Your move to the UAE, made clearer.

All UAE Jobs is a free, independent guide to working in the UAE and planning your move.

Explore the topics

For people applying from abroad.

Where are you applying from?
What are you looking into?

How to get a job in Dubai from the UK

Applying from the UK? Start with roles that match your experience.

Read the Dubai guide

Finding work in the UAE from abroad

Weigh up the work you could do against the practical steps involved in moving.

Where the route from the UK differs, the guide says so.Where the route from the US differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Australia differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Canada differs, the guide says so.

Browse Finding work

UAE work visas and documents

It depends on the job and your circumstances.

Where the route from the UK differs, the guide says so.Where the route from the US differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Australia differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Canada differs, the guide says so.

Browse visas and documents

Basic salary and allowances in the UAE

Weigh pay and benefits against the costs you cover.

Where the route from the UK differs, the guide says so.Where the route from the US differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Australia differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Canada differs, the guide says so.

Read the salary and allowances guide

Cost of living in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Rent, school fees and health cover change the sums.

Where the route from the UK differs, the guide says so.Where the route from the US differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Australia differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Canada differs, the guide says so.

Compare Dubai and Abu Dhabi costs

Moving to Dubai from abroad

Housing, banking, schools and driving, in the order you need them.

Where the route from the UK differs, the guide says so.Where the route from the US differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Australia differs, the guide says so.Where the route from Canada differs, the guide says so.

Read the Dubai moving guide

What’s inside each topic

Choose a topic to see where to start.

Finding work

Can I apply from abroad?

Start with roles that match your experience. Then check the employer and the offer.

Visas

Which paperwork applies to me?

For the standard MoHRE route, your employer applies for the work permit. Check which authority handles your job and what documents you’ll need.

Pay

What does the offer include?

Compare basic pay, allowances and benefits before you sign.

Living costs

What will I pay each month?

Start with rent and the commute, then list the bills your household will pay.

Moving

What should I arrange first?

Confirm your start date and somewhere to stay. Plan the rest around your first weeks.

Seven emirates, one country

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, each with its own capital, character and job market. We’ve added Saudi Arabia, a separate country next door, because many people weigh up both.

Abu Dhabi

The UAE’s capital and its largest emirate, covering most of the country’s land. Government, energy, finance and healthcare employ many of its workers.

Capital
Abu Dhabi city
Area
67,340 km²
Guides about Abu Dhabi

Dubai

The most populous emirate and the UAE’s main hub for trade, aviation, tourism, finance and technology. Most international job searches start here.

Capital
Dubai city
Area
4,114 km²
Guides about Dubai

Sharjah

The only emirate with coastline on both the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Known for education, culture and industry, and many residents commute to Dubai.

Capital
Sharjah city
Area
2,590 km²
Guides about Sharjah

Ajman

The smallest emirate by area, next to Sharjah. Trade, manufacturing and a free zone make up much of its job market.

Capital
Ajman city
Area
259 km²
Guides about Ajman

Umm Al Quwain

A quiet coastal emirate with the smallest population of the seven, so its local job market is small.

Capital
Umm Al Quwain city
Area
720 km²
Guides about Umm Al Quwain

Ras Al Khaimah

The northernmost emirate, between the mountains and the sea. Tourism and manufacturing are major employers, alongside its free zone.

Capital
Ras Al Khaimah city
Area
1,684 km²
Guides about Ras Al Khaimah

Fujairah

The only emirate almost entirely on the Gulf of Oman coast. Its port is one of the world’s busiest ship-refuelling hubs.

Capital
Fujairah city
Area
1,450 km²
Guides about Fujairah
Flag of Saudi Arabia: green with a white Arabic inscription above a white sword

Saudi Arabia

A separate country, not part of the UAE

The UAE’s much larger neighbour, with its own visas and employment rules. Vision 2030, its national development plan, is driving major projects in construction, tourism and technology.

Capital
Riyadh
Area
2,149,690 km²
Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Saudi ArabiaRiyadhUAE
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via geoBoundaries.

Plain answers. Checked facts.

Free to read. For rules and costs, start with the sources.

How each guide is set out

  1. The short answer first

    Every guide opens with the answer in two or three lines. If that’s all you need, you can stop there. If not, the rest explains why.

  2. The steps, in order

    Then the steps, in the order you’d do them. Each one says what to check and what can wait until you have an offer.

  3. Notes for your country

    Where applying from the UK, US, Australia or Canada changes things, like documents, licences or time zones, there’s a short note for your country. If nothing changes, we don’t add one.

  4. Sources you can check

    Rules and costs change. Each guide links to the official pages behind its facts and shows when it was last updated, so you can check before you act.

How to get a job in Dubai from the UK

The short answer

Start with the roles that match your experience.

The steps

  1. Check what applies to you
  2. Compare the pay, benefits and costs
  3. Decide what to do next

Notes for your country

  • UKKeep a copy of your qualification details.
  • USYou still file a US tax return while working in the UAE.
  • AustraliaCheck which licence the role asks for.
  • CanadaNote where your documents were issued.

Sources

  • UAE government guidance
  • The relevant emirate’s services
  • Official guidance where you live

Three places to start

Pick the question that’s on your mind.

  1. Build an Abu Dhabi monthly budget

    Living costs

  2. Check staff accommodation in an offer

    Pay

  3. Check what you need to rent in Dubai

    Moving
Office towers and a park in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0.

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