Working in the Gulf

sixpakistan · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 02:32 PM

I'm looking at making a move to the Emirates pretty soon.

I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for finding positions (tech industry) anywhere in the UAE. Most online stuff appears to be a scam. I had a couple of possibilities last year, but the timing wasn't good & they've since fallen through.

Any other advice on moving there or living there would be appreciated as well..

Rambo · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 05:12 PM

The best thing about working in the gulf is the relaxed enviroment. In North America work is just very stressfull.

Khairan · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpakistan

I'm looking at making a move to the Emirates pretty soon.

I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for finding positions (tech industry) anywhere in the UAE. Most online stuff appears to be a scam. I had a couple of possibilities last year, but the timing wasn't good & they've since fallen through.

Any other advice on moving there or living there would be appreciated as well..

Be aware that the traffic there is absolutely horrific. When you scout out job locations, try also to get a sense of where you can afford to live in relation to your job and if that will make a feasible commute. I know someone who had to quit their job after only a few days because what should have been a 20-30 minute drive to work became a three hour commute EACH way.

Zam · #4 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khairan

Be aware that the traffic there is absolutely horrific. When you scout out job locations, try also to get a sense of where you can afford to live in relation to your job and if that will make a feasible commute. I know someone who had to quit their job after only a few days because what should have been a 20-30 minute drive to work became a three hour commute EACH way.

How is the public transit there?

sixpakistan · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khairan

Be aware that the traffic there is absolutely horrific. When you scout out job locations, try also to get a sense of where you can afford to live in relation to your job and if that will make a feasible commute. I know someone who had to quit their job after only a few days because what should have been a 20-30 minute drive to work became a three hour commute EACH way.

Yeah, I know. That might prove to be a killer for me, but it depends on where I'd be working and living.. I hate traffic.

PhDGirl · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 08:37 AM

Yeah, the traffic can suck. We've had a few headhunters call us (separately) and generally housing, a driver and a housekeeper are part of the compensation, but it's important to know where that housing would be!

MossadConspiracy · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhDGirl

Yeah, the traffic can suck. We've had a few headhunters call us (separately) and generally housing, a driver and a housekeeper are part of the compensation, but it's important to know where that housing would be!

did they offer a competitive salary? everything i've seen hasnt been too promising

Jamroll · #8 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpakistan

Yeah, I know. That might prove to be a killer for me, but it depends on where I'd be working and living.. I hate traffic.

The traffic is horrendous in Dubai, bro. I was just there in November, and it takes aaaaages to get into the centre of the city. If you decide to make the move, I strongly suggest getting a place very close to your workplace.

PhDGirl · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MossadConspiracy

did they offer a competitive salary? everything i've seen hasnt been too promising

It was for me but not for the husband. I think they want people with some experience in private practice after residency/fellowship so that is probably why. Plus, in his specialty you can't get board certified right away, so it wouldn't make sense to go until after that whole process is complete. At that point the salaries are really competitive.

Khairan · #10 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zam

How is the public transit there?

Non-existent. Dubai is working on a train system, but it will be quite some time before it is adequate for the needs of the population I think, and at least as of last year Sharjah and Ajman (both huge contributors to the Dubai workforce AND the traffic problem) were NOT on board with developing joint mass transit.

Aryan_ · #11 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 04:26 PM

Nice to experience for a while, but I'd hate to make it a permanent relocation.

Hard2Hit · #12 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 02:06 AM

Salaams,

Hey, I have few good contacts in UAE. Drop me an email when you are ready to leave, i'll hook you up with them.

One of my friends is running his own transportation business there, another recently moved there in Software side....

Wasalam.
-me

PS: I've heard that the working environment isn't very good generally. The top notch companies are different though.

PPS: I'm also planning a trip there. We'll fix an armwrestling match at jumaerah beach inshaAllah.

Kona_Silat · #13 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpakistan

I'm looking at making a move to the Emirates pretty soon.

I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for finding positions (tech industry) anywhere in the UAE. Most online stuff appears to be a scam. I had a couple of possibilities last year, but the timing wasn't good & they've since fallen through.

Any other advice on moving there or living there would be appreciated as well..

My advice and observation:

-Learn Arabic
-If you are non-white person (or a Western black person), you are second class to the gulf natives.
-This connects to the previous.. anything Western is good. Anything Muslim is low quality or not good enough.
-If you are a white woman, expect a lot of flitarious attention from rich young Gulf Arab guys.
-Just because they are a Muslim majority country does not mean they have Islamic values (some do drink for example , swindle and fornicate)
-Expect some outlandish actions by the government in the name of Islam.
-If you score a job, have everything in writing and plan for recourse for anything that might screw you over.All in all expect to be swindled.
-Don't be surprise at human rights violations, especially in Abu Dhabi (child slavery) or with the conditions of foreign workers
-Dont mess with the Russian (or Chechen) Mafia.

From personal experience... I was like Lawrence of Arabia..excited about going there and then leaving the Gulf with some disenchantment with that region.

Aryan_ · #14 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kona_Silat

-Learn Arabic

In Dubai?

Quote:

-If you are non-white person (or a Western black person), you are second class to the gulf natives.

In my experience the opposite is true (excluding the poor). Whites and Europeans are distrusted. The natives tended to warm up when I told them I was muslim. Might be different for orientals, I don't know.

Quote:

-This connects to the previous.. anything Western is good. Anything Muslim is low quality or not good enough.

Anything western also makes a great caricature to burn.

Quote:

-If you are a white woman, expect a lot of flitarious attention from rich young Gulf Arab guys.

That goes without saying in 90% of the world.

Quote:

-Just because they are a Muslim majority country does not mean they have Islamic values (some do drink for example , swindle and fornicate)
-Expect some outlandish actions by the government in the name of Islam.

True on both accounts, but less than in the west. Arabs on the whole tend to be observant people, at least when it comes to the above.

Quote:

-If you score a job, have everything in writing and plan for recourse for anything that might screw you over.All in all expect to be swindled.

Most jobs will be with western corporations and will be upheld againt employment laws of their respective country.

Quote:

-Don't be surprise at human rights violations, especially in Abu Dhabi (child slavery) or with the conditions of foreign workers

Slavery is halal and practiced with gusto by the Arabs.

Quote:

From personal experience... I was like Lawrence of Arabia..excited about going there and then leaving the Gulf with some disenchantment with that region.

How many Turks did you kill?

Kona_Silat · #15 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aryan_

In Dubai?

In my experience the opposite is true (excluding the poor). Whites and Europeans are distrusted. The natives tended to warm up when I told them I was muslim. Might be different for orientals, I don't know.

Anything western also makes a great caricature to burn.

That goes without saying in 90% of the world.

True on both accounts, but less than in the west. Arabs on the whole tend to be observant people, at least when it comes to the above.

Most jobs will be with western corporations and will be upheld againt employment laws of their respective country.

Slavery is halal and practiced with gusto by the Arabs.

How many Turks did you kill?

I killed zero. But I am sure Lawerence and his band of Saudis killed thousands of those secularist traitors.