Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

structured finance, sales & trading

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

If you are interested in your opportunities for promotion at ADIA, take a look at pages 24-27 of this and see if you think you fit in:
http://www.adia.ae/En/pr/Annual_Review_Website2.pdf


And when you go for interview, be sure not to mention how ADIA financed BCCI and how Sheikh Zayed was subpoenaed by the US Courts for his part in the scandal


If you'd like to know more about living in the UAE, compare the following reports from a UK paper and a Gulf paper about the same story:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ubai-police.do
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/cr...neral-1.792618

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Look at the exec committee oof any bank and it's just a bunch of white guys. That is the least of my concerns! The second half of your post is more concerning, very eye for an eye, or maybe even life for an eye....

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

I think you really need to do some more research at working in this part of the world. Office politics is incredibly different and important. This is not a meritocracy and a very discreet, observational, self effacing personality seems to shine.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

This is a quote from Saeed Al Hajeri, a member of the CFA Institute Board of Governors and Executive Director of ADIA’s Emerging Markets Department. I can't imagine I'd find this work environment very motivating:

"For instance, in some cultures, people just like to be part of the meeting and feel that they are actually involved. In the Western mind, sometimes efficiency and getting a meeting done on time is more important. Balancing the two and being sensitive about giving people enough time as part of the meeting is always essential."

http://www.adia.ae/En/pr/CFA_Magazine_Jan_2011.pdf

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Too true. Took me a while to settle down here. In my business you have to fight and be quite hard and that is emphatically NOT the way here. Also, people will say the wrong things to you as they don't want to disappoint you - in my book that's lying and it would really upset me. And I did get treated differently - some of my benefits were to be be paid out over the year as opposed to upfront like the blokes in my department. Even though I was senior to them. I got it changed but it was a massive fight and probably didn't endear me to HR.

I'm pretty fiery and feisty and I have to temper my behaviour quite considerably here. I keep having to remember to smile and be sweet, smile and be gentle. When under similar circumstances back in the uk I would been much more demanding and aggressive. And it would have worked.


Also, my industry is pretty un pc, critical and caustic, with sarcastic humour. Something which often didn't translate with some nationalities. We had a Malayalam researcher and a Filipino production manager and often they would completely misunderstand gentle ribbing or piss taking.
(most of the people in my office were south African, followed by Brits, then Lebanese. The emiratis were mainly on the Arabic channel and most were lovely and worked really hard. Two of them went to the court when the company was dissolved as they felt we were being given a bad deal - they were being "looked after" anyway but they were upset on our behalf. )

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Incidentally, this story appeared last year in the press about one of ADIA’s sister companies
================================================== ==========
Peter Barker-Homek was the Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC – also known as TAQA and TAQA New World Inc.

In an explosive complaint recently filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division), Barker (a former pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps and Gulf War veteran as well as State Department official) alleges as follows:
“When Barker tried to put a stop to the kickbacks, bribery, accounting fraud and corruption at TAQA, the Defendants [TAQA, TAQA New World, [...] (a NY licensed attorney and chief attorney for and General Counsel of TAQA] fired him. Instead of abiding by the terms of Barker’s employment contract, they summoned him to a meeting and presented him with a so-called ‘severance agreement,’ a one-sided agreement in which Barker purportedly agreed to step down as CEO and forfeit millions of dollars owed to him. Defendant [...], a New York-licensed attorney, chief attorney for and General Counsel of TAQA, demanded that he sign the ‘severance agreement’ on the spot, comply with its provisions, or be arrested and sent to prison. Worried for his life and the well-being of his family, Barker signed the ‘severance agreement.’ Thereafter, he was harassed and lived in fear of a ‘knock’ on the door by police, received mysterious phone calls and was followed, until finally he and his family escaped to the safety of the United States.”

================================================== ==========================================

The actual complaint filed in a Michigan court can be found here – it’s scarily like a Peter Grisholm novel, except its real…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37884270/P...omek-Complaint

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hi guys,

does anyone know how long it takes between accepting a verbal offer from ADIA to actually getting something official in writing? I was made a verbal offer which I accepted and subsequently filled out various forms and sent a load of paper work to them. Now almost 2 months later I still have nothing official from them. Apparently they are still completing their checks, although all my references have gone back fine so im not sure what other checks they could be performing. Does anyone have any insights on this at all??

Thanks
Linda

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

It can take quite a while. I know a few people who have gone through it, and the whole recruitment process can take anywhere from 4 months upwards! They use third parties to verify all your information and there appears to be no sense of urgency for them! Good luck :)

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Verbal Offer from ADIA! - Rolling on the Floor here!

