Dynamics changing for expats in the ME - salary raises? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Dynamics changing for expats in the ME - salary raises?

1511
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 16:56

Originally the Middle East was viewed as a hardship posting and salaries reflected that, in latter years many ME countries have lost that *hardship aspect* and salaries reduced. The economic downturn reduced salaries even further for expats and packages.

Now one has to consider that with recent developments in many ME countries that International and local companies alike are going to have to change their attitude in recruitment of expats. Providing emergency evacuation allowances and re looking at salaries.

Are expats also going to have to change their expectations? By this i mean living a far more basic life, after all what's the point of investing in local supplies of high end furnishings if they are to left in a hurry.

This is a massive food for thought, will the dynamics change, do they need to? What do you think? Would you now want more money to go and live in Saudi, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain if offered, comparative to 3 months ago?

2222
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 18:27
There are some industries that Arab nations will still require expats from certain nations. Such as? There is also a sector of ME nationals who request specific nationalities. Such as?
1100
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 18:11
But now taking on board recent events in Egypt, Libya and Bahrain, would you want more to live and work there than previously? I would need to be offered a pretty fabulous package to go to Libya....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 18:08
I would always have wanted a lot of money to move to Libya and Egypt. The surprise one is Bahrain which has not really (in my view) been associated with "edgy" before. So maybe my view on working there has changed in the light of recent events.
1511
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 18:03
But now taking on board recent events in Egypt, Libya and Bahrain, would you want more to live and work there than previously?
1100
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 18:01
Was the UAE ever - in the fairly recent past, anyway - considered a 'hardship posting' for western expats the way Saudi still is, given the comparative latitude given to non-locals? But even Saudi packages have reduced over the last few years. You know, its kind of like the rent here... an area (such as JVT) needs to attract tenants, so they put their prices at around 80k.... then they're like, wow lots of people want to live here, put the price up to 115k since its now popular forgetting the fact that the reason its probably become popular is because its cheap, People hear the packages are good in the ME countries so they try to get jobs there, so people think... hmm lots of people want to work here, so lets put the salary down, forgetting that the reason why most people want to work there is the high salaries... Not saying they don't still find tenants or employees in both examples, but it's the mentality, since people want it charge more or pay less, then they wonder why no one rents or why people don't accept the jobs in the end <em>edited by AdviceSeeker on 17/03/2011</em>
1511
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:58
There are some industries that Arab nations will still require expats from certain nations. Such as? Medicine (specialist), Oil and Gas eg. There is also a sector of ME nationals who request specific nationalities.
1511
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:56
Was the UAE ever - in the fairly recent past, anyway - considered a 'hardship posting' for western expats the way Saudi still is, given the comparative latitude given to non-locals? But even Saudi packages have reduced over the last few years.
2222
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:56
There are some industries that Arab nations will still require expats from certain nations. Such as?
1511
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:56
There are some industries that Arab nations will still require expats from certain nations.
141
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:55
Was the UAE ever - in the fairly recent past, anyway - considered a 'hardship posting' for western expats the way Saudi still is, given the comparative latitude given to non-locals?
1100
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:54
You know, a change I've noticed that has grown quite steadily is the the higher demand for arabic speakers... I know there's always been a demand, but lately I've noticed it's more of a focus rather than english speakers, companies are leaning towards hiring bilingual staff as a preference to westerners from what i've seen
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:53
It depends what kind of expat and their expectations that you are benchmarking against. Those pre and those post "Boom" may well be very different types than the "good weather" expats. Globally we are moving into a knowledge based economy, those that will be mobile may have much less to differentiate between for future destinations.
2222
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:46
I don't think the salaries will raise again because the dynamics within the ME countries have changed in the last 10 years, especially with the "isation" drives in all of the GCC countries (bar Yemen). All of these countries are trying to utilisation their own expertise and the need for the Western brains is not as great as it used to be. There is also a growing feeling within the population that the level of expats in these countries needs to be reduced. IMO <em>edited by Izzy99 on 17/03/2011</em>
1511
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 17:43
What no one?? :(:(:(
 
 

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