UrbanGeek

Hello Everyone,

I am heading to Dubai in the first week of March to look for opportunities out there and I'm really getting worried as the time gets closer as I have still not found a place to stay yet. Most of the places that I've seen are advertised at sky high prices worser that London prices.

I was really hoping that you guys could provide me with some useful advice and tips for a newbie to get started.

Thanks in advance!

B Bear

....get a return ticket...

Desert Rat

Try somewhere else, no jobs here

Shadya

Try Abu Dhabi instead...even their banks are getting help from the government...and you can watch Andrea Bocelli and Cold Play on consecutive nights.

saleca

Your kidding, right?

Hello.Kitty

yup, sorry for the doom and gloom, but the prices you see are what you get - this place is expensive! Also, I'd venture that the days of turning up and getting interviews are gone... there are loads of redundant people here who are scratching around.

If you really want to come out the the Middle East, try Saudi, Oman... not Dubai.

Blue Cat

I agree!

UrbanGeek

I know that the situation is pretty bad there as it is here in London and everywhere. I will be made redundant very soon here and that is the reason I've decided to take a plunge.

I am very well educated and have worked in IT and Business Development roles so, I'd like to try my luck and really hope for the best.

Is the competition greater out there in comparison to London?

Really appreciate the advise guys!!

Shadya

Why do we bother replying if you completely ignore what we say?

Chesney Hawkes

Why not try explaining the situation here instead of being rude. They are just asking a question and believe it or not, not everyone knows the situation in Dubai. Just because we are here and hear about it everyday doesn't mean everybody else knows about it.

People come on here to seek advice, then they get answers like 'get a return ticket', 'no jobs here' etc. Instead of giving pishy answers why not try and explain the situation to people.

Just my opinion!!

MataHari

Lionheart is bad enough, but when he posts as Shadya he just gets bitchy...take no notice...

Jammy_Dodgers

I will have to agree with the sentiments of many of the others here.
It will be a waste of your time and money.

If you are in IT, you will be competeing against Indians/Asians who all have degrees,PHD's and qualifications coming out of their arse (even if they are just bits of paper and they have no "real world" experience.

Not only that, these people are happy to work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week for $5 a week

Hello.Kitty

I don't mind explaining. Basically, here in Dubai there have been thousands of redundancies. People who have been made redundant are invariably all very well qualified and educated in their fields - that's why they were brought/came out here in the first place.

Those who have been made redundant also have the added incentive of having to find another job here in Dubai or move back home pretty sharpish. Companies know this and are therefore tailoring whatever offers they may have to suit the market... they also know that by employing someone who's already here, they'll have gained an employee already with ME experience AND won't have to pay relocation bonusses, visas, etc... which in this climate all adds up.

All in all, I'd say that the situation is indeed more desperate here. People have bills to pay, but unlike in the UK, you can't skip a loan/credit card repayment. People have school fees to pay, medical insurance to take on if their company is no longer providing it for them... the list goes on.

By all means come over and take your chance - you may get lucky - but expect to come away a couple of thousand pounds worse off than when you arrived.

NorthernLad

And that's the senior management.

Madam Medusa

ahhh...but does he wear the dragonmart knickers to get into the mood, that's the question...

MM, xx