Having read about the benefits of life in the UAE and all the possibilities that exist in Dubai – where the immense growth shows no signs of stopping – you might be tempted to relocate to the Emirates faster than a Britney Spears rehab visit, but how easy is it to find work? The best way, obviously, is to relocate through an employer while still in your home country. Many companies offer an extremely attractive ‘ex-pat package’ which, as well as a tax-free income, can come with the added advantages of accommodation and car allowances, private medical insurance and one or two flights home per year paid for by the employer. Relocating to make money for a few years has become an extremely attractive option to many people and locals even have a wonderful term ‘Jumeirah Jane’ to describe the lady who drops the kids off at school in a giant 4x4 and then shops and lunches all day, living off the benefit of her husband’s tax-free income.

As in Western countries, there are newspapers such as Gulf News and Khaleej Times that run ‘situations vacant’ pages. If you’re not fortunate enough to relocate for a job, then these sections, as well as registering at both European and Dubai-based recruitment agencies, represent perhaps the best ways to find employment. Unless you’ve a particularly unique or specialist skills, then sending a speculatory application is almost certain to be a waste of time. Such is the current appeal of Dubai, Emirates-based HR departments could probably build the Burj Dubai – the world’s tallest building currently under construction – from CVs alone. As a last and not entirely unheard of or unsuccessful resort, head to Dubai as a tourist, be sociable and ask around. The ex-pat community tends to be fairly tightly-knit and, with the media and internet cities, not to mention all the tourist attractions and hotels being built, there are actually a great number of opportunities.

If you do get a job in Dubai, then expect something of a culture shock as Arabic business practices bizarrely lie somewhere between Germanic aptitude and Spanish attitude. You should always be punctual, but you’ll find that many people won’t bother to turn up for arranged meetings, so you’ll also need to be patient and accommodating. Arabs find predicting the future as ridiculous a notion as an English Wimbledon Champion and live by the dictum ‘inshallah’ or ‘if God wills it.’ Therefore, if they don’t feel like discussing a matter, they just won’t. Initially, this may be exasperating but, after a while, you’ll realise the genius of the system and that you’re much more likely to get a favourable result by meeting when they’re in the mood. That said, Arabs are notoriously reluctant to bluntly say no, so your proposal may meet with general agreement several times before you’re let down gently.

In addition to annual leave, public holidays – like ‘bank holidays’ in the United Kingdom – are also paid days’ leave. This might sound like a great excuse to plan a party, day at the beach or round of golf, however, due to these holidays being decided by the religious authorities and following the lunar calendar, things become a little tricky. The delightfully monikered yet seemingly mischievous ‘Moon-Watching Committee’ settles on a date on which to celebrate the holiday but rarely tells anybody about it until the day before or the day itself. To avoid disruption to business, they usually fit them in at the weekends to add insult to injury. However, if you work for a Muslim company or a company that deals predominantly with Arabs, you’ll get half days for the entire month of Ramadan, as Labour Law forbids Muslims from working more than six-hours a day during this time.