Salary and Benefits: What expats absolutely need to know in 2020

Salary and Benefits: What expats absolutely need to know in 2020

In a globalized world, many people are drawn abroad. Even if the economy in their country is booming, other locations beckon with a pleasant climate, more attractive tax rates and less regulation. Particularly popular: working in Dubai. What do you have to consider? What are the employee benefits in Dubai?


Wages, salaries, & taxes


A pleasant aspect of working in Dubai is income. At least if you are reasonably skilled at the contract negotiations. There are no collective agreements. As per 2020 salary guide in Dubai Pays are roughly at the basic determined level or slightly above. However, no income tax is levied in Dubai. So gross is equal to net. In addition, there are often flat rates for apartment and car. Some companies also pay the training costs for their employees' children. In addition, every worker or employee in Dubai is entitled to a flight to their respective home country once a year. Usually this is also handled in the form of a flat rate.


Despite the high cost of living, most western expats can afford a comfortable life in Dubai. However, be careful: it is easy to overlook the fact that social insurance is practically non-existent. For example, there is no pension insurance. Therefore, you have to take precautions yourself. Many expats try to get by on their regular salary and invest the Housing Allowance as a pension.


Occupational safety and labor rights


Capitalism in its purest form rules in Dubai. At least for expats, because Emirati are subsidized and promoted by the state. There are comparatively few rights for foreigners. Western expats - unlike many other nationalities - do not have to hand over their passports to their employers. Still, you are heavily dependent on your employer. If you lose your job, you have to leave the country within 30 days. Unless you own a property in Dubai and can use an exemption. This fact can be used by employers as leverage. After all, you have often paid your rent for a whole year in advance. And it's difficult to get the money back if you leave the country before then.


Working week & working hours


The official 6-day week applies in Dubai. Depending on the industry or employment contract, however, you have two days at the weekend. Unlike in the western world the working week in the United Arab Emirates runs from Saturday to Thursday. Friday is the religious weekday similar to Sunday. For a 5-day week, Friday and Saturday are the weekend. Especially when you work with many international colleagues or business partners, this can lead to important meetings taking place over the weekend. Either you are left out or you do without parts of the weekend.


Vacation and public holidays


Depending on the industry, employees in Dubai are given around 20 days of vacation. There are also a number of public holidays, almost all of which are based on the lunar calendar. That is why they will only be scheduled exactly a few days in advance. You will then receive an e-mail with the information that the next day or the day after that is free due to a public holiday. Strangely, this is also used for public holidays that follow the regular calendar (e.g. National Day) and always fall on the same date. Depending on the public holiday - and the employer or free zone in which you work - sometimes several days are released. All of this doesn't make vacation planning any easier.

The list of holidays includes:

  • New Year
  • Ascension of Muhammad "Leilat al-Mi’raj"
  • Beginning of Ramadan
  • Sugar festival or breaking the fast at the end of Ramadan "Eid al-Fitr" - usually 3 days off
  • Beginning of the pilgrimage season
  • Festival of sacrifice “Eid al-Adha” - mostly 3 days off
  • Birthday of the prophet "Mouloud"
  • National holiday on December 2nd

In rare cases, there are additional, spontaneous holidays. For example, schools were closed for a week when the Expo 2020 was awarded to Dubai. Working in Dubai also requires a certain amount of flexibility.


Working in Dubai as a woman


Contrary to popular belief, there are hardly any restrictions for women. Women in the United Arab Emirates can get work visas in the same way as men. And then, as the head of the family, sponsor the non-working visa of her husband and children. In everyday working life are hardly treated any differently than in Western countries. At this point it should not be assumed that everything is in perfect order in the western world and that there are no disadvantages for women. And here too there are clearly too few women in top management. In some respects, Dubai even offers a better working environment than western countries. The authorities are extremely strict when it comes to harassing women. Male colleagues are correspondingly courteous. 


Independence

Self-employee expectations in Dubai is certainly the most difficult and risky web to work in Dubai. And on May 20, 2018, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed announced that in future Dubai-based companies will no longer need an Emirati partner. But the legal situation is still complex. Setting up a company is hardly recommended without prior experience on site.


Conclusion 

Working in Dubai is popular around the world. You compete for jobs with experts from all over the world. Therefore, it is not always easy to find a job in Dubai. Taking help from employment agencies for guidance and support are particularly popular.



Location: United Arab Emirates

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