Working in Dubai

May 2, 2005 10:24 AM

Does anyone have any experiences they'd like to share about working in Dubai, especially in the tech industry?

There are a few websites out there, but they are mostly recruiting firms, and therefore paint naught but the rosiest of pictures.

Does anyone have any information for a westerner (Canadian) about finding a job there, actual on the ground living, social and working conditions? (asking for a friend).

posted by Capn to Travel & Transportation around Dubai, UAE (2 answers total)

I haven't done it myself, but the Culture Shock: United Arab Emirates book thoroughly matched the experience of foreigners I talked to there and in Abu Dhabi. The quality of the CS books are uneven across different countries, but this one seemed to be an accurate reflection.
posted by whatzit at 11:11 AM on May 2, 2005

I know that this is slightly off-topic, but the UAE scares me -- arresting and holding a British woman for 2 months because she had codeine in her system (not even on her person!), and only releasing her on bail when the story made it out into the popular press.

I wish you luck finding a job, but clearly make sure that you know the laws and the gotchas about being there!
posted by delfuego at 4:57 PM on May 2, 2005