# The Pros and Cons of Building a Recruitment Business in Dubai | Louise Vine

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-resilient-recruiter-1198157/the-pros-and-cons-of-building-a-recruitment-business-in-dubai-louise-vine
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-resilient-recruiter-1198157/the-pros-and-cons-of-building-a-recruitment-business-in-dubai-louise-vine.md
Podcast: [The Resilient Recruiter](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-resilient-recruiter-1198157)
Published: 2026-06-10T11:15:00+00:00
Episode link: https://episode.flightcast.com/01KTR7WVZ7WE4NYZN6HPM6TSJ1.mp3
Audio file: https://episode.flightcast.com/01KTR7WVZ7WE4NYZN6HPM6TSJ1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-resilient-recruiter-1198157/episodes/the-pros-and-cons-of-building-a-recruitment-business-in-dubai-louise-vine
Duration seconds: 4261

## Resource

Dubai attracts recruiters from all over the world. Louise Vine has spent the last 18 years learning how the market really works. Louise is the founder of Inspire Selection, a specialist finance and accounting recruitment firm based in Dubai. Over the last 13 years, she has built a fully remote business operating on a commission-only model while navigating a market where fee pressure is intense, cultural differences shape every interaction, and jobs can disappear without warning. Last year, 70% of Louise's assignments were either canceled or put on hold. Louise covers the challenges that catch Western recruiters off guard, why agencies charging 8% fees have changed client expectations, and how she introduced engagement fees to protect her team's time. She also explains how her commission-only model works, why only a small percentage of recruiters are suited to it, and what she has learned about hiring, accountability, and building culture in a fully remote business. If you're considering Dubai, exploring commission-only recruitment, or looking for a different way to build a recruitment business, this episode is worth your time. In this episode: How Louise went from Robert Half in the UK to building a recruitment business in Dubai What recruiters need to understand about the realities of the UAE market Why nationality-based salary bands still exist in some organizations How fee pressure impacts recruitment firms across Dubai Why 70% of Louise's jobs went on hold or were canceled last year The engagement fee strategy that changed client behavior The pros and cons of a commission-only recruitment business How to manage performance without micromanaging Building culture and accountability in a remote team Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 02:17 Growing up in Yorkshire and how…

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