Every year, Egypt trains about 7,000 doctors. If they practice in the country, they can expect to be paid on average $200 a month. In Germany, a specialist is paid more than $6,000. In the US, plastic surgeons can earn almost $50,000. The discrepancy between working at home and abroad is a similar story for many other disciplines, particularly technical ones.
In the face of such discrepancies, there is mounting evidence that parts of the Middle East might be training a lot of highly qualified young professionals, only for many of them to leave. In some places, the problem is critical. According to data gathered by Arab Barometer, between 2020 and 2021 almost half of Lebanon's citizens wanted to leave for better prospects abroad. Between ages 18 and 29, it rose to 63 per cent.
Other challenges are adding to the problem. Increasingly, it is not just a lack of jobs but universities themselves that are dissuading the brightest young people from staying in the region. A new study by the Majid Al Futtaim business group and McKinsey found that 8 per cent of the world's university students come from the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. However, only 1.5 per cent of the best universities are found there. The report says this has led to many "leaving to study abroad, and in many cases, not returning home”.
This is not just a problem for technical fields. Yesterday, Egyptian fans of squash, a sport at which Egypt excels on the world stage, were divided after news that one of their country's star champions, Mohamed El Shorbagy, switched allegiance to play for England. “I’m really excited to be representing England. I have lived there for more than half my life and I’ve trained under British coaches since the age of 15,” El Shorbagy, 31, said in an interview. He added that the difficult decision took months of reflection, but he eventually made it based on the years-long support given to him in England. He is particularly grateful for two major scholarships, one to a leading sports private school, the second to a specialist university.
This week has seen more worrying data that brings a whole new angle to the issue of higher education in Mena and the brain drain. Consultancy agency PwC has released a report that argues that increasing the number of women in the workforce in the Middle East could bring its GDP up by 57 per cent. If inadequate higher educations becomes another barrier to the many already in front of the region's women, the economic cost would be huge.
The Middle East is more than capable of improving its institutions. In some parts, particularly the Gulf, there is progress. Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University of Science and Technology was recently named the third best educational institution in the Arab world in the QS World University Rankings 2022. Five universities in Saudi Arabia were added to the same list. Fourteen of the kingdom’s higher education institutions are now on it.
Whether in antiquity or the Arab renaissance seen between the 19th and early 20th century, there is proof that intellects can be fostered in the region. At many points in history, people from abroad have flocked to the Middle East to learn in its many academic centres. Without action, an increasingly high number of young people from those same countries will do the opposite, perhaps never to return.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
