Few places project wealth quite like Dubai.
Step off the plane and you’re met with glass towers, spotless streets and a sense that money flows as freely as the desert sun shines.
Luxury cars glide along vast highways, five-star hotels line the coast, and shopping malls feel more like palaces than retail spaces.
On the surface, excess isn’t just expected — it’s normal.
The Other Normal Beneath the Shine
But beneath the polished exterior sits a different kind of normal, one that human rights groups say has quietly grown alongside Dubai’s booming tourism industry.
Since the late 1990s, millions of migrant workers have been the engine behind the city’s transformation, and many of them face harsh conditions that tourists never see.
Workers from countries including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cameroon and Nigeria are drawn in by promises of opportunity and stability.
For many, Dubai is sold as a place where hard work can lift entire families out of poverty back home.
A Tourism Boom Built on Migrant Labour
Dubai’s tourism industry is already worth billions and continues to expand.
In 2025 alone, an estimated 17.5 million international visitors arrived — the highest figure on record.
With crime rates low and the city famously clean, a job in hospitality can look appealing from afar.
Yet critics argue that many migrant workers end up paying a steep price for trying to succeed in a city ruled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
They describe a system that thrives on long hours, low pay and limited protection.
‘Dubai Depression’ and the Mental Toll
Among workers, phrases like “Dubai Depression” or “Dubai blues” have become common shorthand for burnout and despair.
Endless shifts, unsafe conditions, crowded accommodation and the absence of a real support network can take a serious toll on both physical and mental health.
Migrant workers are reported to face a significantly higher risk of suicide than UAE nationals.
When Luxury Jobs Pay Poverty Wages
Despite the wealth flowing through Dubai’s hotels and resorts, little of it reaches the people keeping them running.
Around 90% of the UAE workforce is made up of migrant labourers, yet wages can be shockingly low.
Recent job listings paint a stark picture.
One advert for a front office associate at the five-star Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on Palm Jumeirah offers between £522 and £745 a year — roughly £43 to £62 a month — for full-time work, with language skills preferred.
Another role, for a beauty therapist at a luxury spa, pays around £2,000 annually.
Not All Experiences Are the Same
There are exceptions. A housekeeper working for Marriott International in Dubai can earn around £675 a month, nearly 50% higher than the national average for similar roles.
Some employees describe reputable brands as offering career progression and stability.
But even then, problems remain.
One senior hostess said her staff accommodation in Al Quoz was isolated and inconvenient, while 12- to 13-hour shifts were common.
Shared rooms with multiple strangers are typical, adding another layer of stress to already demanding jobs.
Life Inside Migrant Accommodation
For many workers, housing conditions come as a shock.
A Cameroonian migrant named Milli, who later left Dubai for the US, recalled arriving to a room shared by ten people of mixed genders.
He described overcrowded dormitory-style living with little privacy or dignity.
He eventually found better conditions through family connections, but stressed that many are not so lucky.
For most, cramped rooms and bunk beds are simply part of the deal.
Serious Risks Beyond Discomfort
Poor housing is only one concern.
The Business and Human Rights Centre has flagged the Gulf region as a hotspot for severe human rights abuses.
Last year, GCC countries accounted for 10% of reported allegations worldwide, with the UAE ranking second after Saudi Arabia.
Construction workers and service staff face the highest risks.
Fatal workplace accidents, extreme heat exposure and lack of safety protections are repeatedly documented, particularly during peak summer temperatures that exceed 50C.
Recruitment Promises That Fall Apart
Many workers say the reality of their jobs bears little resemblance to what they were promised.
According to researchers, contract substitution is common, with migrants arriving to find different roles, pay or conditions than agreed.
The recruitment process often involves multiple agents across countries, each adding fees.
These costs can spiral into thousands of pounds, trapping workers in debt bondage and making it nearly impossible to leave a job or the country.
The Kafala System and Loss of Freedom
Dubai operates under the Kafala sponsorship system, tying workers’ legal status to their employer.
Passports are sometimes withheld, leaving workers unable to travel or seek help.
Complaints can feel pointless when your right to stay depends on the very person you’re reporting.
Wage theft adds another layer of hardship, with some workers going unpaid for months and struggling to afford food or basic necessities.
Stories That End in Tragedy
In 2023, a Nepalese hotel security guard named Rakesh Kumar Yadav died just three months after arriving in Dubai.
His death was attributed to heart and respiratory failure, and his family waited weeks to bring his body home.
He died still owing money to recruitment agencies that had promised him opportunity abroad.
Racism and Unequal Treatment
Many migrants also report discrimination tied to nationality.
Workers from African countries have spoken of worse treatment, poorer food and fewer opportunities than colleagues from elsewhere.
Nigerian businesswoman Ann Iyonu publicly warned Africans against moving to Dubai, citing personal experiences of workplace discrimination and housing rejection.
Where Accountability Falls Apart
Dubai is home to nearly every major global hotel brand, raising questions about responsibility.
According to experts, accountability often becomes blurred because brands partner with local property owners who manage staff welfare.
When challenged, companies may argue they don’t control housing or labour conditions — even though workers wear their logos and are hired through their platforms.
A City Still Racing Ahead
Dubai shows no sign of slowing down.
Mega-projects like Dubai Square, the floating Dubai Museum of Art, Burj Azizi and the future Al Maktoum International Airport are already underway.
Tourism numbers are expected to keep climbing.
Whether life will improve for the overseas workers who make this futuristic vision possible remains uncertain.
For now, Dubai’s skyline continues to rise — even as many of the people building and servicing it struggle far below the surface.
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