Personally I think Canada is Great!!

Does the following help:



Visa requirements for entering Dubai vary greatly between different nationalities, and regulations often change with little or no warning. For most western nationalities, the residency process is easy. There are several ways to obtain a residence visa in the UAE -sponsorship by employer, family sponsorship or residence through investment. New laws are constantly appearing so it is best to check the latest information at http://www.government.ae" rel="nofollow">LINK

Work

In the last 15 years, Dubai has become a top destination for workers wishing to find employment abroad. Foreigners make up nearly 90% of the population in Dubai and expat workers can be found in every sector, from service and construction to finance and media. Expat workers come to Dubai for a number of reasons: to advance their career, for a higher standard of living, to take advantage of new career opportunities or most commonly for the lifestyle and the experience of living and working in a new culture. Whatever the reason, there are various advantages of working here.

While the biggest bonus of working in Dubai may seem to be tax-free salaries, the benefits of not paying tax has been somewhat outweighed for some nationalities by the increasing weakness of the dirham (it remains pegged to the US dollar) against other currencies, especially the UK pound and the euro. This has resulted in salary packages being less lucrative than they were four or five years ago which, coupled with the constantly increasing rents, means disposable income isn't as impressive as it once was. However, there are other distinct benefits and these are what make people stay.

The job market in Dubai is constantly changing and, unlike 15 years ago, western workers can't just walk into a job that they could have only dreamed of back home. Competition is getting harder for all industries in Dubai, but that doesn't mean finding work is impossible. There are still a lot of great job prospects in Dubai and in many respects it is a land of opportunities for skilled professionals. It is also easier to change industries, as skill sets are less 'pigeon-holed' than in other countries.

New regulations have also made it easier for entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses. The last ten years have seen the rise of several 'free zones' which enable non-nationals to own and run their own business without a local sponsor.

Finding work in Dubai can be stressful, especially if you're looking for a great package. It is usually easier to find work after you've arrived in the city (on a visit visa), but it is always helpful to start your search well before you leave in order to have an idea of what's available. If you're able to find a job before you leave, the company will often offer to pay for relocation costs and help you once you've arrived.

Have a good search on the internet; there are plenty of job sites with Dubai listings. Local paper, Gulf News, has an excellent appointments section and has just started publishing online, so try http://www.khaleejtimes.com" rel="nofollow">LINK, as well as http://www.jobsindubai.com" rel="nofollow">LINK, http://www.uaestaffing.com" rel="nofollow">LINK, http://www.gulfjobsites.com" rel="nofollow">LINK and http://www.bayt.com." rel="nofollow">LINK

Useful Contacts:

BAC Middle East

Bayt

Charterhouse

IQ Selection

Job Track

Kershaw Leonard

Search

Talent Management Consultancy

Banking

To open an account in most Dubai banks, you need a residence visa or to have your residency application underway. The bank employee dealing with your application will require your original passport, copies of your passport (personal details and visa) and an NOC (letter of no objection) from your sponsor. Some banks will allow non-residents to open an account, so it is best to ask around.

Useful Contacts:

ABN AMRO Bank

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Barclays Bank Plc

Dubai Islamic Bank

Emirates Bank International

National Bank of Abu Dhabi

National Bank of Dubai

Housing

The housing market in Dubai is on fire. Rental prices are skyrocketing and new developments shoot up daily. The good news is that most accommodations are new and clean. With the market in such a state, many new residents choose to buy property as an investment. Since 2002, the Dubai government has allowed non-nationals to 'purchase' certain properties under a 99 year lease.

For those who aren't so far-sighted or don't have enough money, choosing to rent in Dubai reveals several options. Renting a room in a shared villa has become a common practice, as it is usually the cheapest option for foreigners. Apartments tend to be expensive and a studio in a very nice part of town will cost around Dhs.4,000 per month. Many landlords require that the full year's rent be paid up front, although some will accept four post-dated cheques.

Many of the newer developments have pools and fitness centres and there has been a recent surge in lower-cost housing, although most of those projects are well outside of the downtown area.

Real Estate Agents

Al Futtaim Real Estate

Asteco Property Management

Better Homes

Damac Properties

Landmark Properties

Oryx Real Estate

The Specialists

Union Properties

Health

The general standard of healthcare in the UAE is high, both in the public and private sectors. As in most countries, private healthcare is seen as preferable (English speaking, shorter waiting times and more comfortable inpatient facilities) and is likely to be mandatory under new UAE laws. So even though residents qualify for subsidised state care, you might want to consider health insurance. Emergency treatment in government hospitals is free, regardless of nationality or whether you have a health card. A list of all public hospitals can be found at http://www.dohms.gov.ae." rel="nofollow">LINK

Maternity care is usually covered under medical insurance plans, however companies are only required to give mothers 45 days of full pay maternity leave and many companies aren't willing to give more time, even if it is unpaid. Dental care is also covered by most private healthcare options and dentistry tends to be cheaper than in the UK or the US.

