KOTRA Hosts '2026 Middle East Job Fair' in Dubai to Support Youth Overseas Employment

Amid Uncertainty from the U.S.-Iran Conflict,
11 Local Companies Participate

66 Interviews Held in Line with Korea-UAE CEPA Enforcement

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced on the 1st that it successfully hosted the "2026 Middle East Job Fair" in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the business hub of the Middle East, to support global employment opportunities for young Koreans.

The UAE is a logistics and financial hub in the Middle East, where high value-added Korean companies are actively expanding their presence. Since the Korea-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force in May, local demand for talent and opportunities for young Koreans to advance into the market are expected to increase further.

Joon Kyu Kim, Head of the Middle East Regional Headquarters at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, delivered the opening speech at the "2026 Middle East Job Fair" held on the 29th of last month (local time) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency

The event brought together 11 local and Korean companies operating in key industries including defense, finance, electronics, and accounting, along with 48 young job seekers. On-site corporate briefings and one-on-one interviews between employers and job seekers were held, resulting in a total of 66 interviews conducted in a single day. In addition, considering the current situation in the region, including the U.S.-Iran war, the event offered video interviews for domestic and international job seekers who are not residing in the UAE, thereby widening the range of opportunities.

Various support programs were also provided to help young Koreans settle into overseas employment. A local legal expert attended to offer guidance on labor law issues such as key points to check in employment contracts, probation periods, and the notification period required for resignation, as well as official relief procedures through the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). In addition, the local "K-Move" overseas employment mentors shared their settlement experiences, and global HR specialists provided resume and interview coaching, which received positive feedback from participants.

One job seeker at the event shared, "I was interested in working in the Middle East, but I was concerned that the opportunities had diminished due to the Iran war. Meeting local HR managers helped me directly understand the job market, required skills, and qualifications. After receiving resume coaching, I now have a clearer direction for how to prepare."

Kim Jungyu, Head of KOTRA Middle East Regional Office, stated, "South Korean companies in high value-added sectors such as defense, finance, and IT are steadily increasing their presence in Dubai, and with the enforcement of CEPA, more Korean talent is expected to enter the market. Based on this job fair, we will not only enhance on-site employment support, but also strengthen post-matching and local settlement support programs for job seekers."

Meanwhile, as part of its "K-Move" program to support youth employment overseas, KOTRA is planning to sequentially hold overseas job fairs in Vietnam in October and in Singapore in November following this Middle East event.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.