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

yes, exactly- very good of you to post this for the next wave of expats- be that person that comes in to a meeting to smooth things over.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hello Guys!

I have an upcoming interview with ADIA and I have been told that I will have to do the psychometric test first. Can anyone who has been through the process please help me? what kind of test are they giving you (numerical, verbal, ...) how to prepare for those? Do they give the same tests across all divisions?
Any insight will be much appreciated!
Thank you in advance

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hi HACSEN, have you now undertaken your psychometric tests? Were they difficult? How many tests are there, how long did each test take and what are the test types? I'm assuming that two of the tests were verbal and numerical reasoning? Is there also abstract reasoning or spatial reasoning? What is the company used for these tests, for example, SHL or some other provider? Any other feedback would also be appreciated. Thank you

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Be careful people. The Abu Dhabi family isn't a happy one at the moment.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hey

I am an Australian MBA graduate with 3 years experience in banking operations .I really wanted to work for ADIA .Kindly suggest me the best way to apply for ADIA .::fingerscrossed:

I tried applying through ADIA career website but haven't receive any response .Kindly help me:D
Cheers
Hamdi

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Does anyone know of a problem experience with an employee who moved to work with ADIA and it did not work out? How about someone who used to work there who can describe the corporate culture and approach to contracts?

I am a friend of someone (he is not my client) who has been extended an offer to join ADIA in the next few months, but there are no guarantees, no bonus buyouts, and they can cancel the contract at any time with almost no repercussions. Meanwhile my friend is renting his house (can't sell anything fast in this housing market) for a year, and leaving his job. What if he gets let go for any reason whatsoever in a couple of months and cannot return to his own house?

I am concerned for him and his family and want to make sure his blind trust in ADIA is well founded. Anyone have a thought? He presently lives in Europe and likes the idea of the tax free salary.

Is ADIA trustworthy to take this kind of risk?

Thank you for your help.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

This is the Middle East, no difference if you are working in ADIA or delivering food for Ravis. They can all do what they want.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Its not really about trust. People in charge can do what they like... And if that means laying off people who just moved their whole family over, took out loans etc then they will. They can, and will, close down whole companies if they feel so disposed.

You have very few rights here. There will be no sympathy if things go wrong. I saw two workmates forced to run because the final payout was too low to cover housing and car loans. As long as your client prepares for the worst scenario when coming out here then... Well it could be great or terrible, depending on how it goes. This is not shangri-la. There is often no logic to how companies are run, especially anything to do with government.

And I echo Millhouse... I'm not hearing good things about Abu dhabi at present.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

With a downward trend I'm told.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

NorthernLad, Lulubelle and Milhouse...thank you so much for your reply.

You are supporting the impression I have received from people over here.

ADIA has indicated that "this is my contract, and we do not negotiate", do you think they may if they want my friend badly enough?

Do you think there is any room to get some security before he pulls the trigger and finds himself and his family homeless because ADIA changed their minds and do not want to do the types of investments or just do not like him for some reason?

Am I interpreting you correctly in that even if there is a contract, they will do whatever they like anyway?

Sometimes the best legal advice is not legal advice.

My understanding is that Abu Dhabi is not a "government" per se, it is more like a "family run country" like a family business. My experience with family businesses, especially large ones with money and power, is that often there are political casualties - blame the new guy for something someone else decided.

Is this "family run country" concept accurate?

Thanks again.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Yes - AKA Abu Dhabi Inc.

Look, you have basically no employment rights, so from a legal perspective i know that you will see this as very risky. As a lawyer your natural reaction will be to try and document and contractually allocate risks - that will not work here.

You price for risks here.

You ask for a signing on / relocation lump of cash and a stupidly high salary. If (or most likely when) it goes wrong (which may be a good couple of years run) - you leave with your tail between your legs and go home. Hopefully to a job that you kept warm when you were away.

So rules are:

1) Have an exit
2) Get paid loads
3) See how the land lies before he moves the family over and / or do something stupid like selling the house in the US

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

i agree... and add this

1. Really don't sell the house
2. ask for all costs to be paid upfront - relocation, school fees, housing allowance
3. don't get into any debt here until you are absolutely sure everything is
stable.
4. All contracts are negotiable, bargaining is life here. You may find that you negotiate and the package then goes down (mine did). You just refuse the job for that reason and the package will go back up again. Maybe.
5. Get a long notice period put in the contract. It will give you extra dosh if (when) they decide to get rid of you. If you have family you will be tied to school years anyway and people here tend to know when they want to go well in advance...

Think medieval Britain crossed with the Borgias with a bit of ancient rome thrown in (particularly Ben Hur)

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

What's going on in Abu Dhabi at the moment?

