Job Discussion Forums

[Stephen Jones]

SABIS won't improve Neil because the problems are systematic. More likely that BAe decides to only make tractors.

[jdl]

systemically systematic or systematically systemic. Excuse my confusion. My head hurts.

[Tom Le Seelleur]

As no-one will simply answer your question - I will. I have worked in Lebanon, Saudi, UAE and know about Oman, Qatar, Bahrain.

I would recommend you stay out of KSA and Qatar as they are the least open of the others. If I would recommend one to someone from Ireland I would plump for Lebanon - great people (very Catholic in the Christian enclave) great socilizers and conservative at the same time. Friendly people, good climate, intelligent and hard working - should suit you. If not then Jordan, Bahrain and UAE in that order.
Hope this helps
Tom

Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Oman
Pakistan
Syria
Qatar
Bahrain
Erbil
Jordan
United Arab Emirates
Egypt

[Stephen Jones]

The poll is pointless, particularly as you are only allowed one option.

And much depends on your age, financial situation, plans, and personal inclinations.

And then there's the question of employer. Saudi is a disaster with a crap employer, but highly recommendable with a good one.

[scot47]

I have to agree with Stephen Jones. The differences within a country are greater than the differences between different countries.

[washingtonpost]

Nice little place but doesn't compare with Oman.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20091203081558zzzz.nb/topstory.html

The Media Line Staff
A new poll commissioned by HSBC Bank International has rated Bahrain the top nation for expatriates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and among the top five globally.


The Expat Experience poll which is in its second year, surveyed 3,146 people working in 30 different industries and 50 countries, regarding their integration into local society, as well as their quality of life.

"In Bahrain, we have made a commitment to creating an attractive business environment for international companies looking to access the trillion dollar market of the Gulf," Kamal Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) told The Media Line.

The EDB has the overall responsibility for creating the right climate to attract foreign investment.

"For those moving to our country, we know the factors they face when organizing a new life," Ahmed said, "and this report shows that Bahrain is not just the ideal location to do business in and from, but a great place to live as well."

"We were really excited to have 12 new countries featured this year and Bahrain was one of the unexpected new entries," Betony Taylor, Corporate Communications Manager with HSBC Bank International told The Media Line.

"Expats [expatriates] living in the country rated it really highly for ease of integration," Taylor said. "Overall it ranked as the best country to join local community groups and coordinate health care."

"Respondents found it less easy to make local friends and learn the languages [Arabic, Farsi and Urdu]," Taylor said. "But the country ranked in the top five when it came to finding a home, setting up finances, and finding good schools."

According to the survey some 81% of all expatriates in Bahrain are 'expat-lifers' meaning they stay for over five years, something often taken by analysts as an indication of satisfaction.

The survey included 23 parameters ranging from organizing children's schooling, finding somewhere to live and finding love.

Bahrain like many other Gulf countries is rich in natural resources such as oil and natural gas which currently provide 70% of the national income. Fears Bahrain's economy may be overly reliant on these finite resources have prompted the government in the capital Manama to work on diversifying the national economy.

The main fields under development are construction, Islamic banking and an emergent metal industry using the country's cheap energy prices to establish aluminum and iron smelting plants.

While a large expat community has contributed to the country's knowledge and skills base vital to its economic diversification, criticisms have been leveled at the policy for causing high unemployment rates as nationals are unable to compete with expats for jobs in the private sector.

The official unemployment rate in Bahrain stands at 3.5%, although the actual figure is believed to be much higher. In order to tackle this problem a new initiative has been set up to replace high numbers of expats with nationals. The new program aims to place 35,000 well educated Bahrainis with high skill levels in positions currently held by qualified expatriates and to train 150,000 nationals with high school degrees to take up entry level positions in the private sector.



http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017172064?Poll:%20Bahrain%20Best%20Country%20For%20Expats#ixzz0Zho4J9LG

[washingtonpost]

Some Emiratis glad Dubai's ambitious plans dented

Andrew Hammond
02 Dec 2009


Dubai nationals were alarmed by the fallout from the emirate's debt standstill, but many hope the crisis may stem the torrent of foreigners into the conservative Gulf Arab city, where locals are outnumbered ten to one.

