Emiratis don't mind working as Uber chauffeurs

Many Emiratis have expressed interest in joining Uber as chauffeurs, the company's marketing manager, Karima Berkani, told Khaleej Times.
Emiratis KT spoke to said they don't mind taking up part-time jobs like driving private taxis. Some of them stressed that in the past, all cabbies at airports used to be Emiratis.
Even though an "overwhelming majority" of Emiratis now have full-time government jobs and others are employed in the private sector, they don't feel slighted in taking up simple part-time jobs, they said.

An Emirati, Dawood, said there is no shame in taking up a decent job to improve one's financial condition, or to make use of one's free time.
"Even retirees can take up part-time jobs like driving Uber-associated cars to boost their income," said Dawood.
Read: Uber in UAE operating in legal vacuum
Another Emirati, Fahd Mohammed Mubarak, said smart applications such as Uber can help boost one's income. "Why are individuals not permitted to benefit from such jobs here?"
He said if the problem is legislation governing employment visas, then such jobs must be offered to Emiratis who do not require visas.
"Emiratis can explain about the country to passengers much better than anyone else as they are the sons of the country and know every little detail about it," said Mubarak.
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com