Why Working As An Office Girl In Dubai Is Not Glamourous As It Seems
A memoir of a former office girl working in Dubai
It was the year 2005 when a dear friend of mine living in Dubai told me that she could help me find a job there.
I was fearful because (a) I don’t know anything about the country aside from the fact that it’s a Muslim country and (b) it would be my first time flying out of my home country, but at the same time excited for that new opportunity.
My daughter was only 4 years old at that time. We lived at my parents’ house as I left my ex-husband due to mental issues when my daughter was only 10 months old. My career as a Paralegal Assistant was not enough to support us both.
At the airport, I said goodbye. I told my daughter that I love her very much and promise that I will come home every year.
I landed in Dubai, and my friend met me at the airport. During the car ride, I was looking out the window. Dubai seems shiny. The nightlight was gorgeous and, the cityscape was phenomenal.
Once we’ve reached the apartment’s door, I saw curtains and makeshift cartons turned into dividers. My friend told me that we were 30 ex-pats living in that one apartment.
As soon as we were inside the room, there were 5 of us. A couple, another roommate, my friend, and myself. It was too small for all of us to fit in that room. My sleeping area was on top of the bunk bed that if I were to sit, I would have to knock off the room light bulb (yes, I was this close and can feel the hotness of the bulb). My friend’s bed area was on top of another bunk bed, and she was sleeping exactly beside the AC unit.
In the morning, I saw that we had a schedule to use the toilet. My schedule was from 6:15 am to 6:30 am. I thought I was quick, but left at 6:45 am. My friend told me that everyone was upset as I caused some to be late.
After a few weeks and endless interviews, I’ve finally found a job in the aviation industry, working under administration in the operations department. It was a huge company that I got lost inside a few times before managing my way thru. I’ve worked from 7 am to 7 pm with just one day off. Our normal office timings were only from 7 am to 4 pm, but it was mandatory to work overtime in that company. I was paid DHS 800 (USD 217) a month, and that includes overtime. My salary was small, but they provided housing, meals, and uniform. My airline ticket to go home was not paid for every year, though. My one day off was to spent time doing laundry.
Half of my income was sent back home for my daughter’s financial needs, and the other half was for my basic needs and savings for a ticket back home.
After 2 years, my contract ended, and I left that company. Since then, my jobs in Dubai have been a hit and miss. There were times that I had to do some illegal part-time jobs like work in a mall to assist customers so I could earn some money. Working part-time in Dubai is illegal because the resident visa should be attached to your employer.
One time, I found myself inside a really nice and posh office area located inside the Burjuman business tower. I was there for an interview, and I was pretty excited. The office was small but artistic. They even had a fridge shaped like a rocketship egg. The CEO was pleased with my interview that I was asked to start right away.
I was his PA and did what every personal assistant would do. He would leave me at the office by myself to do all the admin tasks and office arrangements. I would not know his whereabouts as he won’t tell me. He would come back at 5 or 6 pm and add in another task, and I can’t go home until past 7 pm because I needed to finish the task.
One time, I was with him at the office and bid goodbye. He got furious about why I wanted to leave now. I said it’s already 9 pm. He told me I would never learn anything because I want to leave now.
After two weeks of being his PA (AKA his slave), I resigned. It’s not even because of the way he treated me for the past two weeks. It was because he accused me of switching his flash drive to my own flash drive(which I bought in carrefour for next to nothing, and it was the cheapest brand). His flash drive had a plastic burnt because he’s a smoker and accused me that I stole his; he switched the files from one USB to another because he wanted mine. He was distraught and threw the office stapler at me.
I did not come back the next day.
I found another job in a hotel and stayed there for a while. I was a Personal Assistant to the General Manager. I liked that job very much. However, it wasn’t a bed of roses because if the company’s CEO fires the General Manager, they fired me too.
I was back at zero and had been struggling with finding jobs. For some reason, I always have savings to go home every year for my daughter. I said to myself that God indeed works in mysterious ways.
Every time I go back to Dubai, I go to Dubai creek for a walk and cry endlessly. I keep on saying that I’m not too fond of the country, but I needed the money for my daughter.
It was painful being away from the family, but I had to do what I need to do -save some money and leave.
Dubai is beautiful outside, but really it is painful inside.