Finding the Right Job Abroad

Those who obtain jobs in Qatar need to be aware of the correct procedures for obtaining the correct documentation.  Most companies will have an appointed person to guide you through the processes and help to organise work permits in Qatar.

In the first instance a work visit visa is usually issued to allow the applicant to enter the country and take up their employment.  They then complete the necessary paperwork whilst in the country with the help of their employer.

In order to obtain the correct visas and permits applicants must ensure that they have a passport which still has at least six months to run, birth certificate, marriage certificates and a medical certificate.  The fees which relate to work visas will be paid by the sponsoring company, though applicants may have to pay a small processing fee when they send in their documentation.  Information on fees and documentation required can be obtained from the website of the country’s embassy.

This can all be dealt with when you arrive in the country on a business or visitor visa.  Residency visas can run from one to three years. Those who may need to travel regularly may be able to obtain a multi-entry visa.  Applications for residence visas are made on arrival in Qatar and usually take around six weeks to come through.  Immediate family of the worker will also be issued with a residence visa under the same sponsorship as the worker.  

Long-term residence visas are subject to both medical and fingerprint examinations. Those staying long-term in Qatar must also have an identity card.  It is required documentation when dealing with all official issues.

If you have been contemplating relocating to the Middle East and working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there are certain issues that you need to be aware of before starting the application process. 

Naturally, you’ll probably start your search online so be prepared for all the options that are going to result when searching for jobs in UAE.  You should investigate the larger companies first as the compensation packages are usually better and they provide better job security as well.  Here are a few more things to consider when talking about UAE jobs.

Dubai is still the hotspot in the UAE with a thriving economy that has showed no signs of slowing down, even though the global economy has become unstable.  Additionally, most Gulf regions are tax-free environments.  There is no property tax when you purchase a home and you are not charged sales tax when shopping for consumables.  When you are talking about UAE jobs, this is what has become one of the most enticing factors where living and working in the Middle East is concerned.

Unless you work in the hospitality/hotel or retail trade sector, you are typically looking at an eight hour workday and a 48-hour working week.  In the former mentioned sectors, the workday is usually nine hours long.  Conversely, the more dangerous and difficult jobs will have shorter working hours.  In any event, if you are qualified for a particular position you could be walking into a very lucrative career featuring better benefits and higher compensation than you currently enjoy.

Westerners looking for jobs in Middle Eastern countries have to be aware of the cultural differences that exist between the Middle East and the West. Most of these relate to religious differences and regardless of whether you are working an oil job in Dubai or a Saudi IT job, you must be able to maintain a professional level of cultural understanding to perform your task adequately. Regardless of what Gulf jobs you end up applying for, the only way you will be successful in making the transition to a foreign country is by adapting to that country’s social and cultural climate. The old saying, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” has held true over time, and it is just as relevant now as it was back then.

The tensions you have experienced living in a Western culture are exactly the same in Middle Eastern countries. Regardless of which jobs in Middle Eastern countries you are pursuing, you must be a tolerant individual who is willing to embrace Middle East culture and society and immerse yourself in it completely, going beyond simply being a foreigner working in the Middle East, and instead being just another local. You need to have patience and respect for others’ opinions, and sensitivity regarding culture and religion is more important when working a job in Middle Eastern countries than anywhere else in the world. If you do not think you can handle the differences between cultures there is no point in applying for jobs in the Middle East, because you will be subjected to them every day.

When it comes to looking for jobs in Middle Eastern countries, whether they are jobs in Kuwait or jobs in Saudi Arabia, you will find that companies are looking beyond simply a set of skills related to the job. While a positive attitude can go a long way towards building a relationship between you and a potential employer, you have to show a willingness to learn how jobs in Middle Eastern countries work, because not only are you going to be living in a completely different culture, but you will be working in an environment that is completely foreign to anything you have ever experienced before in your working life, especially if you are someone from a Western country.

While it is true that a willingness to learn is important for any potential candidate for employment to possess, it is even truer when looking at jobs in Middle Eastern countries. You are likely going to have to learn a foreign language, not to mention you will have to learn how to work with individuals from different cultures, regardless of whether you are working in an IT job in Dubai or a Saudi telecom job. Considering the fact that you are a foreigner, your learning curve is going to be significantly steeper compared to local candidates, so you must be able to prove to your potential employer that you have what it takes to excel at your task, regardless of which jobs in Middle Eastern countries you are applying for. Be willing to learn, and you will set yourself ahead of the pack.

When searching for United Arab Emirates jobs, Abu Dhabi may not be the most obvious place to look but increasing number of foreign workers are flocking to the area.  The oil and gas industries were originally the main source of employment for those from overseas but other industries are becoming increasingly popular. 

For those unfamiliar with the region it is better to deal with larger companies who recruit workers themselves or use reputable recruitment agencies.  There are some disreputable agencies who will try to charge applicants a fee for their services.  A reputable agency will charge only the company they are recruiting for.

The central bank of the UAE is based in Abu Dhabi along with a number of other financial institutions and jobs available in this sector are on the increase.  Positions available in the industry range from entry level graduate trainee positions to senior management.  Some foreign workers may find it easier to obtain work with institutions here and then obtain a transfer to the Middle East. 

Abu Dhabi IT jobs are also becoming popular due to the rapid development of the industry.  Positions which are frequently advertised range from trainee programmers to chief executives and skilled IT professionals can be placed in nearly every industry from financial to medical as all industries now require the use of a great deal of information technology.

