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Why Move to The Middle East?
- Opportunity
The majorÂiÂty of opporÂtuÂniÂties for expats in The MidÂdle East are found in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, The UAE and SauÂdi AraÂbia. The region is expeÂriÂencÂing a boom in many areas, parÂticÂuÂlarÂly in conÂstrucÂtion and natÂurÂal resources. As the expat popÂuÂlaÂtion grows to meet this demand, expat workÂers are being sought in indusÂtries such as health, finance and eduÂcaÂtion. Many workÂers are attractÂed by the lucraÂtive salaries and potenÂtialÂly tax-free earnings. Expats are also rewardÂed with packÂages that include free or subÂsiÂdized accomÂmoÂdaÂtion, health insurÂance, subÂsiÂdized priÂvate school tuition for chilÂdren and a return flight home once a year. The MidÂdle East offers flights directÂly to many of the worldâs major airÂports. The biggest airÂports in the MidÂdle East are transÂport hubs themselves.
- Doing business
WorkÂing in The MidÂdle East is not like workÂing from home. Those who enjoy the most proÂfesÂsionÂal sucÂcess in the region are those who can adapt the quickÂest. Keep an open mind. For examÂple, workÂers raised on the phiÂlosÂoÂphy of effiÂcienÂcy and expeÂdiÂenÂcy may be frusÂtratÂed in meetÂings that open with a lot of social platÂiÂtudes and casuÂal conÂverÂsaÂtion. This apparÂent time-wastÂing is part of the way of doing busiÂness in the region and is thought to cement perÂsonÂal relaÂtionÂships, which then develÂop into fruitÂful busiÂness relaÂtionÂships. Maybe itâs too hot outÂside to play golf!- Employment
DesÂtiÂnaÂtions for conÂstrucÂtion jobs are The UAE, SauÂdi AraÂbia and Qatar, espeÂcialÂly in project manÂageÂment, quanÂtiÂty surÂveyÂing and design engiÂneerÂing. Qatar has increased its outÂput in prepaÂraÂtion for the FIFA World Cup in 2020. Health is anothÂer indusÂtry seekÂing expats, and jobs are availÂable, parÂticÂuÂlarÂly in SauÂdi AraÂbia and The UAE. EmerÂgency and intenÂsive care skills are highÂly sought after, and nursÂes are in conÂstant demand. EngÂlish lanÂguage instrucÂtion, and qualÂiÂty eduÂcaÂtion, is in high demand across the region for local and expaÂtriÂate chilÂdren. All of the counÂtries listÂed above recruit native EngÂlish-speakÂing teachers. A teachÂing packÂage comÂmonÂly includes accomÂmoÂdaÂtion, insurÂance, flights and posÂsiÂbly free or subÂsiÂdized eduÂcaÂtion for chilÂdren. Many teachÂers find they can send their child to a priÂvate school that would simÂply be too expenÂsive back home. ProÂmoÂtionÂal opporÂtuÂniÂties and career advanceÂment are also much betÂter for teachÂers in The MidÂdle East. Most interÂnaÂtionÂal schools will folÂlow either the British or the US eduÂcaÂtion system.
- Work visa
Rules for work visas difÂfer from counÂtry to counÂtry, but the employÂer should orgaÂnize the work visa, or at least assist with the process of securÂing a work visa. For teachÂers, in parÂticÂuÂlar, it is imporÂtant to research the schools thorÂoughÂly because there are some disÂrepÂutable schools that can fail to source a work visa properly.- Finding work
Job fairs are a popÂuÂlar way for recruiters to source talÂent to work in The MidÂdle East. These are often conÂductÂed in perÂson, but many of them have startÂed to estabÂlish online recruitÂment processes. Some indusÂtries will comÂplete the recruitÂment process before the employÂee arrives in the counÂtry (such as teachÂing). At the same time, in othÂer indusÂtries, experts sugÂgest that being on the ground and netÂworkÂing in perÂson is advanÂtaÂgeous. It is also believed that some employÂers look for employÂees of a cerÂtain age or genÂder â so do your research.