The freewheeling emirate, one of seven that form the United Arab Emirates, sent jitters through global markets last week when it announced that one of its flagship developers had asked for a six-month repayment freeze on some debt.
The global financial crisis over the last year has tarnished Dubai's growth model - neo-liberal, East Asian-inspired and tightly managed from the top by ruler Sheikh Mohammed.

Construction work has slowed. Dubai's debt pile is now estimated by Moody's ratings agency at $100bn.

Most Emiratis say they are proud of the UAE's global name, gained largely through Dubai's glamorous projects such as man-made islands in the shape of palm trees and architectural gems such as the sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel.

But as foreigners flocked in, Emiratis were reduced to barely a tenth of Dubai's 1.7 million population and their share of UAE's 4.2 million total population is not much greater.

Radio talk shows and internet debate have portrayed the issue as a crisis in the past year.

"I don't have anything to lose in this financial crisis," said Ebtisam al-Kitbi, a politics professor at the UAE University in al-Ain. "As an activist and academic, I view it as an advantage for us as Emiratis."

"There was only the sound of real estate here, and if you criticised anything, they said 'you are against development'," Kitbi said, adding that major trading families had their own commercial interest in what was termed the "Dubai model".

Dubai was the UAE and Gulf Arab pioneer in allowing foreigners to own property in certain areas, encouraging wealthy Arabs, Asians and Westerners to buy into the dream.

The rulers and certain merchant families have been the biggest local beneficiaries of the affluence. Most Emiratis work in the government sector and some live modestly.

While foreigners cluster in the cities and luxury skyscrapers, Emiratis tend to live separately in their own communities, jealously guarding their traditions.

"Emiratis are relieved a bit due to the international financial crisis, but it is nowhere close to where people would like to see the country heading," said UAE blogger Ahmed Mansoor. "I believe the UAE has reached the point of no return when it comes to demographic imbalance."

Defiant tone
The tone was defiant during UAE national day celebrations this week, where miniature models of iconic Dubai buildings and Sheikh Mohammed's book "My Vision" - lauding a "make the desert bloom" miracle - have been paraded through the streets.

On a TV talent show, the audience gave a special cheer when the name of the man behind Dubai's "miracle" was mentioned.

The Dubai ruler, also UAE vice president and defence minister, came out fighting on Tuesday, saying the global reaction to the debt crisis had shown "a lack of understanding".

Dissent has been muffled in a society encouraged by official media to go along with the runaway development brought about by their rulers' policies. The UAE has a federal advisory body, but less than one percent of Emiratis are eligible to vote.

Media activity criticising rulers or harming the economy faces heavy fines in a draft media law waiting approval.
Emirati political scientist Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah, who signed a rare petition against the draft law this year, said the authorities were now keen to assuage local concerns.

"On a fundamental level, there is a realisation that this country has managed to cater to expat needs too far and they paid little attention to local, national concerns," he said.

"They don't want to get locals too angry. The state is one step ahead of a demand from locals."

Foreigners are being encouraged to dress modestly, some were arrested for eating in public during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and two Britons were tried last year for engaging in sexual activity out of wedlock and in public.
The foreigner majority is even cited in UAE domestic discussion as a reason for avoiding democracy, since that could encourage long-term residents to demand a say in governance.

"It's safer to have 90 percent of the population as foreigners, as long as locals can have some kind of elite status," said British historian Christopher Davidson, adding that Dubai paid only lip service to controlling expat inflow.

http://www.worldfinance.com/news/worldnews/breaking-views/article902.html

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

m-kay?

[Van Gogh]

So, Carmo, 3 months later, after taking in all this valuable advice, where did you end up? PS: Welcome to the world of EFL.

[eclectic]