How to get IT jobs in Dubai

Funded largely by oil money, Dubai – one of the seven territories (‘emirates’) in the United Arab Emirates – has undergone significant development since the middle of the 20th century. With extravagant constructions and events, it is now a global city and a hub of business. There are many jobs in IT and the communication sector. This article will explore the nature of those jobs and will tell you about the things that you can do to bag a job in those sectors.

Education for IT jobs in Dubai

Due to the often complex, demanding, pressured and intellectual nature of many IT vacancies in Dubai, employers see a university education and/or professional training as advantageous and usually necessary too. Higher education institutions in Dubai There are some higher education institutions in Dubai and elsewhere in the UAE such as the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) which opened in the autumn of 2009, the Dubai School of Government (DSG) and many campuses of leading foreign universities. Many who hope to get prestigious work in Dubai will, however, be educated elsewhere. This is often done with the offspring of rich businessmen being sent for a high class foreign education before returning to the ‘gulf’ to work.

Where to find IT jobs in Dubai

Dubai is home to large offices of multinational organisations such as Microsoft, CNN, Reuters, Sky News and AP. As these are all hi-tech, modern companies, there are myriad of IT jobs there and because they are multinationals they will often advertise to employ expatriates with university education from abroad. Advertisement abroad As such, multinationals may advertise in the UK, US and elsewhere, particularly in graduate schemes, and Dubai will often be one of the destinations in question when job adverts say ‘opportunities for work abroad’. Global job company, Monster also advertise jobs in Dubai as do some local job sites such as Dubaijobs.net and Jobsindubai.

The ‘career ladder’ route

Although IT careers often require professional training and/or a university education, it is not compulsory. For these reasons, the vocational/career ladder route into IT jobs in Dubai may be preferable. By this, it means that one gets an entry-level job in a company (such as a call-centre) and works up the ‘ladder’, gaining experience and a good reputation within the company. The IT worker will then hear about promotions within the company which s/he can apply for. However, especially in some of the very expensive companies present in Dubai, such people can often find that there is a 'glass ceiling’ effect to how far up in companies they can go without a degree.