The Middle East is expected to undergo a population surge in the coming decades, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The Dubai government is successfully campaigning to attract working professionals to the emirate, with its current population at 3.5 million and expected to surge to about six million in 20 years.
With a positive outlook for the economy and job opportunities increasing, how can foreign professionals looking to move to the Emirates secure the right job?
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Watch: some stats behind the UAE's hiring boom
With many leading multinational companies in the region, many people will have the opportunity to transfer — within the same company — from their home country to this part of the world.
If that is not possible and someone is looking to make the move, there are many practical steps that jobseekers can take to give themselves the best chance of securing a good opportunity.
Doing your research is an obvious but very important start when moving to a new country — and not simply about the job market but also when it comes to questions such where to live, which schools to look at and so on.
A reputable recruiter who knows the region will be able to offer sound advice on relocating. The chances are they will have done so themselves at some stage — and will want to ensure that you are settled when you move to your new location.
Understanding the costs of living in a new country is essential. It may take three to six months to find and start your new role, so for those looking to make the bold move of relocating without a job, they must ensure they budget appropriately.
It is a great idea to visit the region first, meet some property agents and schools (if required) and network with industry peers before making your final decision to move.
It is also important to understand what paperwork you will need — it is worth ensuring that documents such as marriage, birth and degree certificates are notarised before applying for jobs, as these are often needed in the application process at or before the offer stage.
If you are looking to work in a government and/or security field, then you must go through a security clearance procedure. It is worth applying for a recent criminal record check from a police station in your home country.
Focusing on the right organisation is a must. There are some huge, well-known companies in the UAE such as Emirates airline, which has currently advertised more than 100 roles (not including cabin crew) in information technology, finance, human resources and engineering.
Neom, a $500 billion giga project set to house nine million residents in Saudi Arabia, is another employer with a huge supply of job opportunities — and there are many others.
There are also a number of huge regional organisations that are less visible, but which offer an array of good job roles.
The key is to widen your network within your given sector.
A good way to do this is to apply for a LinkedIn premium account (it’s free for the first month), then you can connect and speak with relevant people in your industry. This is where doing your homework is vital.
Rather than connecting with someone to ask them if they have a job opportunity, do a bit of research on them and/or the company.
Then approach them with something like: “Hi, I read your recent post about your Q3 results and expansion plans. I see a lot of synergies with my current company. I’m moving to the region soon and it would be great to connect.”
Another important aspect to remember is to manage expectations.
You cannot expect to land an opportunity by applying for more than 100 jobs that may not fit your skill set.
Focus on what you are good at, find out which organisations have strong leaders in that field, then follow them closely.
If you see the perfect role online, then try to connect with the right person and introduce yourself, rather than clicking apply as most others will do.
Be aware that you may not always land a dream job as your first role in the region without local experience.
John Armstrong,
founder and managing director of JCA Associates
Furthermore, try to build a good working relationship with one or two recruiters that specialise in your field — and maybe check in with a message once or twice a month to keep you front of mind.
Finally, be aware that you may not always land a dream job as your first role in the region without local experience.
If you are a project manager, you may want to also consider a senior engineer's position. If you are a chief financial officer, then applying for a vice-president of finance may be a good option.
From the employer’s point of view, there is always a preference for regional experience.
So, if you are willing to show flexibility to secure your first role, this offers you a slight advantage that may mean the difference between securing a move to the Middle East or not.
John Armstrong is founder and managing director of recruitment agency JCA Associates.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20UAE%20men%E2%80%99s%20cricketer%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWhen%20he%20debuted%20against%20Bangladesh%20aged%2016%20years%20and%20314%20days%2C%20he%20became%20the%20youngest%20ever%20to%20play%20for%20the%20men%E2%80%99s%20senior%20team.%20He%20broke%20the%20record%20set%20by%20his%20World%20Cup%20squad-mate%2C%20Alishan%20Sharafu%2C%20of%2017%20years%20and%2044%20days.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20wicket-taker%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20taking%20the%20wicket%20of%20Bangladesh%E2%80%99s%20Litton%20Das%20on%20debut%20in%20Dubai%2C%20Aayan%20became%20the%20youngest%20male%20cricketer%20to%20take%20a%20wicket%20against%20a%20Full%20Member%20nation%20in%20a%20T20%20international.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20in%20T20%20World%20Cup%20history%3F%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAayan%20does%20not%20turn%2017%20until%20November%2015%20%E2%80%93%20which%20is%20two%20days%20after%20the%20T20%20World%20Cup%20final%20at%20the%20MCG.%20If%20he%20does%20play%20in%20the%20competition%2C%20he%20will%20be%20its%20youngest%20ever%20player.%20Pakistan%E2%80%99s%20Mohammed%20Amir%2C%20who%20was%2017%20years%20and%2055%20days%20when%20he%20played%20in%202009%2C%20currently%20holds%20the%20record.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
