Moving to the UAE despite the downturn

One of my favourite cartoons growing up was Garfield. I used to laugh every time Garfield tried to send his nemesis Nermal to Abu Dhabi. Little did I know, or suspect, that 20 years later I would be the one who ended up in Abu Dhabi.

Like everywhere else in the world the construction industry in the United Arab Emirates has felt the impact of the global credit crisis. There has been a very noticeable slowdown in construction activity in Dubai with Abu Dhabi also experiencing a decrease in the volume of construction activity. There are still job opportunities in the UAE for anyone who is willing to put in a little time and effort with the large majority of these opportunities being located in Abu Dhabi.

Some companies have temporarily stopped using recruitment consultants but this is not the barrier it may at first seem as a direct approach from a prospective employee will always be preferable (and cheaper) to a potential employer. If you know someone already working in the area or with experience in the region it is worth getting in touch with them to see if they can recommend some of the bigger/busier companies or at least give you some insight into which companies to approach.

As with most other job opportunities the more experience you have the more attractive you ware to employers. Companies will be particularly interested in people with varied experience and having worked abroad previously will be a distinct advantage. The construction industry in the UAE has a similar structure to that in the UK and the positions available will be of a similar nature and require similar skills.

Moving to a new country can be a daunting process and there are a number of things that should be considered before making the big decision.

Visa applications

Travelling within the EU we tend to take travel/visit visas for granted. Upon arrival in the UAE you will get a holiday/visit visa free of charge (in some other Middle East countries you will be charged for your visit visa). Visit visas are valid for an initial period of 30 days but can be renewed once for a further 30 days for a small fee.

You are not allowed to work while on a visit visa and you will need an employer to sponsor you in order to get a full residency visa. To get your full residency visa for the UAE you will need to provide an appropriate and preferably academic qualification which has been certified and attested by the UAE embassy in London (there is no UAE embassy in Dublin).

In most cases the company you are going to work for will take care of the visa application process and also cover the costs involved. A residency visa is valid for three years and allows you unrestricted entry and exit from the UAE.

Finding accommodation

Most companies will provide your first months accommodation. Some companies will provide accommodation after that period while other companies will give you an allowance and let you organise your own accommodation.

Obviously you will need to ensure that the allowance is adequate but what most people don’t consider is that in the UAE the entire rent for the year sometimes needs to be paid up front. This is less common in Dubai where monthly payments are becoming the norm but still the accepted practice in Abu Dhabi, although it is gradually becoming less so. Having to pay one years rent up front is a big outlay for anyone just arriving and most, but not all, companies will have procedures in place to help out in this respect.

The rental market is not as developed and house/apartment sharing can be more difficult to organise. Subletting is against the terms of a lease and if you sublet from someone you risk losing your entire years rent as well as the apartment.

Most apartments come unfurnished and with all the utilities disconnected. As soon as you move into an apartment you have to buy furniture (including ‘white goods’) and get the gas, electricity and cooling reconnected.

Most properties are let through an agent who will charge a one off fee of 5% (of the yearly rental amount) for organising the lease. Some agents will charge you for the viewing if you don’t take the apartment but these are in the minority and most agents will show you places for free. The 5% charge is well established and generally non-negotiable.

One alternative to renting is to stay in serviced apartments. In the UAE serviced apartments are in plentiful supply and take monthly payments. They are more expensive than regular apartments but can be very good value, particularly if you are staying for a short or indefinite period. As with everything in life the quality and cost can vary significantly.

Rules on driving

You cannot buy a car without a residency visa so when you first arrive you will need to hire a car, organise lifts or get taxis. An international driver’s license is easy to get from the AA and is very reasonably priced (less than £8), however most car hire companies will accept UK or Irish drivers licenses provided they are accompanied by an original passport.

Once you get a residency visa you will need to get a local drivers license. If you are from a listed country (the list is available on the relevant ministry website) you can transfer your existing license to a local license without having to do a test.

Driving in most of the Gulf States can be a bit of a culture shock as they drive on the opposite side of the road and with their own unique style.

Conclusion

This article mainly deals with the situation in the UAE. Different professions can expect different packages and perks, anything discussed or stated in this article relates to the construction industry and common practice within it. The laws and regulations are constantly changing and although this article was based on current information at the time of its publication it is always advisable to double-check the situation for oneself.