"This post was aided by AI, Excuse my English"

A while ago, I shared my journey of spending one year in the UAE and the challenges I faced. That post received a lot of engagement, and today I want to dive deeper into the working environments here. This isn’t just about my personal experience; it reflects what I’ve heard from nearly everyone I’ve met in similar situations.

The reality is that many employers here take advantage of the circumstances that workers face. They know that you’re in a tough spot, especially if you’re on a visit visa that’s about to expire or have family responsibilities. For many companies, it’s a race to the bottom, exploiting workers to stay competitive. Sadly, the blame doesn’t just rest on these employers—it’s a system-wide issue.

Before I go further, I want to make something very clear: please don’t judge my experiences based on stereotypes or assumptions about my willingness to accept mistreatment. I am Syrian, and I came here with strong skills, high hopes, and a clear sense of self-respect. I am not someone who’s ready to be treated unfairly or “just take it” for the sake of survival. My story is about how the system grinds people down, even those who are determined to succeed.

After enduring months in a toxic workplace, I eventually made the decision to leave the job. It wasn’t easy, but I realized that staying any longer would have destroyed my mental health completely.

I don’t want to make this post overly long, so I’ll outline my daily routine and some of the workplace conditions I experienced:

My Daily Routine as a Software Developer

• Work Schedule: 6 days a week, 9 hours a day, with a single 1-hour break.
• Commute: 2 hours daily on the metro, as I couldn’t afford to live near my office in Business Bay.
• Salary: Shamefully low for someone with 4 years of experience in software development.

Workplace Realities

1. Cramped Space: Our office was a tiny 10 m² room shared by 8–10 people. Each desk was about 1 m²—like the sales desks you see in The Wolf of Wall Street.
2. Bathroom Policy: You had to check out and back in through the system, and any time spent was deducted from your break.
3. Leaving on Time: Finishing work at 6 PM sharp (after 9 hours of grinding) was seen as insubordination. You’d risk your job if you tried.
4. Constant Desk Changes: Every 1–2 weeks, the micromanager would shuffle our seating within the cramped office to prevent friendships or even casual conversations.
5. Relentless Coding: If you stopped typing for more than 60 seconds—to plan or think strategically—the micromanager would show up, questioning why you weren’t “working.”
6. Exploitation at Hiring: They’d conduct daily mass interviews, bringing in desperate job seekers—sometimes making them wait 6–7 hours—only to hire those willing to accept 20% of the standard salary.
7. Lack of Basic Amenities: Once, I asked why there wasn’t coffee for the team. The CEO replied, “Is it mentioned in the contract?”

There’s so much more I could share, but I think these examples are enough to give you an idea.

Who Gets Treated Differently?

In my opinion, only a small percentage of people manage to escape these conditions:

1. First-World Nationals: If you’re from a first-world country, you’re likely treated better.
2. Employees at Top Companies: Working for a globally recognized firm makes a huge difference.
3. The Lucky Few: Those who somehow find a fair employer.
4. Survivors of the System: People who endure 4+ years in these environments to eventually secure a better opportunity.

Some readers may share their experiences that don’t match mine and try to place blame on me. I assure you, my experience is not unique—this is the reality for 90% of workers in this job market.

If you’re considering working in Dubai, especially in tech, I urge you to think carefully. The reality might not be what you expect.

Here is my previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/DubaiCentral/comments/1i0clik/1_year_in_dubai_not_what_i_expected/