scimax

Hi there,

We're soon to move to Dubai as I have a job offer. We're both very happy and looking forward to it, but my girlfriend and I just have some questions regarding whether or not she can work in Dubai.

From what I've seen there are a few jobs on ExpatWomen.

She has a degree in Mental Health Nursing and 2 years working experience.

I'd like to hear from someone with a similar situation or anyone who can help. How hard will it be for her to find a job, regardless whether in nursing or not? And what requirements are needed, as I've read she needs to find a job BEFORE moving in order to get the work visa?

Thanks!

Meow

A few things.

Firstly it is illegal to cohabit. That said, many people do so without problems, but you need to be aware of the law.

All residency visas for expats (with a very few exceptions linked to property ownership) are work related. Either as an employee or by setting up your own company with a proper trade licence.

Assuming your girlfriend has a British passport, or is from one of the countries where visas are issued on arrival she can come here and stay but every 30-40 days (rules are too messy for me to type right now) she would have to do a visa run. She is not permitted to work on a tourist visa, nor have a normal bank account here.

As you are not married you cannot sponsor her either.

Westerners do work in nursing roles but many are in specialist clinics rather than doing general nursing that is usually undertaken by other nationalities that will work for low salaries.

There are a couple of specialist recruitment agencies that deal with medical staff but she'd be wise to get her LinkedIn profile up to date, so some research on places that may have position of interest and make direct contact.

carcajou

Meow has posted very good advice for you. Moving from the UK to Dubai is not like moving to Dublin or Frankfurt.

I have seen people fired and sent home for co-habitating. It is a risk - the risk varies - but it is a risk. One couple that was sent home, had always told everyone since their arrival that they were married, no one questioned it and this went on for several years. I don't know how they were found out and neither did they. Could have been anyone from a security guard ratting them out to housing officials on a random paperwork mission to they did tell one or two people in confidence and that came back to bite them down the track.

The job market in the UAE is very different from the UK, and this includes for nursing as Meow pointed out. It will also be extremely difficult for your girlfriend to find any menial work like working in a restaurant etc while searching for a particular nursing job. Those jobs tend to be reserved for other groups who will do it for 500 Dirhams a month.

She will need her own job offer first. Or you can get married, you can sponsor her and then you can co-habitate.

DXBtoDOH

Surely this would depend on the employer? I can see Emirates or a big local company doing this but not the multinationals or private companies?

I don't doubt that people have been fired for cohabiting but I wonder if there was something else involved - such as claiming married status for a higher housing allowance or extra benefits?

jam25mack

This is his / her standard chat it seems..... Has a bee in his/her bonnet about co-habiting.

I've never seen or heard of anyone getting punted out for co-habiting alone. They authorities generally turn a blind eye to westerners doing it, its only if some other issue arises that they would take action. Similar to consuming alcohol without a licence. Nobody cares until you get into something more serious and they tag it on.

As for the chat on 'menial' work. No one works for 500 AED a month. And depending on the age / attractiveness of the OP's bird there is plenty of part time work in promos for western ladies.

carcajou

Jam25mack, you are right, I do have a bee in my bonnet about it! This is because consequences may happen and sometimes do happen. As well, as another poster responded to you in another thread, the authorities turn a blind eye until it is reported. Therefore, when people on this forum ask about co-habitating, I tell them - absolutely correctly - that it is a risk, the only way to eliminate the risk is to get married, and that the size of the risk is dependent on a lot of factors, some of which are beyond their control. If the locals don't care about it why is it illegal?

DXBtoDOH, it doesn't necessarily go through the employer. The cases I know of went through the police/national security directorate who revoked the security clearances of those involved, and therefore the firing was automatic. If it was just reported to the company then it could be ignored (or for that matter referred to the police for action). I never heard of anyone going to jail nor were they put on the first plane out - they were dismissed, but still got their end-of-service bonuses, had a grace period to organise their exit, and so on. Could there have been something else involved, as you speculated? Sure anything is possible.

deano200

get married first, as simple as that!

scrubbedexpat141

The worst possible advice.

deano200

ha ha