Moving to Dubai - The Hardest Thing

Want to know the toughest thing about moving to Dubai?

Surviving the first year.

Making a move abroad is hard enough, wherever you are going. 

Making the move to the most competitive job market in the world is an even harder proposition - especially if you don’t have something lined up. 

Dubai has a reputation for being a transient place. A HR leader I recently met described it as like ‘an airport waiting lounge’. There’s a constant rotation of people coming and going.  

Your right to stay is linked to your work visa which is sponsored by a company. No work and it becomes a very tricky situation to manoeuvre.

On top of this, it’s also hyper-competitive. Dubai was recently voted the most competitive job market in the world, above New York, London, San Francisco, Singapore etc. 

No one moves here with dreams or aspirations of being average - it's a place for the dreamers.

The skill gap between those who can go on to make it a reality is vast and from what I've seen, it's year one that tends to cast a deciding vote on this.

It's hard enough taking that first step to tear yourself away from family and friends to form a new life.

You've then got to contend with the realities of the move to the region like…