Knowing when to apply for jobs in Dubai throughout 2023 is just as important as knowing how to apply for a job in Dubai. This is specially true when you're searching for a job in Dubai on a visit visa.
The city and work culture in Dubai is subject to more high and low periods than most cities in the world, this is thanks to extremely hot weather in the summer and the many important holidays marking religious celebrations.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a complete understanding of how to plan your Dubai job search for 2023.
You'll know when you are most likely to find a job in Dubai and when your Dubai job search is likely to be less fruitful.
I'll also tell you which months to avoid visiting Dubai to look for a job, and what to do during the quiet hiring periods, plus when to reach out to Dubai recruitment agencies.
What's the best time of year for a job search in Dubai?
January and February
January and February are by far the best times of year to apply for jobs in Dubai.
No matter which industry you are in, January and February are key months for Dubai recruitment agencies
Why Are January and February the Best Months to Look For a Job in Dubai?
The returning workforce
In January, HR and hiring managers that travelled home for Christmas will begin to return to the office, and by the time mid-January comes along, Dubai recruitment agencies will be working at full capacity.
Finalising hiring decisions in Dubai can often be a slow process because so many people travel.
Arranging interviews with multiple stakeholders can be a logistical nightmare for companies in Dubai.
However, in January and February most people will be back together in the office, and things can therefore move much more quickly.
Backlog of job vacancies
There will also be a backlog of roles that have built up over the quieter holiday period that now need to be filled.
Active recruitment processes often go quiet at the tail-end of the year and the pressure will now be on to fill them as the new year begins.
Dubai has a very transient workforce, very few people stay in Dubai long term and there are always people returning to their home countries.
After each major holiday period (especially the summer, which we’ll talk about below) there will be new job opportunities in Dubai that become available, often unexpectedly, and companies will be under pressure to fill them.
People change jobs at the beginning of the year. This is often because they receive their annual bonuses at the end of the year, plus the simple fact that this is peak recruitment time. When someone moves jobs, they create a vacancy.
New hiring budgets
January and February are the months when new hiring budgets are approved and roles signed off.
As soon as hiring managers in Dubai receive their hiring budgets, and get the go ahead for additional personnel, they will be in a hurry to fill these vacancies.
You will find lots of telephone and video interviews taking place in Dubai during January and February, plus many first stage interviews being scheduled.
The Dubai weather
Another factor that makes January and February great months for your Dubai job search is the weather.
The weather is great at this time of year! It’s so much easier travelling to Dubai during these months as you can attend interviews and travel around the city without overheating.
As the year progresses, and the temperatures increase, it becomes more and more difficult to do this.