Latest: Dubai ranks first globally for employee take-home pay, ahead of Hong Kong and Singapore
The UAE has long been an attractive proposition for overseas workers because of its lucrative job packages, tax-free salaries and sunny climate.
Now a list released by India’s External Affairs Ministry revealed the Emirates was the leading destination for Indians hunting for jobs abroad, followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the US and Oman.
The breakdown of the UAE population offers an insight into the demand for jobs in the country.
According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, 9.2 million people live in the UAE, about 89 per cent of whom are foreign citizens.
Indians form the largest foreign community in the UAE, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, other Asians, Europeans and Africans.
For finance, the majority of my overseas applicants come from India and Pakistan, with quite a few from Egypt and the rest from Europe
Louise Vine,
Inspire Selection
Alex Koumi, managing director of Kingston Stanley, a recruitment agency in Dubai, said the majority of the job applicants that come to the company are from GCC countries or elsewhere in Asia.
“In terms of candidates, we see a high number of applications from India, Saudi Arabia, UK, Jordan and Qatar,” he said.
“Skill sets include creative, digital and technology. The industries in which they are applying are completely varied, but pharmaceutical and media agencies are high in demand.”
The agency predominantly places applicants in mid to senior-level roles and salaries vary depending on experience.
What salaries can applicants expect?
For creatives, he said, an art director can expect to earn between Dh18,000 and Dh22,000 per month in the current climate.
At the most senior end of the scale, an executive creative director for an agency can expect to bank Dh40,000 to Dh50,000 per month.
For those looking to work within the digital sector, a social media director could earn between Dh25,000 and Dh30,000 per month, while the head of digital could expect to take home Dh35,000 to Dh40,000.
An IT manager can expect to earn between Dh25,000 and Dh35,000 per month, rising to between Dh45,000 and Dh60,000 for a position as head of IT.
Louise Vine, managing director for recruitment agency Inspire Selection, said the countries from which applicants apply varies a lot depending on the industry and role.
“For higher education, all our applicants are from the US or UK,” she said.
“For senior construction roles, they mostly come from the UK and Ireland, and some also from Lebanon and Jordan.
“For finance, the majority of my overseas applicants come from India and Pakistan, with quite a few from Egypt and the rest from Europe.”
She said restrictions on travel from the Philippines had “reduced the number of applications” in recent months, but Indian jobseekers were not deterred by the lack of flights to the UAE.
In terms of trends, Kiren Gill, technology recruiter for Inspire Selection, has noted a rise in many lower-level candidates keen to explore the UAE.
Junior to mid-level applicants from India and Pakistan have shown an interest in IT, sales and customer service roles.
“Senior general management candidates are trying to relocate globally, probably because their jobs have been affected by the crisis in their countries,” Ms Gill said.
“Unfortunately, they do not seem to realise that the pandemic has [also] affected us here, and jobs at the top two layers of management level are not widespread at the moment.”
Dubai and Abu Dhabi most desirable cities
In March, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were listed as among the top five most desirable cities to move to for work.
According to a survey by Boston Consulting Group and The Network, Dubai climbed to third place from sixth in 2018, while Abu Dhabi rose to fifth place, behind Berlin.
The findings were based on the feedback of 209,000 people in 190 countries to find the most attractive destinations for foreign workers.
The introduction of the golden visa – a long-term residency initiative that recognises experts in various fields – has also attracted more skilled workers to the UAE.
It allows investors, professionals and others with special talents to acquire long-term residency in the country for themselves and their families.
Recruiters said the programme has resulted in more high-level employees looking for jobs here, especially those from India and Pakistan.
David Mackenzie, managing director of recruitment firm Mackenzie Jones, said he tends to recruit for mid to senior-level roles in the UAE.
For the positions he hires for, there is a demand for Arabic speakers, mainly from the GCC, and Europeans.
“At the moment, we are struggling to find recruitment or talent people,” he said.
“Companies have restructured and are starting to fill roles again, so HR vacancies are in demand.
“We have a lot of roles for legal positions, but trying to find Arabic-speaking legal experts is quite difficult.”
UAE salary guide - in pictures
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
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3. Hajj
4. Shahada
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
PRESIDENTS CUP
Draw for Presidents Cup fourball matches on Thursday (Internationals first mention). All times UAE:
02.32am (Thursday): Marc Leishman/Joaquin Niemann v Tiger Woods/Justin Thomas
02.47am (Thursday): Adam Hadwin/Im Sung-jae v Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay
03.02am (Thursday): Adam Scott/An Byeong-hun v Bryson DeChambeau/Tony Finau
03.17am (Thursday): Hideki Matsuyama/CT Pan v Webb Simpson/Patrick Reed
03.32am (Thursday): Abraham Ancer/Louis Oosthuizen v Dustin Johnson/Gary Woodland
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
