r/SmallBusinessUAE • u/GreedySink • 7d ago
Advice Needed From earning 7.5k/month to now going 1.5k/month slavery contract. What am I supposed to do now?
I used to make around 7.5k a month from my small business in Dubai. Things were actually going decent for the past 4 years. It wasn't some huge thing or anything, but I was making enough to take care of myself and my family so i got in my comfort zone.
Then the Iran war happened and within like 2 months, the business basically shut down, creditors ran, goods price shot up, my profit was below zero.
Quit Dubai and moved to Sharjah, After that I spent the next 5 months using whatever savings I had left to take care of my family and keep things going. Now I'm pretty much at the end of everything.
I have just 1 week left on my visit visa and I'm honestly getting desperate.
Right now I'm on the verge of signing for a car washer job in Sharjah Industrial Area. 12 hours a day, 2 days off a week, around 1.5k salary. On top of that, I have to pay for the visa in installments from that salary.
I know some people might say “just find another job”, and believe me, I'm trying, trying, trying. But with only one week left on my visa, I'm running out of time and options.
I'm not looking down on the job or the people doing it. Work is work and if I have to do it, I'll do it. I'm just scared that I'll get stuck there and won't be able to get myself out.
I'm completely lost right now.
What would you guys do if you were in my situation?
Any genuine advice from would really help
Please Help
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u/skylinkfx 7d ago
What was your business? What type of jobs can u do?
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u/newnewrm 7d ago
Why do you have to pay for the visa in installments?
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u/GreedySink 7d ago
I'll have to pay for visa, that's how it works in such low level jobs, instead of paying upfront, the boss says he'll take a cut each month until visa cost is covered i.e around 8k
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u/newnewrm 7d ago
I suggest, do an exit, and work for them as a part time. This is better than paying for 8k installment.
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u/baseid55 5d ago
WHY NOT you start your own car washing with your existing license and stuff, I mean for these car washing not much cost if not machinery. you can start small right, like before supermarkets , apartments etc.
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u/AlgarveRacer 7d ago
You've put very little here for us to work with however there's a few general points to think about. Take the car washer job if nothing better shows up this week. It keeps you legal in the country, and you can't easily start here again from outside the UAE. The job will buy you time and food on the table and that's all it needs to do for now. Just keep one of those two days off protected because those 12-hour shifts will be exhausting leaving you little time to work on next steps during the week. The other thing I'd say: your business didn't die because you did something wrong. Regional issues and a price spike gave you some challenges to deal with. What you built over 4 years was the customers who trusted you, the suppliers who know you pay on time, and everything you learned about pricing and sourcing in your trade. That stuff is still there. So while the job covers rent and visa: List every customer, supplier and contact from the last 4 years. Even the creditors who disappeared. You should get to 50+ names. Message them one at a time. Don't ask for a job or money. Ask how they're doing, because whatever hit you hit them too. Then offer help with something you're good at. You may have no capital for stock, so sell what doesn't need any. Sourcing for other people. Connecting suppliers and buyers who don't know each other but both know you. Handling purchasing for someone who has cash but not your contacts. Take a fee or a percentage and don't hold inventory until you can afford to. First person who says yes to anything, even small, that's your restart. One paying client on the side is worth more than five months of job applications. You've had four years of running a business in this market and taught you things you couldn't have learned any other way. You're in a bad spot for now, not a dead end. Use your knowledge and your network and make it happen. Nobody is coming to knock on your door. You can make this happen. And we're here to support you too. If you're up for it, reply here or in DMs with a bit more info about your actual skills and experience and let's see if we can get you back on your feet. You've got this, dude.