How hard is it to find a job in Dubai as an expat, and what salary can you expect without a highly specialized skill set?

If you have an EU/US passport, a strong degree, and experience at reputable companies, you can find a job fairly easily on your own.

If you're not a top-tier specialist, expect salaries around 4,000 AED/month and you'll need to search for jobs entirely on your own.

Without a rare, in-demand skill set, landing a job with a decent salary is nearly impossible — you basically need to be a top-tier specialist.

A realistic starting point for most people is a salary of 4,000-5,000 AED/month, and you'll have to live frugally on it.

On that salary, housing typically means a bed in a shared room with several other people, costing roughly half of your paycheck.