Most people will start with internet search engines, where the searcher can connect to sites for newspapers, trade press, recruitment agencies and online job websites.  The more information you can put into the search engine the better as this will help to narrow down the field of search.

It is necessary to proceed with caution when approaching a recruitment agency.  Some agencies will try to request a fee from the applicant but these should be avoided.  A genuine gulf jobs agency will only charge a fee to the company that is looking for new staff.  If you have any doubts, most agencies will be registered with a regulatory body which will help you to check up on them.  There are also some internet forums where users will offer advice about which agencies to avoid. 

It is a good idea to concentrate the search on larger companies, as these will offer more benefits to the worker and can help those who are unfamiliar with the region to settle into a new way of life.  Benefits may include medical insurance, pension schemes and accommodation allowances.  There are even some companies who will make a contribution to the education costs for a worker’s family.

For a work permit in Dubai, you must have a firm offer of employment in place.  Your potential employer will be able to guide you through the whole process of applying for visas and should actually deal with obtaining the work visa for you.  Some companies will have a member of staff whose job it is to help new recruits to complete paperwork and settle in.

Passports must have at least six months left to run on them.  It is a good idea to have photocopies of the passport as you may need to leave yours with your employer so that it can be routinely checked by immigration officials as part of their process for checking on illegal immigrants. 

A residence visa is subject to the issuing of a work permit and a medical examination.  Residence visas may be issued for three years, but can be renewed if required.  Once a residence visa has been obtained the labour card can be applied for.  It is compulsory to have the labour card as it also serves as an ID card.  Foreign worker must carry ID with them at all times.

With a burgeoning population and increasingly prominent global profile, there will never be a shortage of jobs in the UAE across most industries, and historically Dubai was a significant centre for Western manufacturers. The preferential trading conditions offered by the various free trade zones throughout the UAE has attracted many kinds of business – the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, for example, comprises many manufacturing and distribution companies and as with all of the 20 trading zones throughout the UAE, companies trading from here benefit from 100 per cent ownership and a loosening of usual trading restrictions including no tax liability. It is conveniently located next to Jebel Ali Port and close to the airport for swift and efficient transport links.

Manufacturing accounts for approximately 13% of the economy and in the last 30 years the UAE has invested a reported $6.8 billion in industrial development. Linked to the region’s trademark crude oil industries, chemicals and plastics represent big business and Dubai Aluminium is a leading supplier to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The government encourages investment in manufacturing and offers low-interest loans (through the Emirates Industrial Bank) to private financiers willing to invest in manufacturing in the UAE.

Another career option in the Middle East is teaching. Many teaching jobs will be advertised either for ‘men only’ or ‘women only’, particularly those based in Saudi Arabia where male/female segregation is very much part of their tradition.

The majority of recruitment agencies also specialise in one niche market, making it easier for individuals looking for jobs in the UAE to find exactly the post they’re looking for. Recruiting for a number of positions including construction managers, managerial and office employees, engineers and IT professionals, agencies are in a prime position to fill new job vacancies with the right workers.

Agencies, particularly those in the Middle East, also offer a way for women to find jobs. Whilst male expatriates can readily find work across the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, strict regulations on the movements and actions of women can make it extremely difficult for Western woman to find a working role in the region. Most agencies will provide a range of opportunities for spouses and take care of the extra paperwork involved, allowing for as smooth an integration as possible.

Whilst over the past few years Dubai in particular has begun to recruit an increasing number of its own nationals, the gulf jobs market remains relatively open. And with the use of a recruitment agency, the process can become far more streamlined than first imagined.

Jobs in Saudi Arabia are not just restricted to engineering and oil-related professions either. There is an enormous range of jobs – the site www.allsaudiarabiajobs.com lists a total of 48 sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, building and groundwork, research and development and publishing and printing. Saudi Arabia has a demand for doctors, nurses and surgeons with a variety of specializations. There are usually numerous positions available in one of Saudi Arabia’s 137 hospitals, health centres and specialist clinics for qualified healthcare professionals. Roles include staff nurse, radiologist and medical registrar and midwife (any position which involves dealing with female patients attracts female applicants only.)
Hospitality, Catering and Tourism   

The Middle East has become an increasingly popular holiday destination, and Dubai in particular has seen a meteoric rise in its tourism industry in the past decade. Whatever your level of experience, there are hospitality jobs in Dubai and throughout the Gulf region from waitress, concierge, cruise hostess, hotel front desk executive and steward to souse chef, travel consultant, barman, tour guide and restaurant manager.