Pharmacies are abundant and there are several 24 hour pharmacies, usually one is never more than a 20 minute drive away. Many of the pharmacies are open from 09:00 to 22:00 Saturday to Thursday and from 16:00 to 22:00 on Fridays. Most of the pharmacies are independently run and can be found in most malls or busy areas of town. Many of the less harmful drugs that require prescriptions in the UK or the US can be bought without prescriptions in Dubai. However, some drugs, especially those containing addictive substances, may be hard to find.

Useful Contacts

American Hospital

Dubai Hospital

AXA Insurance (health insurance)

Greenshield Insurance (health insurance)

Lifecare International (health insurance)

Education

The education system is varied, with many international schools to choose from, and more opening every year. But, as there is no government-funded education for expat children, all these schools charge fees. Parents can choose between US, international or UK systems and the standard of education is growing ever higher.

It's a good idea to visit a few schools before you make your decision. Most of the top schools operate waiting lists and you may not be able to get your child into your first choice. You may also have to pay a fee to be registered on the waiting list, which is non-refundable.

After-school activities are common and include things such as gymnastics, swimming, ballet, Arabic classes, horse-riding, rugby, golf, football and tennis. Most are free. The school terms are similar to education systems in the UK and USA, with autumn (mid September - mid December), spring (early January - early April) and summer (mid April - early July) terms.

Among other things, to enrol in a new school one must provide school records for the previous two years, immunisation records, birth certificate, official transfer certificate and copies of the child's and parents' passports.

Dubai is also home to several universities and the level of higher education is also rising. Some of the top schools available are The American University of Dubai and the University of Wollongong.

Cost of Living

Beer (six-pack)Dhs.25

Loaf of breadDhs.4

Litre of milkDhs.5

Cinema ticketDhs.30

Potatoes (per kg)Dhs.3.50

Fresh fish (per kg)Dhs.15-20

Takeaway pizza (large)Dhs.30

Eggs (dozen)Dhs.7

DVD (new release)Dhs.85

Cigarettes (pack of 20)Dhs.7

In general, I agree with the views provided by NM about UAE.

The latest trend is that the rents are coming down (by around 20 to 30%).

But the problem is there are fewer jobs and the salaries have also gone down. This is especially true for construction and real estate industries which are very badly affected. Most of the other sectors are also affected due to the recession and real estate collapse.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Quote:

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Originally posted by G13I wonder what is the benefit of earning an extra 4000$ p/month if you are paying it in monthly rent?

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Salary levels have gone down drastically in the last 6 months after recession has hit hard.

Supply Vs Demand gap has incresed, especially in Dubai, this is due to the fact that many people have lost thier jobs and new Projects have been kept under hold or cancelled.

No jobs......few jobs......... but Rents have not gone down, Traffic jam never like before all leading to people leaving Dubai.

I know many families have left Dubai in the last 6 months !

The most likely Monthly salary levels for those who are in Engg / Construction :

Accountant : 8 to 12 K
Engineer : 12 to 18 k + Car with Fuel
Supervisor : 5 to 8 K
Engg / Project Manager : 20 to 30k + Car with Fuel
Sr. Manager : 25 to 35 k + Car with Fuel
Divisinal Head : 35 to 45 K + Car with Fuel
Trades like electrician, plumber etc : 2.5 to 4 k + free accommodation

For those in Oil & Gas, salaries are slighly better than the above.

Monthly Expenses :

Rent : 10 to 14 k
Groceries : 2 to 2.5 k
If some having personal car : 1.5 to 2 k
Education : 1 to 2 k per child
Eating out , entertainment : 1 to 1.5 k

People tend to take loans from bank which is freely available. Expats can take upto 250k loan from bank against company letter and salary levels. Repayable upto 5 year term. 6 to 9 % simple intrest. EMI will be calculated by bank depending on tennure and intrest.

Bear in mind, entering and leaving a Gulf company is difficult. Practicing profession is more difficult.

Arabic is local language and govt staff speak Arabic. You can not expect them to speak English.
When you speak in English they will speak Arabic to you !

Skill set targeting ME as the destination:

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses and the information about ME...

I would be more than happy if you guys tell me what skill set should I gain in order to land a better job in ME, I have mentioned my educational backgroud and work experience earlier in the thread...

since I have close to two years of stay in Canada...I would like to improve my skill set to better market myself and find a good position...
Appreciate your responses ....

Thanks....