Age limits

Old Feb 12th 2020, 9:46 am
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Default Age limits

I have recently retired from a job in the UK. I am now aged 65. I would like to work in the ME for a few years. Would my age be an issue in getting employment and a work permit. I'm an experienced IT manager.
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Old Feb 12th 2020, 2:09 pm
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Default Re: Age limits

Can't remember the exact age but it might be 60, I'm sure I read somewhere that for expats over this age companies had to employ 2 Saudis for every expat.

What with the increased Saudization quotas this would make you less valuable.

Having said that, a guy just started where I am age 63 and there have been guys working till they were nearly 70.

Guess it's luck of the draw and how much you're needed.

One major problem you may have though is that you'll be competing with an abundance of Indians, and even Saudis now, who will work for far less than you, so unless you have some special skills it may not be worth it.

I can't answer for other countries in the region.
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Old Feb 12th 2020, 3:12 pm
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Default Re: Age limits

Generally 60 - but some employers use the Islamic Calendar - in which case it works out at 58 and a bit Gregorian. Compannies can apply for exemption.
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Old Feb 13th 2020, 7:34 am
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Default Re: Age limits

Most of the big firms i work for in the UAE won't touch anyone over 55, 58 at a push ( Oil sector) Private sector are not interested in anyone over 50! 65 would be pushing it for a IT Manager
60 is the retirement age and i am sure your visa has to be renewed every year. Most IT Managers i have placed are 35-45 years old and also Asians dominate this sector
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Old Feb 20th 2020, 6:43 am
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Default Age limits - any exceptions

I'm an experienced IT Manager and am looking to work in the ME. I'm aged over 60 which I believe is the limit in may states for obtaining a work visa. I'm currently located in the UK. Is there any way I can get a visa i spite of my age or is anyone aware of a state where this restriction does not apply?
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Old Feb 20th 2020, 8:28 am
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Default Re: Age limits - any exceptions

Employers Saudi Arabia will not entertain the idea of hiring you at this age..
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Old Feb 20th 2020, 10:37 am
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Default Re: Age limits - any exceptions

UAE/Qatar wouldn't be interested either and i imagine most of the Gulf States follow the same rule of thumb when it comes to visas for over 60s
Oman has a massive Omanisation drive going on and Bahrain doesnt have a large market
Didn't you ask this question previously as i am sure i saw you post this somewhere else?
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Old Feb 21st 2020, 9:22 am
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Default Re: Age limits - any exceptions

When I worked in Dubai, we had people over 60 in the office. We had to make a special case on visa renewal though it wasn't that difficult as I recall, partly because of the continuity element I guess. They had passed 60 while working in the UAE and were also highly qualified (PhD).

If you have some unique qualification or talent that somebody specifically wants to access then the nominal age limit in the UAE is not a barrier. If you are just speculatively sending out CVs etc then I think you will struggle to catch anyone's interest. Even more than in most professions, bear in mind that the typical profile of IT people in the Gulf is mostly smart and cheap young Indians, often with US qualifications.
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Old Feb 21st 2020, 1:26 pm
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Default Re: Age limits - any exceptions

Originally Posted by sarahlou davis
Didn't you ask this question previously as i am sure i saw you post this somewhere else?
Yes. https://britishexpats.com/forum/me-j.../#post12805479. As this is essentially a duplicate thread I'll merge them.

For future reference, you can see a member's forum posts by clicking on their username and selecting from the drop down menu.

HTH.
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Old Feb 21st 2020, 1:39 pm
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Default Re: Age limits - any exceptions

Sixty was the cut off date at the government authority I worked at in Dubai (public transport) and a special dispensation was needed beyond that. I recall only two cases of blokes being retained beyond 60. One was a security expert with specialist knowledge, and the other was forcibly retired on a Thursday then came back as a consultant the following Sunday morning.

The place I'm currently at in Qatar has several guys over 60, but all are consultants employed through either their own companies or an overseas agency and working on day rates.
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Old Feb 21st 2020, 1:57 pm
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Default Re: Age limits

Much stricter now than in the past. I worked until 64 in government job in KSA. Not so easy to do that now.
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Old Feb 21st 2020, 11:31 pm
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Default Re: Age limits

Like with many things in the region, what is written down isn't what always happens.

Plenty of over 60s where I worked including one who was pushing 70. They were skilled - just skilled, not special or unique. Mandatory retirement was by no means actually mandatory.

That being said - they all had connections inside the organisation, and their local backers were indifferent and had a bit of wasta behind them.

If you don't have that I imagine you may well find it virtually impossible.




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Old Feb 22nd 2020, 7:10 pm
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Default Re: Age limits

I retired at 67, but I worked on contract for companies providing fixed price consultancy services, I was paid directly from the company's head office into my UK bank and usually worked on visit / business visas. Means doing a visa run every month or so. I have now given up on the ME because pay rates in the ME are no longer worth the bother. . Not sure how you will find a job as a 'consultant' in the ME if you have no ME experience and no contacts.

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Old Feb 23rd 2020, 10:40 am
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Default Re: Age limits

I know that in the UAE, the limit is officially 65, but that tends to be for people already employed and just extending.

Additionally, IT is a very Indian dominated field in the ME and Western expats are lucky to get FTE.

Having said both of the above, there are quite a few older IT guys who come down here on a consultancy basis for projects and that could be a way in. The downside would be that there is likely a tax implication if you're not fully resident and its also difficult/impossible to get bank accounts, house lease without a residency. If you're happy to stay in serviced appts and can handle the tax side of things, there may be a way to do it.


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Old Feb 23rd 2020, 12:21 pm
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Default Re: Age limits

[QUOTE=T

Having said both of the above, there are quite a few older IT guys who come down here on a consultancy basis for projects and that could be a way in. The downside would be that there is likely a tax implication if you're not fully resident and its also difficult/impossible to get bank accounts, house lease without a residency. If you're happy to stay in serviced appts and can handle the tax side of things, there may be a way to do it.[/QUOTE]


That is what I have been doing for the past 25 years. If you have a contract of employment that covers you from April to April then you can qualify for non-resident tax free status. The HMRC is not interested in whether or not your employment status is legal in the country where you are working. I have not needed bank accounts because I get paid in UK and my credit cards are accepted in the ME. The company has rented villas and apartments for my use. The downside is having to make visa runs, but that can be an upside. Trips from Oman to Dubai every couple of months, KSA to UK every couple of months. Kuwait to Bahrain have all been a way of life.
But how you find a consultant job in IT when the market is flooded with low priced Asians, I have no idea. I doubt that they exist - unless you are an exprt with very specialist skills. If you were a SCADA/DCS expert then there would be a chance, but then no one would pay you for more than a month. Just long enough to sap your brains and then employ some Indians to take on the work.
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