jobs abroad
Remote jobs
Remote work has stopped being an emergency measure and become a normal way of working in many fields. For people living in the UAE, it opens interesting options: working for a company in another emirate without the daily drive on Sheikh Zayed Road, taking on clients abroad, or building a career that is not tied to the vacancies in one city. If the current job offers in your area do not fit what you are looking for, remote work is worth a serious look. But it pays to prepare before you start applying.
What is remote work?
Remote work means doing your tasks for an employer or client away from their premises. It relies on digital tools, and the results of your work are delivered online.
If you want to start working remotely, you can:
- look for an employed position that allows remote or hybrid working as a permanent arrangement,
- work as a freelancer and use your skills for clients in the UAE and around the world, making sure you hold the right freelance permit or licence for your situation,
- set up your own business and organise it to run remotely.
If you are not yet living in the UAE but are employed by a company abroad, Dubai and the UAE also offer remote-work residence options. Their conditions change, so check the current requirements with the official authorities before you plan around them.
Remote work is often pictured as a laptop on the beach, coffee in a trendy café in Jumeirah and constant travel. That is possible, but in practice it usually means long hours at home or in a coworking space. It does bring real advantages. Work is often task-based rather than strictly nine to five. If you finish early, you have time for other things: a visit to the bank, a medical appointment or a typing centre during hours office workers can only dream of. A lot depends on what you agree with your employer or client, but remote work does give a degree of flexibility. In return it demands self-discipline and excellent organisation.
One thing is specific to remote work from the Gulf: time zones. A European client may start the day when yours is half over, and an American one when you are heading to bed. Think about which hours you can realistically offer before you apply.
How to prepare for remote work
Tidy up your social media
Your personal social media profiles are not as private as they seem. What you publish online stays online. When you look for remote work, employers and clients often find you, or check you, through these channels. Make sure there is nothing there you would be embarrassed for a future employer to see, and remember that the UAE has strict rules on what you may post online.
Work on your time management
Every morning you probably follow a routine to get to work on time. That routine helps you organise yourself. What happens when you work from home and have no fixed hours? The pool is calling, the sofa looks comfortable, and suddenly cleaning the kitchen seems fascinating. Before you start looking for remote work, build habits that help you organise working from home: a fixed start time, a separate workspace and clear breaks.
Build relationships
Remote jobs are often filled through recommendations. Join the online discussions around the field you work in, or want to work in, and take part actively. Help others, share advice, answer questions. Let new people get to know you. A strong LinkedIn profile makes this much easier and increases your chances of reaching interesting job offers.
Keep developing your skills
Remote roles attract applicants from all over the world, which means competition is fierce. Stand out with your skills. Look for online courses and certificates that complement your experience, especially in digital tools your field uses. Do not sit and wait for opportunities to fall from the sky. Act.
Prepare for online interviews
Most remote jobs are filled without a single face-to-face meeting. Your camera, microphone, lighting and internet connection become part of your first impression. Our guide on how to prepare for a video interview from home covers the details.
Follow your passion
Think about what you really enjoy doing. Perhaps it is time to change direction and do something that makes you smile. Remote work opens new possibilities because you are no longer limited to the vacancies in the city where you live.
Remote work can demand more commitment than a traditional office job. Even so, more and more people choose it, because it makes it easier to find work that matches their skills and experience, and because of the flexibility and sense of freedom it brings. To make it work, prepare well. We hope these tips help you take the next step towards the job you want. Good luck!
Prefer a role with a team around you? Browse current jobs in Dubai on Jober.
