Manipulation by Asian bosses
I came to Dubai with more than seven years of experience in the hospitality industry, hoping to secure a decent job and build a stable career. However, due to the pressure of my visit visa expiring, I was forced to accept a position that paid only AED 4,000 per month without even providing an employment visa. Eventually, I resigned from that job and joined a hotel in Deira that offered AED 2,500 plus accommodation.
I accepted the offer only because my visa situation left me with very limited options. Unfortunately, the hotel environment was highly unprofessional. It was a newly established property with inexperienced staff, poor management, and no proper system in place. There were no incentives, bonuses, or salary increments despite the workload and challenges.
After six months, I decided to leave and joined a travel agency that initially offered AED 3,500. Later, my salary was increased to AED 4,000, but even after working there for two years and putting in tremendous effort, I never received any increment or recognition for my hard work.
In all three organizations, my supervisors were Asians, and I often felt that employees were underpaid regardless of their experience or dedication. Living expenses in Dubai are extremely high. Renting even a small partition room without a private washroom or kitchen costs between AED 2,700 and AED 3,500 per month, while groceries and other essentials cost an additional AED 800 to AED 1,000. Under such circumstances, it becomes almost impossible to save money or maintain a decent quality of life.
At times, I feel discouraged and believe that people who do not belong to European, Russian, or American backgrounds are rarely offered higher salaries, regardless of their qualifications or experience.