Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, an archipelago consisting of more than 200 islands. The city of Abu Dhabi itself is located on an island, just a few hundred meters from the mainland, to which it is connected by several bridges. Many foreigners are currently living and working in Abu Dhabi,
The traffic in the city is much less than in Dubai and you can reach your workplace without wasting time. Public transport is crowded at rush hour, but sufficient.
Here you can meet people of all nationalities and cultures, Abu Dhabi is a truly cosmopolitan city. Although it does not offer the attractions and entertainment of Dubai, there are places to enjoy yourself here, especially on weekends. It’s not as commercial as Dubai, life moves at a slower pace here, but there are still bars, restaurants and shopping malls of all kinds offering everything. Your rhythm of life will be dominated by home, work and going out to shopping malls, which will mean that if you are not careful, you will spend a large part of your salary. Life in Abu Dhabi is not cheap, but it is cheaper than in Dubai. In any case, the temptations of spending money lurk just around the corner, so watch out and try not to fall into a lifestyle where money runs out quickly.
Abu Dhabi is an open and welcoming city, but you have to understand the slowness of the bureaucracy and adapt to the local culture by trying to understand what it means to live in a Muslim country and respect the traditions: for example, keeping your distance from people of the opposite sex, never getting too close to a woman, and never touching her under any circumstances.
In terms of employment, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has 12% of the world’s oil reserves and 7% of the world’s gas reserves. So there are many foreigners working in this sector. If you also work in this sector, you could easily find employment in one of the many companies in the sector. But other areas such as IT, trade and finance also offer good opportunities.
The usual tips apply to your job search:
1. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and try to make professional contacts in your industry
2. Use job search websites such as:
3. Go to Abu Dhabi on a tourist visa so that during your stay you have the opportunity to submit your CV in person or email it to the recruiting agencies or companies.
Living and working in Abu Dhabi – pros and cons
Living in Abu Dhabi, pros
- Safety, Abu Dhabi is a very safe city
- Very good winter climate
- Relaxed life
- Little traffic
Living in Abu Dhabi, cons
- Very bad summer weather. Temperatures sometimes exceed 50 °C and humidity is 90%,
- Difficulties with integration
- High cost of living
- Fewer job opportunities than in Dubai
Is it better Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
The United Arab Emirates is the most popular destination for expats from around the world seeking work in the Middle East. In the collective imagination, Dubai is undoubtedly the most famous place, with its glittering lights and famous nightlife, while Abu Dhabi is the quieter and more reserved counterpart.
- Dubai is teeming with people moving frantically, while in Abu Dhabi there are far fewer people and life is much slower
- The cost of living in Abu Dhabi is lower than in Dubai, restaurants, food and public services are cheaper. Only rents in Abu Dhabi are more expensive than in Dubai
- The public transportation network in Abu Dhabi is worse than in Dubai, but there is less traffic
- When it comes to entertainment and the nightlife in Dubai is second to none, Abu Dhabi offers much less in this regard and could become a bit monotonous and boring in the long run.
Abu Dhabi is a beautiful, multicultural city, full of shopping malls but with little entertainment. A safe and clean city. If you are looking for the hectic life of a city, with crazy traffic, full of clubs and entertainment venues, Dubai is undoubtedly your destination. On the other hand, if you love quieter and less crowded places, I recommend Abu Dhabi.
If you want to have all the information about how to work in Dubai, I recommend you to read the article: How to work in Dubai
If you want to move to Dubai, you can read the article: How to move to Dubai
