Dubai government jobs: how to apply through official portals

Dubai Government departments advertise their vacancies on Dubai Careers, the government’s official job portal. Federal and Abu Dhabi government jobs have portals of their own. We do not host or copy government listings. This page explains how government hiring works and links to the official sites, where you search and apply directly.

Key facts

• Dubai Careers is the Dubai Government’s official job portal, with jobs from more than 45 government entities.
• Federal government jobs are advertised through the iRecruitment portal of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR).
• Abu Dhabi Government jobs are listed through TAMM and the Abu Dhabi Government iRecruitment portal.
• In federal entities, UAE nationals have priority. Non-nationals can be appointed where no national meets the requirements.
• Applying through the official portals costs nothing. Anyone asking you to pay to get a government job is not genuine.

How government hiring works in the UAE

Government jobs in the UAE sit at two levels:

• Federal government: ministries and federal authorities. Employment is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 49 of 2022 on Human Resources in the Federal Government and its executive regulations (Cabinet Resolution No. 48 of 2023). FAHR runs recruitment for federal entities.
• Local government: each emirate has its own departments, HR law and recruitment portal. Dubai Government entities follow Dubai’s own HR legislation, overseen by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. Abu Dhabi has Law No. 6 of 2016 on human resources.

Government-owned companies and authorities, often called semi-government entities, are covered below.

Dubai Government jobs: Dubai Careers

Dubai Careers is the official job portal of the Government of Dubai. Its app covers jobs from more than 45 entities. Employers on the site include Dubai Municipality, Dubai Customs, the Dubai Land Department and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

On the portal you can:

• search vacancies and apply online
• browse categories such as UAE Nationals, Fresh Graduates, Experienced and People of Determination
• sign up for email alerts that match your interests
• use the Dubai Careers app on iOS or Android

Apply only through the portal or the entity’s own website. A vacancy that cannot be found on either should be treated with suspicion.

Federal government jobs

Federal vacancies are advertised through FAHR’s iRecruitment portal. The FAHR jobs page links to the portal, where you register to browse openings.

Federal rules (Cabinet Resolution No. 48 of 2023) explain how hiring works:

• Priority: UAE nationals have priority for vacancies in federal entities. Non-nationals may be appointed where no national meets the job’s requirements. Selection is based on skills, tests and evaluation, and discrimination on grounds such as race, religion, sex or national origin is prohibited.
• Interviews: no appointment is made without an interview. Candidates abroad must be interviewed by phone or video before being invited to travel.
• Documents: qualifications and work experience certificates must be authenticated and equalised (officially recognised) by the competent UAE authority.
• Other conditions: candidates must be at least 18 and of good conduct, and must pass the relevant tests, interviews and medical checks.

Abu Dhabi and other emirates

Each emirate runs its own government recruitment. The UAE government portal, u.ae, lists these official routes:

Emirate	Official route
Abu Dhabi	TAMM: Find a job and the Abu Dhabi Government iRecruitment portal
Sharjah	Department of Human Resources: services for job seekers
Ajman	Ajman Government jobs (Kawader)
Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah	Government websites linked from u.ae

For private-sector roles in these emirates, browse Abu Dhabi jobs, Sharjah jobs or jobs across the UAE.

Semi-government and government-owned employers

Government-owned companies and authorities may recruit through their own careers websites as well as, or instead of, the government portals. Treat them like any other employer. Find the careers page from the organisation’s official website, not from a link in a message or social media post, and apply there.

Emiratisation: which roles are open to expats?

Emiratisation, the national policy of increasing the number of UAE citizens in work, shapes government hiring. In federal entities, nationals have priority by law. A non-national’s post can also be ended if it is Emiratised, with notice and pay for the notice period. Dubai Careers has a dedicated category for UAE nationals.

That does not mean government jobs are closed to everyone else. Under federal rules, non-nationals can be appointed where no qualified national is available. In practice, that makes specialist roles needing hard-to-find skills or experience the most realistic route for expats. Read each vacancy’s eligibility requirements before you apply.

The private sector has its own Emiratisation targets. Companies with 50 or more employees must raise the share of Emiratis in skilled jobs by 2% a year, and some companies with 20 to 49 employees must hire Emiratis too. These targets do not stop companies hiring international staff. Browse all jobs to see what is available in the private sector.

How to apply and what to prepare

• Create a profile on the relevant portal and set up job alerts.
• Tailor your CV to each vacancy’s stated requirements.
• Get your certificates attested early. Expect to be asked for attested qualifications. Federal rules require qualifications and experience certificates to be authenticated and equalised by the competent UAE authority.
• Collect experience certificates from previous employers.
• Prepare for assessment: interviews (by video if you are abroad), tests and a medical examination.
• Understand the visa process. Our guide to work permits and visas explains how residence visas work.

Red flags: fake government job offers

Fake job offers often use the names and logos of government bodies. Warning signs include:

• A request for money, whether for “processing”, a visa, a medical test, training or a “guarantee”. The UAE government portal warns that a company or agency asking for money to process a visa or medical test is not genuine.
• An email address that does not match the organisation’s official domain.
• A job offer without an interview. Federal rules say no appointment is made without one.
• A vacancy you cannot find on the official portal or the organisation’s own website.
• Contact only through messaging apps or social media, with pressure to decide quickly.

If in doubt, contact the organisation through its official website. Never send money, or copies of your passport, to someone you cannot verify. Report suspected fraud to Dubai Police through its official app.

FAQ

Can expats get government jobs in Dubai?

Yes, but UAE nationals have priority. Federal rules allow non-nationals to be appointed where no qualified national is available, so specialist roles are the most realistic route. Check each listing’s eligibility requirements on Dubai Careers.

Is it free to apply for government jobs in Dubai?

Yes. Applying through Dubai Careers, the FAHR portal or other official portals costs nothing. Never pay anyone who promises you a government job.

How do I apply for UAE federal government jobs?

Register on FAHR’s iRecruitment portal, which is linked from the jobs page on the FAHR website, and apply for vacancies there.

Do I need my degree attested for a government job?

Expect so. Federal rules require qualifications to be authenticated and equalised by the competent UAE authority. Check each employer’s requirements before you apply.

Does jobsindubai.ae list government jobs?

No. Government vacancies are published on official portals, and we link to them rather than copying listings. For private-sector roles, browse all jobs or read about recruitment agencies in Dubai.

How can I tell if a government job offer is real?

Check that the vacancy appears on the official portal or the organisation’s website, that emails come from its official domain, and that you have been interviewed. Any request for money is a red flag.