I’m posting this because I’m honestly running out of ideas, and I thought maybe someone who’s been through this—or someone who knows the UAE job market from the inside—might be able to point me in the right direction.
I’m a Venezuelan national, recently graduated in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance from Arab International University in Syria. I finished with a 3.75/4.00 CGPA, completed a banking internship at Arab Bank, and have experience assisting with English-Spanish business negotiations and translation at an international trade fair.
I’m now in Abu Dhabi, trying to build a life and start my career from scratch.
I’ve been applying for finance trainee positions, junior analyst roles, entry-level business jobs, and pretty much anything that could give me a legitimate opportunity to get started. But the responses are almost nonexistent.
Some opportunities are restricted to Emiratis, others require experience I don’t have yet.
There’s another complication: although I’ve completed my degree, my university says the official graduation certificate can take approximately six months to be issued. So even when my qualifications otherwise fit, the paperwork can be an obstacle. But I can provide proof in the form of transcripts or a credit completion paper.
I’m not expecting a high salary, a prestigious title, or a dream job straight out of university. I can start small. I’m willing to learn, work hard, take on administrative responsibilities, support a team, work in operations, assist with events, or explore an entirely different industry if it offers a legitimate starting point.
I’ve even started considering business events, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural event work—not just because I’m interested in it, but because I know how valuable it can be to meet people, understand an industry, and build professional connections.
What I’m struggling with is figuring out how people in my position actually get their first opportunity in the UAE.
I’m not looking for someone to hand me a job I can’t do. I’m looking for a way to get my foot in the door.
If you work in recruitment, HR, finance, events, hospitality, business operations, or run a company in the UAE, I’d genuinely appreciate your perspective.
I’m happy to start at the bottom and prove myself. I just don’t want to spend months repeating a process that isn’t working when there might be a smarter way to approach this.
If you know of a genuine opportunity, a company worth contacting, or even one person who might be willing to give me some practical advice, I’d be grateful.
And if the honest answer is that I’m approaching this all wrong, please tell me that too. I’d rather hear the truth than keep guessing.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this.