Are UAE employers usually reluctant to hire expats at entry & mid career level? Some of my applications got rejected. Does anyone know really why?

UAE is almost full of expats, so i will definitely suggest you to keep trying. Narrow down your search, design your CV which reflects the real you and it may take time but trust me you will find a job where you will definitely like to work for long. Applications will get rejected and there might be several other factors but the "expat" factor. So stay motivated and work on your CV to make it look like what you want to take from it.

Hmm. You're right. And I think that's what makes it competitive since there is a massive expat presence out there. But could you still manage with less experience? Is work experience a potent factor for employers in the UAE? Regards