John Tinsley : Money Matters

If you are considering relocating overseas to the Persian Gulf region and starting a career in the IT sector, you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy it has now become to find an IT job in Dubai.  Along with the construction, finance, gas and oil, real estate, and telecommunications industries, the IT sector has become very active and is providing numerous career opportunities for the qualified individual.

One of the most attractive IT job markets today is in Dubai because it has become the fastest growing business and employment destination.  Additionally, the tourism industry continues to thrive and has been generating more relocations to the area, hence the growth in the construction and real estate industries as well as the various job sectors.  The IT career sector is no exception to that rule.

As it stands right now, finding IT jobs in Dubai is only challenging because of the number of different career positions that have opened up, meaning that you will have quite a search on your hands when trying to find the IT position that best suits your career and income needs.  Another factor to consider is the fact that these job opportunities continue to increase because more and more IT firms are finding that Dubai provides them with a very lucrative business opportunity.

Just be sure that you search the larger, more established firms when you are finding an IT job in Dubai.  They tend to offer more secure employment and better salaries as well as being willing to work with you where sponsorship and work visas are concerned.

Working in the oil industry in the United Arab Emirates is not for beginners.  You will already need to be working and established in the oil industry if you want to be considered for UAE oil jobs.  The more experience you have and the more relevant qualifications you have in this field, the better your chances are of successfully relocating from your current home to work in the United Arab Emirates oil industry.

Engineering jobs within the oil industry are many and varied, and all require extensive experience.  You will find both contract and staff positions available, although they tend to be weighted more towards contract positions than anything else.  So there are no nasty surprises later on ensure that you know the terms of the job you are applying for before you send them an application.  There is nothing wrong with signing up for a twelve month contract if you are happy in your own mind that you can live there for at least that length of time.

Because of the nature of UAE oil jobs the specifics for applying for each position will be quite in-depth.  For example a lead mechanical engineer might need experience of working in an environment featuring PMC, FEED and EPC.  If you are unsure of any terms used in the requirements for an advert, the chances are you will not be suitable for those UAE oil jobs.

Ensure you read through all the responsibilities that you will have and duties you will be expected to undertake.  The more confident you are of meeting all the requirements, the better the chance of successfully getting the job.

Located in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain is actually a 33-island archipelago of which Bahrain Island is the largest of the group.  Lying to the west and connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway is Saudi Arabia.  Across the Gulf of Bahrain situated to the southeast is Qatar.  Bahrain’s economy like other key areas in the Gulf Region has grown in a positive fashion, and jobs are plentiful there, especially Bahrain IT jobs.  If you are considering starting an IT career in Bahrain, here are a few suggestions for you.

Start by targeting your job search towards the larger more reputable IT firms that have a growing employment history with little attrition.  Although Bahrain IT jobs are very plentiful, many of the larger firms have been around a lot longer than others, so longevity is definitely a plus factor when applying for employment.  These firms will afford you an exciting career as well as a secure source of steady income.

If you are searching on the internet, be specific with your search keywords using “Bahrain IT jobs” rather than “jobs in Bahrain”.  The latter will result in hundreds if not thousands of search results that will be too time consuming and frustrating to wade through.  You want to be sure and investigate the companies offering the jobs as thoroughly as possible before applying to them.  Keep in mind that many employers offer new employees assistance with their work visas as well as any fees associated with gaining employment in Bahrain.

If you are considering relocating to the Middle East for the purpose of living and working there, you will obviously need to apply for positions in which you have experience and are well qualified for.  If you are currently employed and skilled in the oil and gas industry, you may be able to find some very lucrative job opportunities by searching the major job posting boards online.  However, you should also focus on searching for Qatar oil jobs before looking at other locations if you are serious about working in the Middle East.

Here are some reasons to consider employment in this sector of Qatar’s employment market.  The oil and gas industry is flourishing in Qatar with numerous new refineries being constructed all the time.  Existing refineries are also expanding so you can see how this would affect the job market and the availability of Qatar oil jobs.  Additionally, the current economic policy is focusing on the development of Qatar’s oil and gas reserves.

70% of the Qatari government’s revenues and nearly 85% of their export earnings comes from the oil and gas industry that is now responsible for nearly 50% of the country’s GDP.  Qatar’s per capita income is now the world’s second highest as a result of the positive impact that the oil and gas industries have had on most Middle Eastern economies.  So you can easily see why lucrative career positions could be available for the right individuals interested in living and working in the Gulf region.

It can take two to three months to obtain a residence visa for Saudi Arabia.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom must issue authorisation to the applicant’s sponsor in the country. 

Once you have been offered a job in Saudi Arabia, details of the contract, your professional qualifications and medical examination certificate need to be passed to the Saudi embassy.  A visa number is then issued and the Saudi embassy can provide you with a stamped residency visa, which is converted to a residency permit when you arrive in the country. 

Foreign workers are required to carry this permit at all times as it will have a photograph on it and is a form of ID.

A foreigner’s passport must have at least six months left to run on it and it is recommended to keep several photocopies, as passports must be left with the employer.  The authorities in Saudi Arabia make regular checks with employers to ensure that workers are not being employed illegally. 

Birth certificates should also be provided for all members of the family who will be living in the country and medical certificates are required.  Medical examination is required in your own country prior to application and another is required when you arrive in the Kingdom.  All workers must prove they are in good health and not afflicted with any sexually transmitted or other diseases.

