienced stand a good chance of obtaining employment.

Along with the reduced time to hire, the online recruitment revolution has allowed real-time interaction and around-the-clock hiring/searching opportunities. For individuals who are suffering in the wake of the global recession, this is an amazing opportunity because jobs in Middle Eastern countries are available for anyone willing to work, and there is no time like the present.