Working and Investing in Dubai what you must know
Relocating to a foreign country for many professionals may be a nightmare, granted the vast stretch of readjustments that need to be made in the process of acclimatization. The unfamiliar surroundings, foreign cuisine,language barrier and a new people are just some of the elements that one encounters when immigrating to another country. This article highlights some of the positives and negatives that expatriates in Dubai must face during their stay at the Arabic country.
Dubai is an Arab country in the Middle East that has been increasingly attracting professionals and other skilled workers, through the numerous opportunities that it is endowed with.Notable among the highest paying industries in the Dubai economy is the Hospitality industry.In fact it is a country that has gained notoriety from the numerous breathtaking hotels, some underwater and many being skyscrapers of unmatched heights.
As an economic hub of the East, Dubai is without an iota of doubt a home for many professionals and other prospective workers. It is thus important for those prospecting to live in Dubai to get acquainted to the diverse "setbacks" and "climes of convenience" to the life in Dubai.Firstly, it is important to remember that the country being an Islamic country, or a nation built on Islamic foundation, religion to the inhabitants is, needless to say,paramount. Religious observance overrides any other social aspect of life and in this sense becomes the totem pole around which much of the lives of the Dubai inhabitants revolve. While Islam is the primary religion in the country, it may come as a relief to many people who are looking forward to residing in Dubai that other religions are as well tolerated.This is a plus to many Christians looking for employment in the East. To the devout Muslims, it may well be an inconvenience to live in Dubai because of the strictness of religious observance in that country. A day in the life of a Muslim is marked by a five-time prayer observance period.During this times,one must suspend every other business and engage in prayer.Until one finishes his or her mandatory observance of prayer, no business can be attended to.In the same vein, during religious fasts like in the month of Ramadan, many business premises close during the day and only open after the evening.The sale of such stuff as liquor is only done when "breaking the fast".Though it may be welcome to the teetotaler, it may not be a good news to the imbibers of alcohol.
Cultural aspects of life in Dubai can as well be prohibitive to many who desire to live in that country. The requirement that dresses should be loose,is sacrosanct,as a corollary of the Islamic religion.Other social aspects that may be viewed as normal in many jurisdictions,may not be welcome in Dubai. Such practices which are all criminal offences with severe punishments,include drunkenness, drug abuse, dishonesty, use of unsavory language and public display of affection; raising your voice to a police officer or any government official.
When it comes to landing accommodation in Dubai, there are a good number of fully serviced and fully furnished apartments which are cheaply available for short term leases.This makes it easier and convenient for new immigrants to acquire houses. On the flip-side, dealing with landlords and other third party property owners may be an encumbrance to many a new immigrants.This is because in Dubai, apartments must be paid for upfront, which may be out of reach of an economically average expatriates or newbies; property maintenance should be conducted regularly, making it inconvenient to tenants in times when the cooperation of a landlord is wanting.
Finally, what many expatriates would need to hear is that Dubai is fraught with a plethora of many economic opportunities, which make it a desirable hub for many desiring overseas employment.From health care to Hospitality, it is saturated with a good number of industries which constantly create a vacuum and thus a demand for services. However, the government and the private sector is constantly rooting for exhausting domestic Emirate workforce, which may not be necessarily qualified for those interested in investing in the country, foreign investments efforts are usually marred by a good number or government regulations and an unrelenting government red tape. This only makes Dubai a good place to work in, but certainly not an investment destination.
