Many Filipinos are taking risk to looking for jobs in Dubai by obtaining a tourist visa in which the person has a period of 30 to 60 days to visit and find a work. This article is a job hunting guide for Filipino tourists in Dubai.
Trivia: Do you know that Dubai has the largest Filipino population in the UAE with over $500 million recorded remittances back to the Philippines?
# 1. Prepare all documents. Prepare the needed documents particularly the Transcript of Records (TOR), Diploma and Board Certificate (from PRC). These documents should be in red ribbon form certifying that they have been verified and won’t be suspected as fabricated. One has to do this beforehand since certification and verification of documents take a minimum of 5 weeks to get completed. And also, do lots of photocopies for these documents including your CV!
# 2. Prepare yourself by reading different blogs, articles and guides about Dubai. Remember that tourists only have limited time frame, and so know when is the best time to visit the place. Avoid going there during Ramadan (June to July) and summer season (starts in April). Whenever possible, sync your visit in Dubai during job expo activities to have better chances of getting a job.
#3. Make a list of potential financial outlays. Note: 1 AED = 13 Php. Accommodation in Dubai is relatively expensive. Landlords charge per head and not per room or accommodation (Dhs 500 – 750). If you have friends in Dubai, staying to their accommodation for the meantime is cost saving. In addition, spend a budget for food (Dhs 250 per month), water and electricity (Dhs 60 – 100) and possible visa reapplication. Nevertheless, allocate Dhs 2500 for two months. Also, add in transport costs such as monthly ticket for public transport costing around Dhs 250. A taxicab ride basic tariff for 5 miles / 8 kilometers is around Dhs 23.
# 4. Visa Reapplication. With tourist visa, job hunters are only given 60 days to acquire a job. If during this time you haven’t managed to find a work, reapply for visa. There’s no limit for it but it can be a financial burden if you remain jobless following visa reapplication. Popular exit point for visa reapplication is the Qeshem islands in Iran. Tourist visa charge ranges from Dhs 1,350 to 1,600 including a return ticket and 1-day hotel accommodation. New visa processing takes 2 to 3 days.
# 5. Getting a job. Dubai is one of the wealthiest and most popular cities in the world. They got the tallest building and the most expensive hotel on earth! However, unfortunately, Dubai is not that upscale in terms of providing job wages. One likely encounters cheaper salary rates especially when you don’t have a profound working experience. The competition in the job-seeking market is stiff; so, better impress your employer with your CV, and know the do’s and don’ts during the interview.
More importantly, be patient. Getting jobs in Dubai is not a walk in the park as it is becoming a popular entry points for many overseas workers including Indians! Nevertheless, Dubai has a low unemployment rate so, finding a good job in the place is always possible. Send applications as many as possible, and do not limit yourself to one application.