Incoming USA Expat - thoughts?

Hello Everyone,

I'm an American Muslim exploring the idea of immigrating to a Muslim-majority country. The U.S. just doesn’t feel like the right fit anymore — rising costs, a saturated job market, and overall instability.

I have 7+ years of experience in IT, mainly in DevOps and Cloud Engineering.

Lately, I’ve been looking into the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar — with UAE standing out due to its flexible visa options that don’t always require employer sponsorship.

What’s life like for Muslims in the UAE? Is IT actually in demand, or is it the same situation as the U.S. with fake job ads and bot recruiters that never responds to you? I’ve heard tech jobs are often outsourced to cheaper labor from Asia and India— is that true?

I’m also considering freelancing. Has anyone here tried the UAE Freelance Permit or Green Visa as a U.S. citizen? Is it worth it for someone in tech?

Can I apply directly through a UAE government site, or do I need to go through an agency? I’m wary of scams, so any tips would help.

I’d also like to settle down and get married eventually, but I want a solid plan in place first.

Appreciate any real insight, especially around cost of living and job prospects. Thanks!