Some Things to Keep in Mind:
- Climate
The MidÂdle East is hot. The heat is genÂerÂalÂly dry, and temÂperÂaÂtures are a shock to anyÂone movÂing from coldÂer countries. The MidÂdle East almost doesÂnât have a winÂter, so expect warm weathÂer all year. That said, the region is genÂerÂalÂly arid, so the temÂperÂaÂture does drop at night. Light, cool clothÂing is best durÂing the day, but you will need some warm clothÂing as the sunÂsets. Of course, if youâre reloÂcatÂing for proÂfesÂsionÂal reaÂsons, you will dress as your proÂfesÂsion demands.- Daily routine
Avoid the heat of the day. If you plan to exerÂcise, socialÂize or explore, try to do that in the mornÂing, late afterÂnoon or evening. You can stay out of the heat and will also be rewardÂed with beauÂtiÂful sunÂsets. FurÂtherÂmore, most of the local peoÂple have adaptÂed to this cliÂmate over cenÂturies, so if you head out in the mornÂing or evening, youâre more likeÂly to see them and have the chance to expeÂriÂence local cusÂtoms. Drink lots of water. That is still the best way to surÂvive the heat.- Religion
Islam underÂpins the culÂture of the region. FriÂday is a dedÂiÂcatÂed day of prayer, so the workÂing week and workÂing hours, as well as times for socialÂizÂing, react accordÂingÂly. Also, the daiÂly lives of the local peoÂple change draÂmatÂiÂcalÂly durÂing Ramadan every year, and this affects everyÂone in the region, even in a proÂfesÂsionÂal sense. As a majorÂiÂty MusÂlim region, the sale of pork is heavÂiÂly restrictÂed. Think of it as a chance to kick your addicÂtion to bacon and branch out into someÂthing new. SauÂdi AraÂbia is regardÂed as the most reliÂgiousÂly conÂserÂvÂaÂtive of the Gulf states, and the social and culÂturÂal life for expats reflects this fact. In some locaÂtions, reliÂgious police enforce rules such as closÂing times for prayers and approÂpriÂate dress, and expats are expectÂed to abide by all of these rules.- Culture
Women will not enjoy the same freeÂdom or social standÂing that they may be used to. RestricÂtions for women include the way they are allowed to dress, their freeÂdom to travÂel alone and their staÂtus in society. EveryÂone is also expectÂed to think about the way they interÂact with peoÂple of the oppoÂsite genÂder, in any sitÂuÂaÂtion. Also, women may find fewÂer opporÂtuÂniÂties in cerÂtain indusÂtries that are still entireÂly male-domÂiÂnatÂed in this region. One pecuÂliarÂiÂty that newÂcomÂers will notice is the women-only checkÂout aisle at the superÂmarÂket. At least they get women through the checkÂout more quickly! The growÂing expat popÂuÂlaÂtion has creÂatÂed a liveÂly social scene. SportÂing, artisÂtic and social clubs have emerged. Many counÂtries have their nationÂal assoÂciÂaÂtion, and there are norÂmalÂly many events expats can attend to have fun, unwind, netÂwork and pick up some local tips from those in the know.
- Can I get a drink?
Rules and regÂuÂlaÂtions difÂfer per counÂtry, but you should assume that you canât drink alcoÂhol with the same freeÂdom that you would back home. In some places, you simÂply canÂnot drink alcoÂhol. In othÂer places, expats can purÂchase alcoÂhol from offiÂcial locaÂtions and take it back to their priÂvate residence. Most imporÂtantÂly, you must respect local cusÂtoms and laws and seek reliÂable advice from locals before havÂing a drink.- Language
Most peoÂple can get by with EngÂlish. AraÂbic is the linÂgua franÂca of the region, and if you speak this lanÂguage, or can learn it, you will inteÂgrate far more easily. AuthorÂiÂties in the MidÂdle East underÂstand that EngÂlish is an interÂnaÂtionÂal lanÂguage, so it is norÂmalÂly posÂsiÂble to find someÂone who speaks English.- Housing
The stanÂdard of housÂing for expats in the region is norÂmalÂly very high. As disÂcussed earÂliÂer, it can also be proÂvidÂed free or subÂsiÂdized. BuildÂings are new, highÂly secure and well-furÂnished. Expat comÂpounds tend to be self-sufÂfiÂcient, with shops, restauÂrants and othÂer serÂvices on-site, which is a great advanÂtage in a swelÂterÂing cliÂmate. It is not uncomÂmon for expat housÂing to include an on-site gym or pool.- Services
Most of the major serÂvices are availÂable in major cities. HosÂpiÂtals, superÂmarÂkets and medÂical facilÂiÂties are all on par with what one might be accusÂtomed to. HowÂevÂer, if livÂing outÂside a big city, this may not be the case.
