Worldismine

Born, raised and educated in the UK but i am not white, ethnic origin is African, European, Iranian and Arab, so basically i look like i could be from anywhere. Where does this leave me in the Salary food chain?

I know that western educated expats are paid most after the Emiratis.
Apologist for Dubai have told me that this is only because they pay according to what they would get in their home country.
Accusers of Dubai have said that western educated actually means white skin,

Who is right and what does this mean for my salary prospects in Dubai? As i have been offered a job in Saudi with a very good salary but i am not keen on working there.

lionheart

Sadly, Dubai is one of the most racist places you will find anywhere in the world. Not only are non-whites penalised in the workplace but also at the doors to nightclubs, waiting outside for taxis, in restaurants and even in shopping malls. However, if you can get yourself a decent job, it has to be better than working in Saudi, so good luck and let us know the outcome.

The Dean

Unless you are a womanising, drug-dealing alcoholic, Saudi is fine.

NorthernLad

Us pale faces are also discriminated against - certainly in my office.

Worldismine

But i would also add that the racism that Indians etc complain about often comes from other Indians, eg Taxis are mostly South Asians, Night clubs are owned by Indians. I have found that most Gulf Arabs are really friendly towards me, although on occasion i have noticed the tone change when they find out i do not speak Arabic.

Worldismine

What type of discrimination have you faced, and what is the predominant ethnic group in your work place? My advise, as someone who has walked into skin head pub in Essex and been accepted( well they did'nt kick the shite out of me) is stand your ground, sooner or later personality and skill will overcome prejudice.

NorthernLad

You are so wrong about that.

Try working with predominantly Egyptian management and you'd see exactly where I'm coming from.

Mrs Miggins

What is you racial background? Was it one to worry about?

Mrs M XX

The Dean

I know that pub.

It's not a far-right-racist-BNP type of place - they were actually members of the Gay Mafia........

..... if you wind them up and annoy them, they come round to your house and criticise your choice of curtains......

fsazhar

Well, from my personal experience of living in Abu Dhabi and being British but of Pakistani Origin working here as a Western Expat I feel people do judge you by your skin, if you look asian , they think you are scum, and must of low ranking job. But when i speak ( i have british accent) they quick realse and change their tone.

e.g. I am a senior manager for Aldar Laing O' Rourke, but 33 years of age and look bit Arabic / pakistani . during first couple of weeks most flipino secataries at work showed bit of attitude and werent very welcoming . Once they found out that I was actually Western expat, they quickly changed their tone and smiling etc.

Plus you also get road rage on road too. So I decided to gettry large 4x4 and Dishdasha ( arab dress) and bravo road rage suddenly dissappeared.

Slingshot

it is not you. they are all like that because they expect to be paid for sitting on their lazy butts and chatting all day to their mates on msn. heaven forbid you should ask them to do anything.

Worldismine

I personally think that the management style of Arabs is out of date, especially when applied to service, tech, info, finance etc industries. Its to do with the culture, how they run their households and how they think authority should be shown.

Worldismine

Ahh, you must be one of their regulars then.

Worldismine

My background is mixed, i have Mauritian, french, persian and Arab roots.

Worldismine

No one has actually answered me. Should i expect a salary comparable to what i would be getting in the UK? Or will they say no your not white so we will not give you that salary?