Forgive me for asking but I'm a bit out of the loop these days.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Lots of small but cumulative signs that AD Inc is tightening the belt-straps and slowing down on investments. Renewed pushes on Emiratisation having a knock-on effect on expat employment, continual reduction in consultancy spend etc.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Wow this surprises me, I always hear ADIA is a great place to work! I have met a lot of ADIA people since being in AD and have a very good friend who works there and have never heard anyone say anything really negative about working for them (and some have been there 10/15+ years!) In general any company can treat an employee like garbage here, as there is a lack of legal structure to support employee rights and I have definitely been on the receiving end of that one, so I am not sure Govt entities are any worse!

Agree that you should always be sensible, don't get into debt, sell your home etc as you are only ever temporary here!

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

ADIA are probably one of the better employers in the region but everything Millhouse and Lullabelle have said is spot on. I have noticed that a lot of people who arrive in AD these days look on it as a permanent move and that's where it all goes wrong. Expats are commodities and can be shed easily - some with only 4 weeks notice. UAE and in fact the Middle East in general is not a place to build a new life as it's all very temporary - one day you have everything and the next you are out of a job and a home. I have seen a lot of families suffer this fate especially in Construction. Things are tight in AD at the moment despite what you might read in the press.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

There was a net out flow of labour in Abu Dhabi this summer. This has put a kybosh on many projects and the projected populations figures are being shown in the light of the fantasy which they were. Museums have been hit hardest ;)

US lawyer: trying to get guarantees is all well and good but i doubt one of them would be enforceable anyway. Many, many top dogs are surprised by their lack of rights here but tis the way of the middle east.

Overall though, i'd say ADIA was still a pretty good bet if your mate has nothing better to do.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

ADIA do a 3 month termination and are fair.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

This thread has been going for nearly 2 years...

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hi Guys,

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on my experience with ADIA. Basically I went through the whole recuritment process, was invited out there and got a conditional job offer. The condition was that I had to go through a "security check" which I was told is a legal requirement in Abu Dhabi, so I came back to the UK expecting to go out there once these checks were complete. After 2 months they advised me that I failed the security check, but were unable to give me any more information because the checks were done by a third party who simply told ADIA wether the canditates had passed or failed. It all sounds very strange to me because I've never even had a parking ticket so I have no idea how I could have failed a security check, and no one at ADIA seems to have any more information either. Im starting to think they turned me down because of the increased pressure to recruit locals, but thats just a thought.

Has anyone else experienced this with them? Does anyone know what kind of stuff this security check looks for?

Thanks
Ali

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Do you have any County Court Judgements, anything like that? ADIA (or the agency they use) will go through your background with a fine-toothed comb. They check everything, but they will focus on your financial background, ie how you manage your bank accounts, how much debt you are in, if you have had any run-ins with debt collecting agencies in the past...

I was shocked at the amount of information they got about me (I read my file when I arrived). Luckily, I was OK, but I know that many, many people fail the background checks for ADIA.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hi,

I have had no CCJ's etc at all. I was a student so have had the usual student debts, a couple of credit cards but nothing serious, afterall its nothing that has prevented me getting a mortgage and buying a house. I have a couple of bank accounts but again I dont see why that should cause any issues, its not illegal after all - just a very bizarre situation.

Is there any way I can pay for a security check to be done so I can see exactly what is on there?

Thanks

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

I just checked through my records and the company that used to do the pre-employment screening for ADIA were a UK-based company called KROLL. I am not sure if ADIA still use them but, if so, it might be worth contacting them to see if they can offer you an explanation.

I would not worry about this too much though, ADIA turn people down for all sorts of reasons. There are plenty of other companies in the UAE who you could work for, I am sure.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

I've heard of at least two people applying to Mubadala being rejected for "failing security clearance", though I'm unclear whether they actually failed for not being Emirati enough.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Hi

Thats the wierd thing though, they told me my KROLL checks had come back fine and that they were waiting on this security check, I think they called it a CID check?. Very strange indeed.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

Really? I thought the CID thing was done locally. Are you sure they didn't say 'CRB check'?

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

They (both the agency and HR at ADIA) deffinately said it was a CID check. I spoke to a few recuitment agents after this and they also said its a CID check. Is there anyway I can have one of these checks done privately? Also, if I fail once do you know when I may be able to re-apply?

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

maybe, just maybe, a distant cousin is a suspected terrorist

I know my place checked everything - ALL previous employers, universities, police records, and searches on family names, including criminal activity of family members.

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

you can re-apply immediately. You will never get the job though...

Re: Job in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
 

There are, apparently, links to some countries that would work against you too.