Why Saudi Arabia is emerging as a regional talent magnet

For many international jobseekers, the UAE has long been an attractive prospect to live and work.

The ease of finding a job, setting up a business, buying a home or even booking a luxury beachside hotel room have all contributed to putting the UAE on the map.

Thanks to UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the efforts of the current rulers, the Emirates continues to develop and progress on the global stage.

But with a rich economy and a bold 2030 Vision to become less reliant on oil, is Saudi Arabia becoming another regional leader in attracting the best talent?

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In terms of the numbers of roles, there are certainly many opportunities in the kingdom.

The changes in recent years in Saudi Arabia to bring more international culture, technology and ideas to the country are plain for all to see.

I first visited Saudi Arabia in 2007 from Dubai and it was very different to what it is now.

Big oil companies from the US and the formation of Saudi Aramco meant it was easy to see an American influence in the country.

Now, world-famous fine dining establishments such as Cipriani, Nusr-Et and LPM have opened and the F&B scene in the kingdom is firmly becoming established.

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Tourism is growing and the introduction of e-visas in late 2019 has meant a more seamless process to enter the country.

The Red Sea Project is one of many initiatives that will grow both population and tourism — and there is a huge redevelopment programme happening in and around Jeddah.

With a purchasing managers’ index reading of 56.9 for December 2022, Riyad Bank announced the largest job growth in non-oil sectors in five years.

I am seeing a huge demand for highly skilled technology experts — both Saudi and non-Saudi — across the country.

Salaries are also on the rise, with an estimated 11 per cent annual increase for non-Saudis in 2021, according to the MyExpatriate Market Pay Survey, which is published annually by London-based research company ECA International.

The kingdom is also making inroads on the global stage for sport, launching LIV Golf, buying English Premier League football club Newcastle United in 2021 and signing Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr FC, with the richest sports contract in history last week.

As a recruiter, I am seeing more foreigners open to moving to Saudi Arabia than was the case a few years ago. Why?

As a recruiter, I am seeing more foreigners open to moving to Saudi Arabia than was the case a few years ago

John Armstrong,
founder and managing director, JCA Associates

There is a highly improved infrastructure and quality of life on offer — and this will only get better.

With mega projects such as Neom and Qiddiya (reported to become the Disneyland of Saudi Arabia) well under way, there is much to look forward to in the kingdom.

The sheer scale of growth means there are plenty of opportunities for international candidates.

Thanks to more relaxed ownership laws, it is a lot easier for foreign investors to build their businesses in the country — and there are plenty of start-ups hiring.

Fifteen years ago, people such as myself planned to live and work in the UAE for just two to three years — and many of us have decided to stay, make a home and raise a family here. I am very happy I made that choice.

The living standards in the UAE are second to none; it’s very safe and there really is a feeling that we live in a land of opportunity.

But the same can be said about Saudi Arabia — and it will no doubt become home for many of us over the next few years as the country embraces Vision 2030.

John Armstrong is founder and managing director of recruitment agency JCA Associates.

Full list of Emmy 2020 nominations

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Ramy Youssef, Ramy

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Issa Rae, Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

OUTSTANDING VARIETY/TALK SERIES

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Steve Carell, The Morning Show
Brian Cox, Succession
Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Laura Linney, Ozark
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Zendaya, Euphoria

OUTSTANDING REALITY/COMPETITION PROGRAM

The Masked Singer
Nailed It!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice

LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
Hugh Jackman, Bad Education
Paul Mescal, Normal People
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Shira Haas, Unorthodox
Regina King, Watchmen
Octavia Spencer, Self Made
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES

Little Fires Everywhere
Mrs. America
Unbelievable
Unorthodox
Watchmen

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dead to Me
The Good Place
Insecure
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Schitt’s Creek
What We Do In The Shadows

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Better Call Saul
The Crown
The Handmaid’s Tale
Killing Eve
The Mandalorian
Ozark
Stranger Things
Succession

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

Edinburgh, Scotland
Westminster, London
Camden, London
Glasgow, Scotland
Islington, London
Kensington and Chelsea, London
Highlands, Scotland
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Fife, Scotland
Tower Hamlets, London

Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.

Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.

The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.

How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

Tuesday's fixtures

Group A

Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm

Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm

N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm

MATCH INFO

Everton v Tottenham, Sunday, 8.30pm (UAE)

Match is live on BeIN Sports

Company%20profile

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THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

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The Gandhi Murder

71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
7 - million dollars, the film's budget

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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450

Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000

Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km

'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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Whiile you're here

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Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

E-cigarette report

Big tobacco believes UAE is 'seriously considering' lifting e-cigarette ban

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

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