Dubai or Doha – which is a better job market?

After years of seemingly unstoppable growth, Dubai seemed the favourite place for expats for a job in the entire Gulf region. Post-crises, other contenders like Qatar's Doha, with huge gas reserves, started attracting foreign talent away from Dubai. However, even today, Dubai, if compared to the Qatari market, is more sought after by job seekers, according to experts.

“Dubai is still the premium destination for the majority of job seekers given its lifestyle, freedom, infrastructure and opportunities. Qatar might compete down the line, but at the moment, it is still in development and construction mode - whilst Dubai is already established,” Hasnain Qazi, Middle East Business Manager at Huxley Associates, told Emirates 24|7.

The lifestyle that Dubai offers is a decisive factor for job seekers when they think of working in the region. “Dubai, or in general the UAE, is a more preferred place for expats, as the quality of life is much more comfortable and enjoyable,” added Konstantina Sakellariou, Partner, Marketing & Operations Director at Stanton Chase.

Agrees Cliff Single, Commercial Manager at BAC Middle East. “We generally find that candidates see Dubai as a more attractive location overall,” he told this website.

Findings of Gulf Talent, a regional jobs portal, show that while the UAE remains the most attractive destination for professionals, Qatar is closing in fast. Key drivers of this have been a fast‐growing economy and an abundance of employment opportunities, higher salaries on offer, falling cost of living, as well as the government’s continued investment in developing its brand internationally – most recently with its successful bid to host the 2022 Football World Cup. 

However, besides being the initial choice of candidates, Dubai also scores high when it comes to retaining its residents.

“The greater flexibility in changing employers [in Dubai] also helps in retaining residents in the longer term,” said Single.

Acording to Gulf Talent, Qatar ranks well below the UAE on this particular point. “This is partly due to laws preventing expatriates from changing employers, but also because the country’s infrastructure does not yet match the brand projected externally and remains far behind what is available in the UAE, particularly in Dubai.”

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