John Tinsley : Money Matters

Since the 1960’s, the Middle East has been a hotbed of activity for the oil and petroleum industry.  With great reserves of crude oil and natural gas, there are excellent work opportunities in the resource rich nations of the Middle East.  Beyond normal field work, requiring technicians, overseers, and other roles close to the action, with the modernization of drilling techniques and international business, there are a wide variety of opportunities in a number of educational fields.  With the market for petroleum being a global one, guided by exports and trade routes, there is an increased demand for the support staff necessary for efficient supply chain management.

What’s most notable about the modern petroleum operation is the level of communications and support necessary.  Modern oil jobs in the Middle East are significantly different from the work performed three decades ago.  Information systems, telecommunications, and business management roles are necessary for a successful operation in the Middle East.  With an unemployment rate of less than one per cent, petroleum companies in the Middle East are often struggling to fill these niche positions with the right people, and are more than willing to resort to hiring non-citizens to fill these positions.

All in all, petroleum based operations are evolving, all while augmenting their workforce along the way.  There are ample positions in more modern fields, as well as traditional technician level work in the field; they simply need to be filled by the right individuals with the necessary skill sets.

Saudi Arabia continues to be one of the largest oil and gas producing regions in the entire world.  Naturally, the demand for hiring has come from these industries for a number of years.  However, in recent years, the economy in Saudi Arabia has witnessed a growth in a number of other job sectors as well.  These include the banking and finance, construction, healthcare, IT and telecommunications, management, real estate, and tourism industries.  For the qualified individual, job availability in Saudi Arabia in these different industries has been showing continual growth.

When you are searching for a career position in Saudi Arabia, keep in mind that a number of employers contract to employment recruiters to handle the application process.  Some of these charge you the fee while others charge the employer for their services.  So unless you have the budget for this, you should only look at the more reputable recruiting agencies that do not charge you a fee.  Additionally, you want to avoid using the services of employment agencies.  Just keep in mind that anytime you are dealing with any aspect of the internet that nothing is immune to scam artists.

Make sure that before you begin applying to your prospective employers that you have updated your CV or resume.  It also should be accurate and free from any spelling errors.  You will also want to compose a cover letter to accompany that CV or resume as this creates a better first impression of you for that prospective employer.  On a closing note, make sure that you contact the larger companies that have been in business the longest when applying.

Trying to find jobs in United Arab Emirates can be difficult if you are starting from scratch.  There are lots of online resources you can use to help you, but there can be almost too many in some cases.

Luckily you can start your job search for free.  There are many websites which have job boards or listings comprising lots of different jobs in United Arab Emirates.  You will usually still have to register for each site but you will not be charged for doing so.  Once you have done this you can have a log in that enables you to get quick and easy access to each site you join.

You may find it worthwhile to sign up to job sites using a dedicated email address.  If jobs in United Arab Emirates are emailed to you, it is useful to have them all coming into the same place.

You can also refine your search to make it easier to find a specific type of job.  For example if you are looking for jobs in IT make sure your search caters for this.  Whatever sector you want to work in, ensure you look on as many free sites as possible.  This will give you the best chance of finding the largest number of jobs in UAE in the shortest amount of time.

Once you have found these free job sites you will be able to check them daily for new leads.

If you want to get a job in Dubai you may think the best way to do it is to fly out to Dubai and see what you can apply for and get one while you are there.  But in fact nothing could be further from the truth.

You may be lucky and snag a job in Dubai by trying this method.  But it should be said that you are far more likely to succeed in finding jobs in Dubai if you stay at home and log onto the internet using your computer.  This might sound like a very remote way of finding the work you want, but the truth is that most people who find the job they are looking for, do it through this method.

There is still a lot to be said for research though.  Find out as much as you can about working in Dubai and what kinds of jobs in Dubai are available before applying for anything.  There are countless different websites that will help you in this respect, and there are many employment agencies who might just offer the job in Dubai you are looking for.  They all have websites so access them all and see what turns up.

The point is that you shouldn’t just fly out and hope for the best.  The chances are the answers – and indeed the job – you want can be more easily found if you access the internet instead of visiting Dubai directly.

Abu Dhabi IT jobs can be found quite easily when you go online, but you will notice that most if not all of these positions do require you to have experience of some sort.

The length of experience required will depend on the company that is offering the job and what the exact position is.  For example in a recent list of Abu Dhabi IT jobs, support engineers were required to have between three and eight years of experience in that role.  IT engineers required rather less, coming in at between one and four years required for one company in particular.  In a third example, applicants for the role of a SAN administrator would only be considered if they had between five and ten years experience.

As you can see, most Abu Dhabi IT jobs do require plenty of experience.  However with that said you should always look further into every opportunity you find.  Sometimes these parameters could be issued as a guideline; if you are six months short of having the five required years and you are an outstanding candidate, you might get lucky.

Be sure that when you are looking for Abu Dhabi IT jobs, that you only look at those where you are clear on the length of employment that is being offered.  If you have any questions at all, make sure you ask them before applying.  While you can turn down an offer if need be, it is always better to know exactly where you stand before you start applying for Abu Dhabi IT jobs.

Those seeking jobs in Dubai will find that there are a number of options available to them.  Positions are available in a number of industries for those who have skills, experience and the right attitude.

