°µÍø½ûÇø

The reason that they ask you is because they prefer people who are already in the UAE.  This is due to employer's preferring to hire people who are already here and transfer them on their visa - quicker, less costly and people can hit the ground running vs. settling in.

With so many people wanting to come to the UAE, °µÍø½ûÇø relocation packages are mostly history (with few exceptions for very senior people or internal transfers).  I went to the UAE 15 years ago on such a package but now, people fly in on visit visa..........job hunt for a month or two, find a job and convert their visa.  No employer will fly you out for interviews or even bother with doing virtual calls (minus the exception I listed) when they know that they will have to pay to relocate you.  Why bother especially if there are thousands of people like you, on visit visas, on the ground that they can go through easier, faster and cheaper.

So the best advice I can give you, if you are not physically based in the GCC (unless you are super senior i.e. CFO, CIO etc. level) is to fly down on a visit visa and job hunt in person.  That way, recruiters and employers are reassured that you are serious and most importantly, they won't need to pay you a relocation package.

@Shivish

It can feel backward, but many UAE recruiters prefer candidates with work authorization. Typically, a UAE work visa is sponsored by your employer, so securing a job offer first is key. Try targeting companies open to international hiring or reach out via LinkedIn to UAE-based professionals in your field. Also, consider applying for a UAE job seeker visa to ease your transition. Many °µÍø½ûÇøs have found success that way.

Hey mate, moved from Sydney to Dubai last year for an IT gig. UAE visas are employer-sponsored, so focus on landing a job first. LinkedIn and GulfTalent worked for me. Once I got an offer, the company sorted the visa in a few weeks. Tailor your CV for hot skills like 5G or cybersecurity, and keep at it with recruiters.