Here is my advice if you are looking to join the company: RUN!
Seriously, this is the most toxic environment I have ever seen in my life.
Management doesn't have a single clue what they are doing. If you are giving recommendations with something that they should improve, they will literally yell at you. Coming from a C suite level, it is really surprising. They make it look like this is their first ever job opportunity where they don’t have any past work experience whatsoever. They can’t control their stress and their anger. Maybe because they are ashamed to be wrong? You would have thought that they would learn how to take it well since they are wrong most of the time.
The company will lowball your salary to a point where this is ridiculous. But there isn’t really a point of negotiating your salary, it will come late anyway. In Dubai, the salary is generally paid at the end of the month. There is a grace period (around 2 weeks) on which there is no fine for the company if the salary is late. This company will use the full grace period every single month. Just barely in time before they would get fined.
Administration & HR don’t have a single clue what they are doing. Their role feels kind of decorative rather than useful. They could all be replaced by a wooden chair and it would be more productive. At least a chair would give you somewhere to sit. They don’t take any responsibility for anything. Here the phrase “Talk to your line manager” is king. Even after the line manager reorient you towards the admin person. No one wants to take accountability for anything because they don’t know how to do one simple task. Expect to be lied to, because this is what they do best. There is literally no benefit for me to write this review except to help you avoid a lot of struggle by being completely honest with my experience. I am already ashamed to list this company in my work experience. Don't make the same mistake as I did.
The communication in the company is non-existent. It leaves you worried about the next steps and your job security. Not so great for your mental health.
Your opinion is not valued. I raised so many recommendations about improving some features and processes just to be told to never discuss those ever again. Maybe my recommendations were wrong, but 2 to 4 months later, we ended up undoing their ideas and building the exact same thing that I mentioned earlier. It's just that this time, they make it look as if it was their idea.
I am pretty sure they used ChatGPT to create some “fake reviews” to help boost their own rating. HR is begging people to write a “good review” while making sure it is a positive review while they stand behind. If this doesn’t convince you of how bad the place is, I don’t know what will. Imagine working in a product company where they fake their good reviews rather than fixing the customer/employee pain points.
If you need help regarding an element because you are unsure about how to proceed in a task. You can be sure that no one from the management will help you. If you raise the issue. This will only be held against you on your performance review to prove to you how bad you are and you should not be worthy of working here.
Talking about performance review, they will not take into account your achievements, or not even one single task that you did well. Performance reviews are a demotivational festival to make you think you are bad at everything you do and they are offering you a great favor by allowing you to enter the organization premises.
Summary:
If you love not being able to sleep at night because you are anxious about receiving your salary or if you will still have a job next month. Then, this job is perfect for you! Otherwise, run as fast as you can and never look back. Seriously, I know the job market is hard in Dubai, but this opportunity is not worth it. Wait for the next one.
