‘Surge’ in expats looking for work in UAE

‘Surge’ in expats looking for work in UAE

Employment prospects are up, despite predicted drop in Dubai’s population this year.

January 20, 2010 8:44 by kippreport

There has been a ‘surge’ in job applications from expatriates looking for work in the Emirates, according to a report by the UAE’s state-owned news service.

“The UAE remains a popular destination among expatriate workers from all over the world as employment prospects in the country have increased by up to 8.3 per cent annually and is expected to maintain its upbeat growth in 2010,” said the WAM report, quoting a survey by recruitment website Careertunity.com.

However, the news seems at odds with another report, published by Shuaa Capital, which predicts that Dubai will see a population decline of 3.6 percent this year, and its economy contract by 0.4 percent.

Tags: Careertunity.com, employment, expatriates, jobs, population, UAE

Previous Article GCC Next Article

Dubai’s debt saga
January 20, 2010 | GCC

Direct flights between Yemen and UK suspended
January 20, 2010

More on GCC

All GCC

5 Comments

Jack on January 21, 2010 7:29 am

This is a perfect example of drawing an incorrect conclusion from statistical figures. Just because more people are looking for work in the UAE does not mean there are more jobs available in the country.

Please have lost jobs around the world and therefore more are looking for work. However, I am sure there are less employment opportunities in the UAE compared with 2008.
Nigel on January 21, 2010 9:48 am

Our figures show a massive decline in applications for Dubai roles from skilled professionals living overseas – job security issues coupled with bad press reports on the Emirate have certainly certainly had an impact on the number of good quality applicants from UK, Europe etc.
I am puzzled why a stray report from a newcomer to the regions recruitment business should be taken so seriously by WAM……..
Greg on January 21, 2010 1:50 pm

It used to be that only seasoned professionals worked overseas and that younger professionals built a background of good experience in their native land or with NGOs before being considered for professional overseas employment. What is happening in the UAE is a lot of these younger professionals are being employed. From observation, they lack many of the necessary skills and their numbers are lowering the bar of professional services.
SL on January 22, 2010 7:47 pm

With the young building a foundation in countries that neither invest in their training or career growth nor offer a long term prospect of permanent residence or citizenship it is no wonder that the quality attracted and the talent groomed is at the bottom of the barrel. Even seasoned professionals need the right clay to mould the future.
DeniseTheMenace on January 24, 2010 10:31 am

@ SL : I am totally in agreement with you. I worked for some years here in UAE before pursuing a specialized Masters from a premier univ in USA. Though personal reasons compelled me to come back, I am thinking of the long-term future of staying here. As you rightly said, No citizenship here, employers here seem surprised when I ask for “Reimb of Professional memmbership fees and Professional Conference attendance charges” (pretty much standard for similar jobs in the west even Far East). So what do I have in terms of motivation ? Moreover, it seems a culturally inclined to pick more of the worst of western and eastern worlds…Well, time is running out and I’ll decide soon (the recession makes it tough )
Cheers ! Keep Smiling always .