Last Updated on October 18, 2025
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the most popular destinations for job seekers worldwide. It offers countless employment opportunities in sectors such as engineering, accounting, administration, banking, and finance.
Among these professions, security guard jobs in Dubai have gained significant attention — especially among individuals with non-technical qualifications.
If you’re planning to apply for a security guard job in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, this article will help you understand the real situation, challenges, and realities of working as a security guard in this country.
Why Many People Choose Security Guard Jobs in the UAE
Many individuals from Asian and African countries, often with intermediate or graduate-level education in Arts or Education, choose to work as security guards in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The profession provides a stable income, accommodation, and an opportunity to live abroad — but there are several facts that people rarely share openly.
Despite the challenges, most guards avoid talking negatively about their job because it is their primary livelihood and a respected role in UAE society.
Uniformed personnel often look professional and authoritative, even though their job may involve hidden difficulties.
UAE Security Regulation Systems
In the UAE, private security services are managed by different authorities:
- Dubai operates under the SIRA (Security Industry Regulatory Agency).
- Abu Dhabi and other emirates follow systems like PSBD, PSCOD, or ASSD (now PSFRD).
This article focuses on the real-life challenges of the security guard profession rather than the regulations themselves.
11 Challenges You May Face in Security Guard Jobs in Dubai
1. Training and Tests
To become a security guard in the UAE, you must undergo mandatory training and exams under SIRA or PSBD regulations.
If you fail the test after three attempts, you may lose the opportunity to work as a guard or transfer to another job category.
2. Cost of Employment
Although UAE labor law prohibits charging employees recruitment or visa fees, many job agents in home countries demand high payments, claiming they must send money to UAE companies in advance.
In some cases, security firms themselves request workers to pay processing fees, making it seem like you have to “buy” a job in the UAE.
3. Delay in Salary
While large companies usually pay salaries on time, smaller firms often delay wages beyond the legal limit (which is the 7th of each month).
Some employees receive salaries as late as the 10th or 15th because the company waits for client payments first.
4. Limited Career Growth
Career advancement in the security industry is slow. You mainly learn job-specific security skills, which are not easily transferable to other sectors. Promotions can take years and are sometimes influenced by favoritism rather than merit.
5. Food Provision
Not all companies provide food or food allowances. Many guards must manage their own meals, which increases living expenses.
6. Accommodation Standards
Although companies provide housing, many accommodations fail to meet PSBD standards.
Instead of six people per room (as the regulation allows), it’s common to find eight or more guards sharing small spaces, limiting personal comfort and privacy.
7. 12-Hour Shifts
While international labor standards recommend 8-hour workdays, most UAE security guards work 12 hours daily, either in morning or night shifts — leaving little time for rest or personal activities.
8. Long Travel Time
To save rent costs, companies often house guards far from duty locations.
Due to heavy Dubai traffic, guards may spend 1–3 hours commuting each way, meaning they must leave well before their shift starts.
9. Fear of Complaining
Even though SIRA and PSCOD can take action against companies that violate labor standards, many guards avoid filing complaints. They fear job termination or deportation if they report their employer.
10. Waiting for Vacation
Security guards typically receive home leave every two years. However, scheduling a vacation often takes two to six extra months, as companies lack backup staff to cover for those on leave.
11. No Cooking Facility
Average security guard salaries in the UAE range from AED 2,200–3,500 per month, which isn’t much considering Dubai’s cost of living.
Cooking is often prohibited in shared accommodations, forcing guards to buy food outside — significantly increasing daily expenses.
Conclusion
This article does not intend to discourage anyone from applying for security guard jobs in Dubai or the UAE. Many companies treat their employees fairly, and thousands of guards lead successful lives here.
However, the authorities and employers must address ongoing issues like delayed payments, poor accommodations, and long working hours — problems that persist despite existing SIRA and PSBD regulations.
Hello Ranga,
Thank you for your tips and guidance. Have been planning to come to Dubai from Africa for a job opportunity, the travel agent told me he has a security guard job available and I told him I do not mind the job but the money for the whole process is much. Am trying to weigh in my options if the money is worth the process but with your analysis above I don’t think it will be a good step for me to take considering the salary structure and the welfare of security guards in Dubai.
Thank you once again for your insightful writing.