Adapting to life in the Middle East
1.Name
Susie Farrell
2.Job title
Consultant – Human Resources
3.Place of work
Dubai
4.Where have you relocated from?
I moved from Dublin.
5.What made you decide to move to the Middle East to work?
I had always wanted to live and work somewhere different like the Middle East. Prior to moving to Dubai, I had lived and worked in Melbourne for 5 years and then moved back to Ireland with every intention of staying there. I soon realised my timing wasn’t wonderful as Ireland was badly hit by the global down-turn so moving to the Middle East was an ideal opportunity. I had not been in Ireland long enough to settle and always knew I would live there one day so when the opportunity came up to work in and experience the emerging market of Dubai, I thought it would be great for my CV. I had heard so much about the Emirates and Dubai itself was growing rapidly – and it was really exciting to be a part of all that.
The job was to be based in Dubai but recruiting for the Middle East region – I thought it would be a great experience to work with different nationalities and learn about different cultures. It really is so different working in a place like Dubai – such a huge cultural difference compared with working in Australia and Ireland. Another factor which made me decide to move to Dubai was the tax free salary! Let’s face it most people come here to make money.
6.What are the logistics of relocating to the Middle East (e.g. sorting out working visas, setting up bank accounts, finding accommodation, transport etc)
For me, accommodation was probably the biggest task. Most companies will put you up in a hotel for your first 2 weeks, some will give you 4 weeks. With so little time, you need to get on the case straight away. When I first moved to Dubai, rental prices were still exceptionally high and most landlords will want rent paid for 6 -12 months in advance. You either need to have this amount ready to pay when you move or else ask your employer for a loan. This can take some organising!
Dubai is only now building its first proper public transport system so you have to get taxis everywhere. 98% of the time this is easy but in peak hours around 5-6pm, this can be a nightmare, especially when it’s really hot! I found, as most do, that the best solution is to get a rental car. It’s better to get on the road sooner rather then later to get used to the crazy drivers! But you cannot get your own car until you have a local driving license – and you can’t get this license until you have your visa approved and in your passport. So getting fully mobile can take some time.
With regards to sorting out your visa, I think this was a standard procedure compared with relocating to other countries. You’re just waiting for the government people to move and in Dubai, they tend to move at a slightly slower pace!
As for bank accounts – this was pretty straightforward. You can set up an account on your first day as long as you have a letter of approval from your employer to show that you are working in the Emirate.
I guess some things can be more tedious to organise and get sorted then others. I found I had to be patient and not being able to speak the language can be an issue.
7.What are the differences in office culture?
I work in an office full of expatriates so the office culture for me is the same as other places I have worked before. I know a lot of my friends out here would find it very different as they work with people who are Muslim and during Ramadan, for example, everyone has to respect their traditions and follow the same routine. I guess the office hours are definitely worth noting – our working week is Sunday to Thursday, which I like as on a Sunday, the Western World is off and you can get a lot of work done such as admin type tasks!
8.What differences have you experienced in the style of management in the Middle East compared to where you relocated from?
I haven’t experienced any differences in style of management. The MD who managed the Melbourne business when I worked there is now the MD of the Middle East business. I am working in an expat environment so it’s no different to what I’m used to.
9.How prevalent is networking in the Middle East?
I feel that as a Recruiter, it’s really about your own personal style and not about who you work for. Many people out here wouldn’t even know or care that I’m with Michael Page, it’s more about the consultant providing a good service. The Middle East and Dubai is a very small market and once you know some good contacts, these contacts will continue to introduce you to influential people. So, I would say that networking is pretty critical, especially for my market which is HR.
10.What are the fastest moving recruitment markets in the Middle East at the moment?
For me, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are moving the fastest. I think the reason for this is that because we are located in the UAE, it is very easy to visit these clients and spend time with them, establishing a face-to-face relationship.
11.Have you had any issues working in the Middle East?
The main issue I have faced is that I can’t speak Arabic. English is obviously widely spoken here but I guess when dealing with locals or Nationals from anywhere in the region, I feel if I did speak Arabic, I would earn more respect from them. I tend to talk quite fast so I think if I could add some Arabic in here and there, the conversation with clients and candidates might flow better! However 99% of the time, English is completely fine. Everyone is pretty much fluent here anyway.
As a female too, I find that not every male will shake my hand when I meet them. I don’t see this as an issue, it’s just the traditions and culture of the locals and one needs to respect that.
12.What advice do you have for people thinking of moving to the Middle East to work?
First and foremost, learn as much as you can about Dubai/Middle East before you decide to move there and if possible, I think one should visit here before you commit to relocation. Living and working here can be a big culture shock and it’s not for everyone.
13.How have you found the night life and entertainment in the Middle East?
The social life here is really superb! When I first moved here, I found people to be so incredibly welcoming and any time I was invited to something, I said yes! So I pretty much found my way around Dubai and all the social hot spots pretty quickly. There really is so much to do here – great restaurants and bars. And then how can I forget the beach? There are some really nice beaches here and providing you can handle the hot weather from July-September, you could be at the beach all year around.
14.Do you enjoy working in the Middle East?
Yes I do enjoy working in the Middle East. I enjoy working in a place where the culture is different and having the opportunity to work in an emerging market. I feel like I am working somewhere where change is happening right before your eyes.
Working in the Middle East does come with some challenges – particularly with this global down turn – but for me this is a positive as I am learning and adapting my working style to cope which I’ve found to be a really positive experience.
15.What is it like always living in air conditioning?
One simply can’t live without air conditioning - it just comes with the territory. It doesn’t really bother me at all – just takes some getting used to at the start.
