As the glitz and glamour of Dubai continue to attract thousands of job seekers, one young Indian woman’s experience lays bare the underbelly of the city’s work culture. At just 21, she moved to the UAE on a visit visa hoping to rebuild her life after completing her studies in India—only to find herself exploited, insulted, and emotionally broken by a system that often fails the most vulnerable.
Five Jobs in Two Months, Zero Stability
In a heartfelt account written at 3 a.m. through tears, she described how she cycled through five jobs in just two months. The first employer refused to issue an offer letter. The second called her “not special” and forced her to make sales calls using her personal number, even adding an unmentioned workday after hiring. The third promised visa processing but instead used her on a visit visa with no intention of continuing employment. At a fourth company, she was made to cold call hundreds of leads without pay or confirmation of employment.
Her fifth job was the most devastating. Working in a South Indian-run company, she was humiliated by the manager for her looks, told to wear makeup and show skin if she wanted to succeed in sales. “Men like you think the world revolves around you… I am more than a made-up face or a mini skirt. I quit!” she told him before walking away.
Overworked, Underpaid and Emotionally Exhausted
She eventually found a more stable job—but the pattern didn’t stop. Today, she handles multiple roles including marketing, web development, and design, all for a modest salary. Despite strict budgeting—no car, no outings, shared living—she says she is still broke and burned out.
Her powerful message is a warning to others chasing the “Dubai dream.” She concludes: “Dubai is a great place to start a business, but the 9-to-6 will suck the life out of you. This city is a bling, a bling only some privileged and entitled people experience.”
Her story has resonated with many online, spotlighting a rising crisis in the UAE job market for young, underprotected expats.