Dubai has established itself as an important tourist destination and port (Jebel Ali Port, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world), with its transport links bolstered by Emirates Airlines, which was founded by the government in 1985 and is still state-owned.

Prior to the rise of the oil industry in the 1960s, native born citizens accounted for around two thirds of the UAE population – the proportion of nationals is now closer to just a fifth, while the number of expatriates living in the UAE continues to rise. Dubai, located south of the Persian Gulf, is the second largest UAE city with a population of two million, and the fastest growing city in the world with a cosmopolitan commercial centre. Dubai’s expatriates account for an astonishing 95% of its overall population, and these foreigners come from all over the world – nationalities include Indian, Pakistani, Philippine, British, American, South African and Australian. Dubai has over 200,000 new arrivals each year.

Dubai is a brilliantly vibrant, thriving society, a metropolis at the very heart of the Middle East but although respectful foreigners are generally welcomed and valued for the role they play in building and shaping the flourishing economy, they are not usually ultimately integrated into the population. As the government is naturally keen to protect the UAE’s sense of identity and certainly the cultural values system inherent in the Arabic way of life, foreigners will not be granted citizenship no matter how long they stay unless they marry a national and convert to Islam (and even that won’t guarantee citizenship). Other religions are tolerated with the exception of Israeli Jews (a long-standing political issue between nations). The majority of UAE citizens are Sunni Muslims with only very few Shi’a. Many foreigners are also Muslim, with Hindus and Christians comprising around 4% of the population.

Those from a GCC country (Gulf Cooperation Council, including Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia) will not require a visa. Those visiting the UAE who do not originate from one of the specified countries (for full list see the following website: http://www.dubaifaqs.com/visa-arrival-dubai-free-nationalities.php) may require a sponsor as well as a visa. Sponsors are UAE-based citizens or companies, and they essentially act as ‘guarantor’ to the incoming foreigner. They can organise one of the following types of visa: Tourist (valid for 30 days), Visit (also valid for 30 days, and can be extended), Service (14 days) or Transit (just four days, usually applied for by airlines on behalf of crew staff). Multi-entry visas are also available once a visitor has arrived in the UAE. These cost 1,000 AED (approximately £190) and are valid for a period of six months and each visit within that period must not exceed 30 days.

Within the petroleum industry specifically, there is a demand for project managers on new operations, head architects on new plots of land, as well as managers in the field.  These managers must be supported with proper information systems, data collection, and database management.  In addition, many of these industries operate on the basis of external trade and international business.  In keeping with international standards of business, there is a separate set of business management needs and administrative requirements.

As the UAE diversifies itself in new markets and new industries, there is a great need for management and administrative workers.  So long as the economy grows, it will be necessary to increase administration as well. As new UAE jobs are created, they must be managed properly, and it’s safe to say that this field will not be decreasing in size any time soon.

For those relishing such a move to the Gulf States – comprising Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE – there are a few things to bear in mind before leaping on the next plane out.

Most importantly, check out the UAE visa requirements if you don’t want to be put on the next plane back home as soon as you get there. 

There is a vast range of employment opportunities across the Gulf States, and the best way of finding Gulf jobs that are right for you is to home in on your particular skill on an internet search. This will bring up a list of suitable recruitment agencies, and you can start sending off your CV with a covering letter.

You could also attend one of the many jobs expos that recruiters from the region set up in London and elsewhere, and have a face-to-face about what’s on offer, submit your CV and maybe even land a job on the spot.

Once you’ve secured employment there, you can apply for a temporary residency permit once your employer has sponsored you to live and work in the UAE.

Your new salary may come tax free, don’t forget to let HMG back home know you’re no longer resident in the UK for tax purposes!