Dubai telecom jobs are available at all levels and it is becoming a very competitive part of the job market. The telecoms industry is one of the fastest growing and evolving industries in the Gulf region and the skills of foreign workers are in demand.  Positions such as technology managers, developers and senior managers are regularly being advertised. 

Dubai oil jobs are also regularly advertised as this is one of the main industries of the Gulf States. Much of the world depends on a supply of oil from the region and again, the expertise of foreign workers is in demand.  For skilled and experienced workers there are large salaries on offer, along with benefits such as accommodation costs. 

Oil companies recruit for workers in all departments including financial, administration, engineering, health and safety and medical and workers may find themselves based on land or on off-shore oil rigs.

It is recommended that foreign workers apply to larger organisations.  These offer better long term prospects, more stability and are in a better position to support foreign workers as they settle into a new culture and way of life.  These organisations may use trade press, recruitment agencies or job websites to advertise for staff though many transfer existing staff internally.  Care should be taken if replying to advertisements from recruitment agencies as there are some fraudulent companies in operation. 

Many westerners are tempted by the thought of securing a job in the UAE and one of the reasons for the consistent influx of expatriates to countries like Dubai is that there is no income or property tax. Also, in many cases, the employer covers the costs of relocation, accommodation and transport (plus medical coverage) so overall the rewards are generous in comparison to many western countries.

A large number of entrepreneurs have spotted the potential in starting up a business based in the UAE. In order to do this successfully, sufficient background research is initially required to draw up a comprehensive business plan which should include prospective profit and loss forecasts and a description of the jobs that the venture will create. The UAE government is naturally willing to support any enterprise that will create new jobs and is particularly interested in diversifying its economy away from the traditional oil-based ventures, which have of course been the Middle East’s main source of wealth for many years.

To set up a business you need to have substantial legal and financial back-up, and local knowledge is also crucial. If this support is in place, along with a solid business plan, any ambitious foreigner can theoretically set up a business in one of Dubai’s 12 free trade zones (FTZs), and not be liable to pay corporation tax for at least 15 years. These FTZs (also called export processing zones or special economic zones in some countries) enable new investments and start-up businesses to get established without imposing some of the usual restrictions (such as tariffs) which would otherwise govern trading and profit.

For the past several decades, Qatar has been a leader in the petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas industries.  Qatar’s strengths in the petroleum industry have led the nation to great economic success and resulted in its booming growth as an economy.

Today, petroleum accounts for more than 70% of government income, as well as 60% of the nation’s total GDP, funding further growth of a modern infrastructure and social services.  Now the richest nation in the Muslim world, there are a great number of high paying employment opportunities within petroleum operations local to Qatar.

Qatar gas jobs extend far and wide and span across several fields.  There is a great demand across the country for engineers, information technology specialists, accounting professionals, as well as project management staff and construction workers.  Each and every work aspect of the petroleum industry is in great demand in Qatar, with the excellent compensation and benefits that come through superior business management, and a great abundance of natural oil reserves.

Whilst citizens of Qatar may feel as though their fate is sealed and that they are destined to work in the petroleum industry, it’s important to note that Qatar gas jobs mean much more than working in an oil field.  There are an abundance of opportunities all across the board, with excellent pay along the way.  The long term goals of the nation extend beyond the petroleum industry; however this is a long road that will be paved by the financial success of firstly the petroleum industry.

Abu Dhabi is the second most targeted destination for businesses and new career seekers in the Middle East.  Only Dubai is ahead where economic growth is concerned.  If you have recently accepted one of the many available jobs in Abu Dhabi, and you are relocating your family with you, there is some basic financial information you need to be aware of before making your move, especially if you have a spouse and children to consider.

First and foremost, where salaries are concerned, you will get to keep your entire pay cheque, as Abu Dhabi is a tax-free environment.  There are no minimum wage laws like there are in other countries such as the UK or the US.  Unskilled workers earn anywhere from $8 to $13 an hour, depending on the job, whereas skilled professionals are paid fixed salaries.  However, you should be aware of the fact that jobs that pay you by the hour or per week are rarely available in Abu Dhabi.  Additionally, part time jobs in Abu Dhabi are not allowed, so the idea of taking on a second job, should you be contemplating this, is out of the question.

The working day in Abu Dhabi is typically eight to nine hours long, just like in most other countries in the developed world. Fortunately, salaries are considerably better, depending on the career sector you work in, so you really shouldn’t need any additional income.

Finding jobs in Middle East countries, and especially in the Persian Gulf states of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, has never been easier thanks to the internet. There are numerous websites specialising in finding jobs in the region, from jobs in Dubai to jobs in the Emirates, and roles including Bahrain IT jobs and Dubai bank jobs as well as Dubai gas jobs and jobs in Qatar. If you have the skills that are in demand, there’ll be a job waiting for you, and it’s just a matter of finding it.

Apart from using the resources of the internet, you could sign up to one of the expos that are held regularly in major cities to recruit workers to fill roles in the Gulf States. Here, you can discuss details with a representative, submit your CV and possibly land a job on the spot.

A strong work ethic coupled with a five-day working week makes working life in the Gulf pretty similar to its equivalent in the UK, and the only real differences you’ll find will be the heat and Friday as the day of rest rather than Sunday. You’ll also certainly notice the difference in your wallet, because income is tax free, a major incentive for working there.

With a job secured before you head out you’ll be able to sort out your temporary residency permit before arriving, which entitles you to reside and work there for the duration of your contract or permanent job.