Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Working in the Region
Labour laws throughout the Gulf are extremely strict. It's illegal to seek work on a visit
visa and there are severe penalties for those caught working illegally. Although some trav-
ellers take the chance of applying for ad-hoc work (in Dubai, for example), to remain with-
in the law you should secure a position before arrival. Your 'sponsor' (usually your em-
ployer) acts as a kind of guarantor of your good conduct while you reside in the country
and will help you obtain a visa.
Working and living conditions are usually of a high standard. Salaries, though not usu-
ally significantly higher than those in the West, carry the enormous advantage of incurring
no personal taxation. It can be tricky, however, to change jobs if you decide you're not
happy with the one you have. It can also be difficult to find long-term employment; many
contracts are short term, renewable annually. While it's not necessary to speak Arabic
(though it's an advantage), good spoken and written communication in English is a pre-
requisite and many jobs require qualifications that would not be expected back home.
Those offering professional skills in much-needed services, such as translating, nursing,
engineering and teaching (particularly English), stand the best chance of gaining employ-
ment; many administrative positions, on the other hand, are beginning to be filled by newly
trained local professionals. Recruiting agencies in major European cities still head-hunt for
positions in the Peninsula. Note that for English-language teaching, you will need at least a
degree and teaching experience to be eligible for most job opportunities.
You can also inquire about job opportunities at your cultural centre (such as the British
Council or Centre Culturel Français) and voluntary aid organisations.
Applying the Right Attitude
The working life of an expat, which often involves confronting fundamental differences in
outlook, culture and education between colleagues, can be quite a challenge. It helps, there-
fore, to identify these differences from the beginning and then to celebrate the 'other',
rather than seek to change it. The host nations, of the Gulf in particular, do this very well,
accepting the expat for who they are and rarely attempting to influence their religious or
social beliefs and customs. By the same token, it is important for the expat to learn to ap-
preciate the Arab way of doing things and not assume that the West always knows best.
Indeed, the expat who listens to what people want - rather than anticipates what they want
- is more likely to make a genuinely valuable contribution to the emerging but complex
