Five Reasons Why the UAE is the Go-To Destination for Foreign Workers
Nine out of every 10 employees in the United Arab Emirates are migrant workers and many of them are drawn from the UK and Europe. Here The Moving Partnership, who offer international removals to the UAE, outline five of the key reasons why the country is such an attractive prospect for young professionals.
It’s a Growing Economy
Originally the UAE (which is a federation of seven emirates – namely Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain) relied on fishing and a declining pearl industry for its wealth. However, the discovery of oil in the 1960s has transformed the region, helping to fuel a massive rise in the country’s construction, manufacturing and service sectors. It’s also a very popular tourist destination.
Initially there was a high demand for foreign workers thanks to the initial building and infrastructure projects; and a steady influx of labour is still required to sustain the country’s growth and development.
For Financial Reasons
The country enjoys an extremely low level of taxation; most of the taxes imposed in the UK don’t apply here (There are some indirect taxes, such as toll roads and alcohol duty, but most goods, including food, are tax-free). One downside is that property prices can be very high.
Salaries can also be high, as companies (particularly in the financial and services sectors) are prepared to pay well to attract the right sort of candidate. However, lower-skilled workers should be aware that the UAE has no minimum wage (but there are penalties for late or unpaid salaries).
For the Weather
The UAE is certainly a place for sun-seekers; Dubai (which is the most populous city in the country) enjoys an average of 342 sunny days per year. There are plenty of sandy beaches to enjoy as well.
However, this does have its downsides. Daytime temperatures in parts of the region can exceed 40°C so medical advice is to stay hydrated, exercise early or late in the day and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Although it can be tempting to wear as little as possible, the Islamic religion (which is the region’s official religion) means you are required by law to dress ‘respectably’.
The Global Workforce
As the UAE workforce – and particularly that of Abu Dhabi and Dubai – is drawn from across the world, there will always be a local community you can become part of with its own social scene. For instance, the Oriental workforce always celebrates the Chinese New Year. It also means you should be able to find restaurants with some familiar food, although there will be plenty of new ones to try as well.
The Low Crime Rates
The UAE is the second safest country in the world (behind only Norway), according to last year’s Gallup Global Law and Order report from 2021. The report highlighted the fact that no one needed to fear for their personal safety if they were on their own at night.
Offences tend to be fairly low-level ones, such as traffic violations and petty theft. However, the authorities do take a hardline approach in some areas, such as antisocial behaviour and public displays of affection which wouldn’t be considered crimes in many other countries.
The Transport Infrastructure
It’s easy to get around the UAE because most of the public transport and roads network is relatively new and very efficient. If you do ever get homesick, then heading home shouldn’t be a problem; the country has nine international airports and Dubai International is one of the busiest in the world. In 2020, more than 25million passengers used it.
International Removals to the UAE with the Moving Partnership
If you are interested in house removals to the UAE, then the Moving Partnership can help get you there. We gather quotes from hundreds of companies and we then pick the best one to meet your needs and budget. We can provide you with your own container for shipping or we can offer a groupage (part-load) service if you don’t have enough possessions to fill your own container.
If you would like to know more about international removals to the UAE with The Moving Partnership, follow this link and fill in the contacts form on the right-hand side of the page.