Those who have a stamp in their passport from Israel will not be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia.

When it comes to finding the right job in Dubai based on your experience and expertise, there are several steps that you should take in order to find the best post at the best salary. 

So what is it that has made Dubai such an enticing destination for businesses and new employees? There are four elements responsible for Dubai’s growth in popularity with both businesses and job seekers:

- Government projects and systems that have enhanced the local economy
- Ongoing development of the business and residential community
- Quality of life
- Work standards

For the past two decades now, dating back to the early 1990’s, we have seen a steady growth pattern where international employment and residencies are concerned.  The economic growth in the Middle East has been mostly driven by the gas and oil industries.  However, the following career sectors have been witnessing the growth of job opportunities and new business, making it easier for the qualified professional to find a job in Dubai:

- Automobile
- Banking
- Construction
- Education
- Engineering
- Hospitality
- Infrastructure
- IT and Telecommunications
- Real-estate
- Tourism

It is recommended that you begin searching online because of the numerous career posting sites available for jobs in Dubai.  Start by searching the largest companies who have been in business in Dubai the longest.  The benefit to the job seeker is that these companies tend to offer better salaries and more secure employment.  Make sure that your CV or resume is current and that you also attach a cover letter to your online job application.

Whether you are applying for a telecom job in the United Arab Emirates, an IT job in Saudi Arabia, or an oil industry job in Dubai, your CV is one of the most important parts of your employment search. It is the first impression a potential employer has of you, and in order to land jobs in Middle Eastern countries you need to have a perfect CV on file, ready to impress those companies enough to call you in for an interview and set you up with a work visa.

When looking at jobs in Middle East countries, it is vitally important that your work details are up to date on your CV. In addition, your CV must clearly and concisely provide full details regarding how to contact you, including your full name, address, phone numbers, email addresses, and so on and so forth. In addition, companies in Middle Eastern countries are looking for professionals, so if your email address is something cheesy like hotspice@randomplz.com or something similar, you will want to change it to something more professional. Remember, most of the jobs in Middle East countries are related to technology and management, so it is important to maintain a professional appearance at all times.

If you do not think you are capable of writing your own CV to land a job in the Middle East, you can always hire a professional CV writer to put together your information in a manner which will help you find employment as soon as possible. No matter what type of job in the Middle East you are after, your CV is just as important there as anywhere else.

Finding jobs in Middle Eastern countries is actually easier than finding jobs at home for many individuals living in Western countries. Unlike the Western world with its economic depression and recession continuing to go on, the Middle East is growing at a rapid pace, and companies around the region are looking for professionals to work in the oil industry, finance, media, engineering and many other areas. The potential pool of employees for jobs in the Middle East is global, so while there are a wide variety of opportunities the competition is also fairly stiff, and knowing how to compete can mean the difference between landing a job or not.

Your skills and credentials set you apart from the rest of the pack, regardless of which jobs in Middle Eastern countries you are applying for. Employers are looking for those with specific sets of skills to set them apart from local candidates. This is why they are willing to pay you – the foreigner – a higher rate of pay. They need to know that you are a manageable employee who will follow company rules and procedures to the letter. The last thing any company wants is the lone wolf type who cannot take instructions and instead focuses only on performing in his own little area. Looking for a job in a Middle Eastern country means you need to be a team player on a multinational team, and you need to be able to work with a wide variety of people with different viewpoints on life in general.

If you are currently being paid on a weekly basis you need to be prepared for a change if you are looking for jobs in the UAE.  This is because wages for jobs UAE are typically paid on a monthly salary basis.  You will find this to be no problem if you currently get paid monthly anyway, but those who are paid more often need to prepare for the idea of going for four weeks without any money coming in.

The best way to cope with this is to start saving in advance several months before you intend to make the move to the United Arab Emirates.  Work out what your average monthly outgoings will be and try and put by at least that amount.  Jobs UAE pay different amounts according to the expertise required and the seniority of the role.  Many people earn around 2,000 to 4,000 dirhams every month.  Make sure you convert your current salary into dirhams to get an idea of the exchange rate and how it will affect you during those first few essential weeks.

Once you are over the challenge of the first month and you have received your first payment for your position, you will be able to plan ahead for the coming month.  After a while you will become familiar with getting paid monthly instead of weekly, and you will learn to budget your money accordingly.  But there is definitely a lot to be said for starting your financial planning before you arrive in the UAE.

Jobs in the Gulf are not for everybody.  First of all, a potential applicant needs to be sure that they really want to work in this region and are prepared to adapt to a new culture and way of life. There are restrictions on foreign workers and regulations on travelling, alcohol and other things that those in the west take for granted.  If you are happy to live with these restrictions then that is a good start.

It is important to focus your job search on what you want to achieve.  Do not apply for any and all jobs just because you might be able to do them and it takes you abroad.  Employers recruiting foreign workers have to sponsor those they employ, paying relocation and visa fees and want to be sure they are hiring the best person for the job.  Do not apply for Gulf jobs if you do not fit the job specification exactly.  Target the jobs that best suit your qualifications and experience.

The next step applies to all those job hunting, no matter where in the world they want to be.  It is necessary to have an up to date CV which can be emailed to recruitment agencies; you should be registered on gulf jobs websites and send your CV to potential employers as soon as you see the vacancy advertised.  For Gulf jobs, the CV is your best chance to make a good first impression as you cannot just pop along to the company for an interview at a moment’s notice.