Many companies will advertise in national newspapers or trade press to find applicants.  Competition is fierce for United Arab Emirates jobs but candidates who are skilled and experienced stand a good chance of obtaining employment.

Foreign workers who are lucky enough to land jobs in Kuwait will find that there is a certain amount of paperwork that needs to be dealt with before they arrive in the country. 

Most large organisations who take on foreign workers will have somebody who is appointed to help them deal with the documentation and regulations and act as sponsor.  The cost of a Kuwait work permit or visa is usually met by the employer though applicants may have to pay a small processing fee when they send their details.  Information on relevant costs can be obtained from the embassy websites. 

Workers will need a passport which still has at least six months to run on it, marriage certificates and birth certificates.  Medical examinations are essential for all visa applications and a relevant certificate should be sent in with the visa application.

Anyone who is a GCC national or has the relevant documentation for residency in another GCC state may enter Kuwait without a visa.  Those who do need visas must arrange them before they arrive in the country.  People who arrive without visas are denied entry. 

In order to obtain a residence visa, applicants must first have an NOC, obtained by the sponsoring company from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.  This should be sent to the Ministry of the Interior for a residence visa to be issued.  Applicants will then have to undergo another medical examination which includes an HIV test.  A Civil ID card can then be issued and workers will need to carry this with them at all times.

Online job sites have revolutionized the job market for both employers and employees, and have created an environment where job-seekers and hiring pools are no longer limited to local environments, but instead are considered global. Looking at the Middle East in particular, jobs in Middle Eastern countries have never been more popular than they are today, and the opportunity for individuals from all around the world has never been greater. The number of foreign workers to local residents in places like Dubai is five to one, meaning that for every one local citizen there are five foreigners working jobs.
 
But it’s not just in Dubai. There are also jobs in Saudi Arabia, jobs in Kuwait, jobs in Qatar, and all over the Middle East. The beauty of global recruitment in the online format is that the old-fashioned way of doing things where it could potentially take months to land a job is out the window. Now you have the opportunity to look at jobs in Middle Eastern countries anytime you want, and get in touch with recruiters with the click of a button, sending your CV on its merry way to land you your next job.

Along with the reduced time to hire, the online recruitment revolution has allowed real-time interaction and around-the-clock hiring/searching opportunities. For individuals who are suffering in the wake of the global recession, this is an amazing opportunity because jobs in Middle Eastern countries are available for anyone willing to work, and there is no time like the present.

The current buzz about available job opportunities in the Gulf region of the Middle East typically focuses on Dubai and the surrounding areas.  Currently there are numerous benefits from living and working in Dubai.  First and foremost, the region affords you the ability to live and work in a tax-free environment.  Both property and sales taxes are non-existent, as the government has ruled them illegal.  Housing prices have increased along with the growth of the economy and the population.  However, it is still very affordable to live in Dubai.

Another of the numerous benefits of living and working in Dubai is the fact that jobs will pay as much as 20% more than similar jobs in other locations.  Not only do you benefit from living and working in a tax-free environment, your earnings will be higher and you will have more disposable income than what you may be used to.  The UAE in general has one of the highest per capita income levels in the world and the economy is not showing any signs of slowing down despite the instability of the global economy.

Remember also that another one of the primary benefits of living and working in Dubai is that there are numerous international companies in a number of job sectors and many of them allow you to negotiate your compensation package if you are the qualified individual that they have been searching for.  It is not uncommon for these to include additional compensation to cover your commuting and living expenses.

One of the first things you should do before accepting a job in the United Arab Emirates, or any job in the entire Middle East for that matter, is do some research on the country you are going to prior to actually arriving in the country. You need to be familiar with the customs, culture, way of life, and preferably learn a little bit of the language prior to touching down on foreign soil. It is also vitally important to have a firm offer of employment for a job in the UAE prior to coming to the country, and while it is possible to find Dubai jobs as a result of speculative visits, it is fairly rare, and the Department of Immigration frowns upon it. You have to be exceptionally lucky and extremely well-qualified and experienced in order to even have a fraction of a chance to land jobs in Middle Eastern countries without any prior arrangements; you will most certainly need local contacts, which most people do not have at first.

There are thousands of jobs in Dubai and across the Middle East, and this is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, which means there are opportunities all around the area. Whether it is Dubai IT jobs, Kuwait IT jobs, Qatar gas jobs, or Saudi telecom jobs, there are plenty to choose from. Just remember that you need a sponsor prior to arriving in the country, and if you are making a perspective business trip for the purpose of finding a job, just understand that your chances of being hired while there are extremely slim. 

If you make the decision to find a job in the United Arab Emirates, you will need to acquire a work visa. It is mandatory to have a work contract or valid job offer prior to applying for the actual work permit related to any jobs in the UAE. A work visa is a multiple entry visa, and in many ways functions exactly like a residency visa in other countries. If this is your first time working a job in Dubai or the UAE you need to understand that there are rules and regulations which are fairly strict, although once the requirements have been met the employment opportunities are fairly lucrative.

You need a sponsor to work any jobs in UAE cities, and once that sponsor has initiated the procedure of requesting a work visa for you via the Immigration Department, you will be issued a labour card once your contract has been validated. Once you have your labour card you can apply for the residency visa, or employment visa, which is valid for three years and is renewable based upon training. Your credentials will be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the embassy or consulate of the UAE in your home country prior to you being allowed to work in the United Arab Emirates. If you have a spouse or children, you can sponsor them once you have obtained your employment /residency visa, and they can stay in the country on a visitor visa while the paperwork is processed.