For many Filipinos who want to work in Dubai, the easiest and fastest way is by using a visit or tourist visa. They believe that finding a job will be easy for them in this progressive city. The plan is to acquire a job before the tourist visa expires. To legalize their stay, they will then apply for a residence visa.

However, success has been elusive for many tourist visa holders in United Arab Emirates (UAE). In fact, most of them go home with nothing but sad stories to share.

Most agencies that offer visa assistance in Dubai lures Filipinos by saying that everything will be easy once they are in Dubai. They present promises like high-paying jobs and better living conditions that drives hopeful Filipinos to sell valuable properties or resort to loans (even those with high interest) just to produce the money to go to Dubai.

This is because most are only after the high commission they will receive from each Filipino they can send to Dubai. An agency often charged Php 50, 000 to Php 80,000 when in fact the true rate is only Php 35, 000.

The truth is it is hard to gain employment in Dubai because there are so many Filipinos there who are also tourist visa holders. This means that for one job opening, 20 or more Filipinos are competing to get the job.

Tourist visa holders are also subject to abuse by UAE employers. Some Filipinas are forced to accept indecent proposals of employers in exchange of a job with a higher salary. Some even resort to prostitution.

Here is one example:  A lady employed as team leader in a call center company in the Philippines who is earning 25 to 30 thousand a month was invited by a friend to work in Dubai. The friend claimed she will receive better salary in Dubai (DH 2000). Her friend is right about the salary if one is employed in a British company with a generous employer.

Now, the former tem leader is employed as a waitress in an internet shop, receiving only 700 DHS plus free bed space. She can’t go back to the Philippines yet because she still has to raise the money for her airfare.

Going to Dubai using a tourist visa is also not advisable if you do not have a financially stable relative in Dubai. The average salary is only 800 to 1,200 dirhams for two months. This salary is not enough to shoulder the cost of living there. The cost of a bedspace alone is already 500 dirhams a month. An average-sized room can even cost up to 1,00 to 1,500  dirhams a month. You still have to pay for your electricity, water, food, and others.

Dubai is favorable destination as long as you will you go through the legal process of deployment. Arriving in Dubai with a legitimate job offer and employer is the safe and best way.

For overseas jobs in UAE, click here.