Dubai is a great place to work for a software engineer.
The average salary for an experienced software developer in Dubai is nearly $115,000 USD.
Furthermore, that salary is completely income tax-free.
Dubai is also a modern and dynamic city, with year round sunshine. Taken together, it's easy to see why Dubai is a popular destination for tech workers.
With a thriving jobs market, there are many potential employers in Dubai.
But what are the best tech companies to work for in Dubai?
In this article I list some of my favourite companies in the UAE.
For each, I highlight what they offer and why they are amongst the best companies in Dubai to work for.
In this article: 📝
Talabat
Talabat is the leading online food delivery platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The company operates in 9 countries across the region. a
The company is now part of German delivery group, Delivery Hero. As such Talabat has access to a vast international network.
At the time of writing the have engineering teams in over 13 countries and operations in 40+ countries. This makes it amongst the best companies to work for in Dubai for expats.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages
- Opportunities for career growth within a rapidly expanding company
- A dynamic and collaborative work environment
- Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
- Exposure to a truly international network
What I Like About it:
Talabat are committed to XP (extreme programming), which means lean processes and continuous delivery.
The work culture emphasizes quality, speed and continuous improvement. If you like agile work environments Talabat is a good option.
Expect short feedback loops, small batch updates, for rapid learning and improvement.
Careem
Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East. It's basically the Middle East's answer to Uber and Uber Eats. In fact it's a subsidiary of Uber.
Careem operates in over 70 cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.
Founded in 2012, they've sinced 50 million customers and helped 2.5 million drivers earn a living.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
- A diverse and inclusive workplace culture
- Opportunities for career growth and professional development
- Involvement in impactful and high-tech projects
What I like about it:
Engineering at Careem places emphasis on building a scalable, efficient data platform with reusable components.
They also use modern big data tools and techniques such as Apache Spark, Apache Kafka, and Apache Trino. As part of this they make contributions and collaborate with the open-source community.
The company also has a commitment to developing a wide array of innovative services. Building products in e-commerce, logistics, maps, identity, and fintech.
Noon
Noon is a Saudi Arabian e-commerce platform. They have a presence in Dubai and are basically the Amazon of the Middle East.
Noon built a full-fledged ecosystem of products and services within a few years. Their aim is to become the undisputed market leader in the region in the next 10 years.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salary packages
- A vibrant and fast-paced work environment
- Opportunities to work on innovative projects
- Access to the latest technologies
- A culture of intensity, hard work, and radical optimism
What I like about it:
Noon's core values emphasize speed, action, and originality. This means opportunities for hands-on problem solving - an environment where resourceful engineers thrive.
If you like fast-paced settings and action, Noon could be a good option for you. The company's dedication to innovation and growth make it a good place to start your career.
Microsoft
Microsoft is a global technology giant renowned for its software products. Think Windows operating system, Office suite, and Azure cloud services.
Their operations in Dubai are particularly focused on data center technologies, playing a pivotal role in Microsoft's cloud based services.
The company’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team drives the infrastructure for services such as Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and Microsoft Azure.
With a global portfolio of over 200 data centers in 32 countries, Microsoft supports more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and excellent benefits
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion
- Access to extensive resources and training programs, including Career Rotation Programs and professional certifications
- Opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies and innovative projects
- Emphasis on environmental sustainability and optimization in data center operations
##What I Like About It:
As a world reknowned software company, working at Microsoft is great for career visibility.
Working at Microsoft mean working with cutting-edge technologies. You'll have participate in ongoing learning and in impactful projects.
The Microsoft office in Dubai is more sales and solutions focused, so it's a good place for engineers who want to solve customer's problems.
IBM
IBM is a global leader in technology and consulting, renowned for its innovations in AI, cloud computing, and quantum computing. With a history of over a century, IBM continues to shape the future of business and technology.
The company focuses on infusing core business operations with intelligence, leveraging machine learning and generative AI to enhance productivity, resilience, and responsiveness. IBM's AI and data platform scales and accelerates AI's impact with trusted data, making it a powerful tool for businesses.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages
- Opportunities for career growth and continuous learning
- A world class collaborative and inclusive work environment
- Access to advanced technologies and tools
- Involvement in impactful and innovative projects across industries including healthcare, government and manufacturing
What I Like About It:
IBM fosters a growth mindset and encourages continuous learning and experimentation. The company values trust, personal responsibility, and innovation, creating an environment where employees thrive regardless of their background.
IBM’s commitment to AI, hybrid cloud, and cutting-edge technology offers software engineers exciting opportunities to work on transformative projects. The company’s dedication to making a positive impact on business and society makes it a compelling workplace. If you are passionate about technology and innovation, IBM is an excellent place to build your career.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
For software engineers Amazon Web Services (AWS) needs no introduction.
The world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS is known for pioneering cloud computing and continuous innovation.
AWS supports a wide range of customers with a robust suite of products. Successful startups and Global 500 companies rely on AWS to power their businesses.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits
- A flexible work environment promoting work-life balance
- A culture of inclusion with employee-led affinity groups
- Continuous learning opportunities through mentorship and career growth resources
- Access to cutting-edge cloud technologies and tools
What I Like About It:
AWS is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive team culture. They value diverse experiences and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those with non-traditional career paths.
The emphasis on work-life harmony ensures that achieving professional success does not come at the expense of personal sacrifices.
AWS provides an environment that supports continuous learning and career advancement, making it an ideal workplace for software engineers seeking growth and innovation in the cloud computing industry.
Emirates
Emirates is one of the world’s more recognisable airlines.
The company is one of the leading employers in Dubai. As an airline with a digital presence they hire many software engineers and technical staff.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages, including tax-free income and travel perks
- Extensive learning and development pathways, including partnerships with external academic institutions
- A diverse and inclusive workplace with a multicultural team from over 170 countries
- Access to lifestyle and travel benefits, including discounts on air travel, shopping, entertainment, and dining
- A strong focus on safety, health, and well-being
What I Like About It:
There's a focus on continuous learning. Emirates is known to provide time for self-learning, to help staff stay ahead in their field.
The majority of Emirates teams have an agile autonomous work environment. Expect regular stand ups and virtual meetings to stay synchronised.
Emirates is a multi-cultural company, with staff from all over the world. A good place for people who like diverse work environments.
Google
Google is a global technology leader renowned for its search engine, advertising services, and a plethora of software products. The company has established a significant presence in Dubai, contributing to the city's growing tech ecosystem.
The Dubai office plays a crucial role in serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, focusing on various innovative projects and solutions tailored to the local market.
What They Offer:
- Competitive salaries and outstanding benefits
- A culture of innovation and creativity
- Opportunities to work on impactful projects and software solutions
- Access to extensive resources and training programs
- A diverse and inclusive workplace environment
What I Like About It:
Google’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning makes it an excellent workplace for software engineers.
The Dubai office is no exception, providing numerous opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technologies and solve complex problems.
Google’s collaborative environment encourages knowledge sharing and creative problem-solving.
If you thrive in a setting where new ideas are welcomed and implemented, Google offers a stimulating and rewarding career path.
Conclusion
These are just some of the best companies to work for in Dubai. However, there are plenty of great companies on this list.
You can see more job opportunities for software engineers in Dubai and perform a job search here on our site.
I only list employment opportunities at good companies, so it's a good place to start. You can also read my guides where I explain how to find the best software developer jobs here in Dubai and your options for visas as a software engineer in Dubai.
If you want to get a better idea of how much you could earn and how much it might cost you to live in Dubai as a software developer, then I recommend you check out my Dubai Software Engineer Salary and Cost of Living Calculator.
Thanks for reading and feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
