Contracting in the Middle East

[Bunk]

Someone was pretending to be you at our last drink in the Ship and Shovell!

As you said you were planning to come, I turned round to some guy on his own sitting on the next table and asked "Are you CUK?", to which he replied yes. Then I asked "Is your nick "Bunk"?, and again he said yes (a bit more hesitantly), adding that he was waiting for friends, who at that point arrived.

Turned out his nick wasn't "Bunk", and he wasn't a CUKer. So I guess he was just one of those impressionable people who give the expected answer to any leading question.

Wonder what would have happened if I'd arrived then.

[sasguru]

Someone was pretending to be you at our last drink in the Ship and Shovell!

As you said you were planning to come, I turned round to some guy on his own sitting on the next table and asked "Are you CUK?", to which he replied yes. Then I asked "Is your nick "Bunk"?, and again he said yes (a bit more hesitantly), adding that he was waiting for friends, who at that point arrived.

Turned out his nick wasn't "Bunk", and he wasn't a CUKer. So I guess he was just one of those impressionable people who give the expected answer to any leading question.

For it is I, Leclerc.

[aceboy]

Hello All,

I am hoping you guys can shed some light on contracting in the middle east? I have been in IT for a number of years (both perm and contracting) and have noticed there is alot of money to be made contracting in the Middle East (Kuwait, Israel etc).

Other than the obvious worries (terrorism, governemnts etc) are there any tips you can give? Have any of you given it a try?

Also, do you know any UK based recruitment agencies that specialise in this work?

Thanks in advace

Paul

Interesting question.....

I have a mate who has been based in the middle east for 25+years.

Overall the cost of living is about the same, IE, cheap cars / fuel are outweighed by expensive food / rental. that is unless you have kids, then the private schooling kills you!!

You can get most things you have in the UK in the middle east. Saudi is supposed to be dry, but can easily get booze. Bahrain / Oman / UAE are more relaxed that Kuwait / Saudi / Qatar. However, and this is a big however you need to respect their laws / customs! the penalties are harsh!


It is worth noting that the middle east is not having a good time economically at the minute, Dubai is screwed, property is down 60-70% this year. Everywhere you look you see stalled / cancelled projects. Abu Dhabi has bailed out Dubai in a big way. for example http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...l-recluse.html

There are 100's of cars dumped with the keys still in them at the airports as if you go bankrupt / default on payments you goto jail.... people are just skipping the country!

Chatting to some fairly senior people businesses in Bahrain last week they said this is just the tip of the iceberg. They expect 2010 to be a lot worse. Bahrain has been less hit, but there are still a lot of stalled projects. The finance sector is pretty dead

All in all it is a bit cack, as I wanted to go there myself

That being said the work / life balance & pace of life is much more relaxed, and the climate is very nice at the moment. Last week every night I had dinner outside sat in shorts & t-shirt....as it was a lovely 28c...

If you are thinking about it, do a LOT of reaserch, also look at the sponorship requirements for visas, as well as an limiataions of having a registered company...

[Amiga500]

Interesting question.....

I have a mate who has been based in the middle east for 25+years.

Is his first name Osama?

[slice16]

Hi All,

Thanks for some of the constructive messages. I have just heard through a few people (and looking on a few websites) that there is still some money to be made. As I am still fairly young, I really need to get out and earn more money than I am here.

Interesting question.....

I have a mate who has been based in the middle east for 25+years.

Overall the cost of living is about the same, IE, cheap cars / fuel are outweighed by expensive food / rental. that is unless you have kids, then the private schooling kills you!!

You can get most things you have in the UK in the middle east. Saudi is supposed to be dry, but can easily get booze. Bahrain / Oman / UAE are more relaxed that Kuwait / Saudi / Qatar. However, and this is a big however you need to respect their laws / customs! the penalties are harsh!


It is worth noting that the middle east is not having a good time economically at the minute, Dubai is screwed, property is down 60-70% this year. Everywhere you look you see stalled / cancelled projects. Abu Dhabi has bailed out Dubai in a big way. for example http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...l-recluse.html

There are 100's of cars dumped with the keys still in them at the airports as if you go bankrupt / default on payments you goto jail.... people are just skipping the country!

Chatting to some fairly senior people businesses in Bahrain last week they said this is just the tip of the iceberg. They expect 2010 to be a lot worse. Bahrain has been less hit, but there are still a lot of stalled projects. The finance sector is pretty dead

All in all it is a bit cack, as I wanted to go there myself

That being said the work / life balance & pace of life is much more relaxed, and the climate is very nice at the moment. Last week every night I had dinner outside sat in shorts & t-shirt....as it was a lovely 28c...

If you are thinking about it, do a LOT of reaserch, also look at the sponorship requirements for visas, as well as an limiataions of having a registered company...

Aceboy, thanks for the above comment, I will defo be doing alot of research, because I haven't worked abroad before, never mind in a county with cultures so different to our own. I think other options may be looking into government contracts that will still have the security of the UK

Watch this space

[aceboy]

Hi All,

Thanks for some of the constructive messages. I have just heard through a few people (and looking on a few websites) that there is still some money to be made. As I am still fairly young, I really need to get out and earn more money than I am here.

Aceboy, thanks for the above comment, I will defo be doing alot of research, because I haven't worked abroad before, never mind in a county with cultures so different to our own. I think other options may be looking into government contracts that will still have the security of the UK

Watch this space

From what I have seen people who do well in the middle east are slightly older.... I don't know if it is a perceived wisdom / experience thing...

Why do you want to work out there?