I remember my first behavioural interview. Unfortunately, I was completely unprepared to answer behavioural interview questions and found myself entirely out of my depth.
I’ve since learned a great deal about behavioural interviews, having now experienced this style of job interview many times, both as a candidate and as a recruiter.
I eventually trained to recruit my own employees using this interview style and have since coached many professionals through their own behavioural interviews—particularly those applying for jobs in Dubai and other highly competitive markets.
If you're serious about progressing your career and want to work for high-calibre organisations in Dubai, you need to understand how to succeed in behavioural interviews.
For example, you would almost certainly face behavioural interview questions when interviewing with multinational firms, tech giants like Google, or any company hiring for mid-to-senior level jobs in Dubai.
In fact, if you’ve missed out on roles in the past, it’s quite possible that under-preparation for a behavioural interview was the reason.
This article will explain what behavioural interviews are, give you a list of common behavioural interview questions, and show you exactly how to prepare so you can answer confidently. By the end, you’ll be ready to walk into any behavioural interview in Dubai with clarity, confidence, and control.
A behavioural interview is a structured type of job interview where candidates are asked to provide real-life examples from past experiences that demonstrate specific competencies or behaviours.
These are not casual or unstructured interviews. Behavioural interviews are designed to elicit detailed evidence of how you have behaved in professional situations—especially under pressure, when leading teams, or during conflict resolution.
If you’re applying for jobs in Dubai with multinational companies, government entities, or reputable private employers, it’s likely your interview will include this format. Employers in the UAE place strong emphasis on hiring for both technical ability and cultural fit—behavioural interviews help assess both.
Behavioural questions help employers predict how you will behave in future situations by evaluating how you handled similar ones in the past. For example:
• "Tell me about a time you had to resolve a conflict with a team member."
• "Give an example of when you had to influence someone more senior than you."
These types of questions give Dubai employers a real sense of your capability, work style, and potential impact within their organisation.
Behavioural interviews are more objective. All candidates are asked the same core questions and evaluated using a consistent scoring system. For roles in Dubai, where competition is fierce and employer expectations are high, this structured process helps ensure a level playing field.
Candidates must go beyond buzzwords and generic claims. Instead of simply stating, “I’m a good communicator,” you’ll need to prove it through a specific, measurable example.
Organisations hiring for jobs in Dubai increasingly rely on this method because it leads to more accurate and successful hiring decisions.
Behavioural interviews can feel intense—but they’re actually an excellent opportunity to showcase your value in a strategic, well-prepared way. With the right preparation, you’ll have the upper hand.
Behavioural interviews are often called competency-based interviews. That’s because they focus on your ability to demonstrate specific, high-value competencies critical to job performance.
While every role has its own technical requirements, these core behavioural competencies are common in many interviews for jobs in Dubai.
• Leadership
• Influencing
• Negotiation
• Handling Conflict
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability
• Critical Thinking
• Project Management
• Decision Making
• Collaboration & Teamwork
Start by reviewing the job description and identifying the key competencies required. If you’re interviewing for a sales role in Dubai, for instance, influencing and negotiation may be top priorities. If it’s a project management position, expect to be tested on leadership, decision-making, and collaboration.
Rank these competencies in order of importance and begin preparing accordingly.
Reflect on your work history and identify specific instances where you made a difference. These could involve:
• Resolving a complex customer issue in a previous Dubai-based role
• Leading a remote team across different time zones
• Adapting quickly during a period of organisational change
Tailor your examples to showcase your understanding of the local business culture, especially if you’re applying for jobs in Dubai where cross-cultural communication is crucial.
The STAR technique helps you deliver compelling, structured answers:
Briefly describe the context of the situation.
Example: “When I was working as a Marketing Executive at a retail brand in Dubai, sales had dropped by 20% over a quarter.”
What was the problem, challenge, or objective?
Example: “I was tasked with creating and executing a marketing campaign to regain lost revenue and improve brand visibility.”
Explain what you did—your personal contribution.
Example: “I analysed consumer data, identified key pain points, and launched a digital campaign focused on customer retention, targeting expat communities using social media platforms.”
Share the impact of your actions, ideally using data.
Example: “The campaign led to a 32% increase in online sales within 60 days and improved customer retention by 18%.”
Don’t rely on memory alone. Writing helps you organise your thoughts and refine your messaging. It also reveals where you might need more detail or stronger evidence.
Use a mirror, webcam, or better yet, rehearse with a coach. If you’re serious about landing high-quality jobs in Dubai, seek professional interview coaching. Record your answers, refine your tone, and work on being concise yet impactful.
Whether you’re interviewing with a local SME or a multinational in Dubai, these questions often appear:
• Tell us about a time you had to deal with a big change. How did you adapt?
• Share a time when you had to learn a new skill quickly.
• Describe a situation where you had to resolve a team conflict.
• Give an example of when you influenced a difficult stakeholder.
• Tell us about a mistake you made and how you handled it.
• Describe a time when you challenged a manager’s decision.
• How did you handle working under pressure or tight deadlines?
• Share an example of managing a successful project from start to finish.
• Tell us about a time you worked across cultures or departments.
• How did you prioritise tasks during a busy period?
Behavioural interviews are the standard for many employers hiring in Dubai, especially for roles that demand maturity, professionalism, and the ability to handle complexity.
By preparing well, using the STAR method, and practising your delivery, you’ll be able to confidently show hiring managers that you’re exactly what they’re looking for.
Whether you’re applying for jobs in Dubai at international firms, government-backed organisations, or startups, mastering this interview style is critical to your success.
If you're looking to refine your interview technique further, consider scheduling a one-to-one session with an expert. It could make all the difference in landing your next role.
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