I came to Dubai with nothing. Years later, I still feel like I am one step away from losing everything.

I am a Syrian software engineer living in Dubai. Lately I feel like I am slowly losing my passion for engineering and honestly a part of myself.

I came to the UAE on a visit visa because it was one of the few places where I had a chance to build a future. I arrived with limited savings and started looking for work.

After two months of searching, interviews, and rejections, I finally got an offer when my money was almost gone.

Since then, my journey has been unstable. I moved through a few different companies, and each time I tried to rebuild stability, something unexpected happened, whether it was misunderstandings at work, unclear roles, or environments that did not match what was promised.

Now I am in a role that sounds important on paper, but in reality it is far from technical work. Most of my time is spent on documentation and processes that feel disconnected from real engineering.

On top of that, the pressure of working in Dubai as a Syrian makes everything heavier. If I lose my job, I have a 30 days to find another one or leave the country, and going back home is not a realistic option for me.

I used to be very passionate about software engineering. I left electrical engineering to pursue it, and I spent years learning on my own and building my skills.

But right now I feel exhausted. Not just professionally, but mentally. I feel stuck between needing stability and wanting to do meaningful engineering work again.

I am not sure what direction I should take from here. How do you recover motivation and clarity when your career becomes mostly about survival instead of growth?