Offer for employment in Dubai

[marco79]

Yesterday I got an offer for employment for a project in Dubai. This from one of the largest engineering companies in South Africa.

Has anyone here have some advice about working there? The offer is only for 18 months but he will get back to me on Wednesday whether there is a possibility for a longer term of employment.

I would consider it if I could take my family with for a minimum of 3 years. My kids are in grade 7 & 2.

 

[hellfire]

Yesterday I got an offer for employment for a project in Dubai. This from one of the largest engineering companies in South Africa.

Has anyone here have some advice about working there? The offer is only for 18 months but he will get back to me on Wednesday whether there is a possibility for a longer term of employment.

I would consider it if I could take my family with for a minimum of 3 years. My kids are in grade 7 & 2.

Don't have sex in public
Don't drink alcohol in public (outside of hotels)
Don't give cancer treatment to a child leukemia patient
Don't draw pictures of Mohammed

 

[noswal]

It's very hot there. From what I've heard it's common to work at night when it's cooler and you don't get a Saturday and Sunday weekend break.

 

[XennoX]

Can't you also add:

You're wife isn't allowed to drive, or have they changed that?

 

[marco79]

I've spoken to a collegue of mine who worked in Dubai from 2005 to 2010.

His wife could drive. She had a RAV 4 while there.
Normal working hours are from 8 to 5 Sunday to Thursday.
He recommends I negotiate to have schooling, housing and annual home trips included in the package.

 

[Sodan]

I've spoken to a collegue of mine who worked in Dubai from 2005 to 2010.

His wife could drive. She had a RAV 4 while there.
Normal working hours are from 8 to 5 Sunday to Thursday.
He recommends I negotiate to have schooling, housing and annual home trips included in the package.

Sounds like you have good information.
The thing about being tied to a 3 year contract is that if you don't like being there, you and your family will be miserable for 3 years. Would you be able to exit early, should you so wish?

 

[Centronix]

A co-worker went there on holiday. He got fined for asking for directions from a lady. Don't talk to their women

 

[wetkit]

Dubai is basically one huge slave labour camp.
Do not get me wrong, the pay is good, but you expected to work 7 days a week, 12 hours a day.
There is only certain area's where you allowed to stay, eat and drink. Make 100% of all the rules and regulations.
If you can stand the place, it should be brilliant experience and look great on your CV.
The higher you in the pecking order, the better.

 

[icyrus]

I wouldn't even consider stopping there in transit, let alone working there. All the lipstick in the world can't turn that ****hole into anything but a pig.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Don't sit in the wrong section on the bus. And you're not allowed to eat anywhere in public during Ramadan.

 

[Velenoso]

It's hot as hell. Not sure about working, but I've tried to do business there and it ain't easy (local lazy partners, etc).

If you stay with the expat crowd you'll be fine. Locals are odd. Eating dates and ****.

 

[falcon786]

I wouldn't even consider stopping there in transit, let alone working there. All the lipstick in the world can't turn that ****hole into anything but a pig.

Yeah deep seated hatred can do that to some people,life passes you by while you hold on to hatred.All the lipstick in the world and words in the world cant hide bigotry

 

[falcon786]

I have a friend who lives there and he is enjoying it but says its not a long term option, make what money you can and come back to SA.

They do have much more rules and regulations than us but mainly the lifestyle just isn't as nice as SA in his opinion,its more about business and tourism development.

 

[MrGray]

I would only work there if it was very lucrative and for a limited period, and I wouldn't take kids. Make no mistake, as a non-Arab contracted foreign worker you have virtually no rights. They deport people for minor offences and if your company lays you off you will literally have days to get out of the country, family and all.

Yes, there are nice resorts and malls and a friendly ex-pat community, but it all feels like you're permanently under scrutiny and you have to be on your best behaviour at all times. You will never have equal status to the minority of Arab citizens that own the place and you will find that you they are frequently quite rude and arrogant towards you. Some of the banks have separate back entrances for women, you cannot get anything done during one of the multiple prayer times during the day, you will need a license to buy alcohol from a bottle store.

For many with thicker skins, this may be fine. I felt uncomfortable, though.

 

[Noquarter]

K@k hot although all buildings have aircon. Only nice thing about the place is their malls and big ass KFC burgers...BIG ASS.
Locals are miserably unfriendly. I once walked into a small local street pharmacy looking for a contact lens cleaning fluid.

Upon asking this oldish pharmacist behind his dispensary if they have the particular product I was looking for, the dude tells me in proper cold Arab broken English no serving westerners. So I replied in proper Afrikaans for him to go fsck himself then (bad ass abroad )

 

[marco79]

Yep, my colleague showed me his drinking card. The offer is for a 18 month project but I wouldn't go without my family. That's why I've asked about any further employment at the company's Dubai offices after the project.

 

[marco79]

The minimum tine I would consider going is about 2 to 3 years and that's if my family and kids could be accommodated.

 

[MrGray]

That's why I've asked about any further employment at the company's Dubai offices after the project.

Just know that your residency is conditional on your job, and the moment that is over you'll have 30 days to vacate. So if your kids are settled in school in 1-2yrs time, be aware that any uncertainty about continued employment can be extremely stressful as you might have to uproot everything at very short notice.

 

[JackWhite]

The pros and cons do exist. Would look good on your CV though.

 

[dmw]

Dubai is actually quiet nice albeit rather hot.
The country is fairly open as long as you respect their laws and religion. Apart from Ramadan, Eid and if someone important dies, you wont really have the religion thing pushed in your face.

If you are to go and work there, try and make sure you have your passports with you and don't let your employer keep them for 'safe keeping'. This is a known way of keeping the workers there in whatever condition the employer chooses and the employee has no way of walking as the employer has the passports.

Money wise, working in Dubai pays well but the cost of living there can get a bit expensive especially when it comes to groceries as most things you and I would eat are imported.