Workers in the UAE are more optimistic that their wages will rise in the coming year after suffering pay freezes during the past 12 months, but many remain concerned about job security. Of those polled during the YouGovSiraj survey, 61 per cent said they expected a salary increase, with almost a quarter hoping for a rise of more than 10 per cent.
Yet in spite of growing confidence about their own prospects, the threat of redundancy still looms over many workers. In the survey, 45 per cent of those polled were "somewhat concerned" about their jobs, while 30 per cent were "extremely concerned". Amid widespread nervousness about the stability of the economy, 49 per cent said they had deferred a major purchase during the past year. A significant number were also feeling the effects of pay freezes, with 54 per cent saying their salary last year had stayed at 2008 levels. Only 12 per cent suffered a pay cut.
Even among the well-off, many said they had felt the impact of price increases and dwindling disposable income. Will Hean, 43, is an investment director at Kenmore Property Group, and lives with his family in a villa in Jumeirah, which he rents for Dh250,000 (US$68,066) a year. "Cost of living-wise, we still find it expensive," he said. "Even though it's tax-free, by the time you send a couple of kids to school and pay for all the other bits and pieces, you're not left with much to save. We're also conscious of the fact that food prices have gone up a lot in the last year. But it's all relative to everywhere else in the world - in the UK, salaries have fallen and tax has gone up." Despite the recent downturn, many say their salaries and standards of living are still far better in the UAE than elsewhere.
"I came to Dubai recently because I got married and my husband works here," said Tatum Debendre, 28, who works in Human Resources and comes from Sri Lanka. "Where I come from we are worse off, and things are better here as there are more jobs and living standards are higher," said Mrs Debendre, who lives in Al Barsha, Dubai. "We want to stay here for five years, as my husband is doing well." Others, especially those who kept their jobs through the financial crisis, are more upbeat. Sabri Pozam, 30, who runs an audit company in Dubai, said that while he thought the overall picture was improving, his new worry was the rising cost of living.
"It is stable compared to last year, however I still feel a bit insecure about the local economy, especially in the GCC," he said. "Salaries have gone down but prices are still high." Some are not so sure. Cary Michael, 32, from the Philippines, is an office assistant at Abu Dhabi Investment Council. He worries about losing his job, but is glad to have survived the worst of the downturn. "I'm a contractor for an agency," he said. "It's more stable now because I've been working for them for almost four years. Will I lose my job? I hope not."
Despite his concerns, Mr Michael's salary has increased since he has been in the Emirates. "Every contract that we finish, they increase the salary, but not too much." agiuffrida@thenational.ae
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
Soldier F
“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.
“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.
“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson
THE%C2%A0SPECS
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now