Expats choose UAE for more than just salary

Many expat professionals in the country consider the UAE a good place to work in, according to a poll conducted by Emirates 24|7.

Places like Singapore and India, have become very favourable after the recession but according to experts the choice may be due to other factors and not just the salary levels.

“I want to go back to India but it’s not an easy choice. The lifestyle and the safety we get in the UAE is something which holds me back,” said another respondent.
 
The poll shows that 16 per cent of the respondents would not consider going back even if a good opportunity arises. On the other hand, 6 per cent of the participants were not sure if a higher salary would lure them back to their home countries. However, 78 per cent of the people who participated in the poll said they would consider a move back to their home country if a good opportunity arises.

“Salary is not everything. I’m from Brazil where the crime rate is very high. For me safety comes before money,” said a respondent. 

“Singapore is indeed an interesting destination for many expats, not because it has higher growth than the UAE and the Gulf, but mainly because it allows expat executives to gain additional experience in the Asian markets, plus it offers some additional advantages regarding the residence visa or similar issues that are of importance to an expatriate. 

The financial services sector is among the top for Singapore, though, of course, all sectors are of importance in a broader region of high growth potential,” Konstantina Sakellariou, Partner, Marketing & Operations Director at Stanton Chase, an executive recruitment company told Emirates 24|7.

As per the findings of Mercer, Asia and Middle East are lucrative places for employees, considering the growth potential.
 
According to HR consulting firm, the average executive salary is increasing by 7 per cent across the Asia Pacific region, while in Europe and North America it is growing at approximately 2.5-3 per cent.

Last year average executive salary in Asia surpassed the salary in Europe and is on track to surpass those in the US by 2013. In the Middle East executive salaries have already caught up with those in the Europe.

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