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Working as an expat woman in Dubai

Dubai - Emirate offers immense opportunities for a successful career.

Moving to a new country and taking up a new job can be overwhelming - especially when it's a country in the Gulf, where one might think life is led very differently. So when my husband first told me he had found an opportunity in Dubai and we decided to move, I was naturally a little apprehensive. I feared the place might be conservative with few opportunities for working women.
However, a little bit of research showed me that my fears were unfounded. I started applying to job openings online and was pleasantly surprised to see the response to an expat's applications. Within two weeks, I had my first interview call and I landed a job in executive search for the telecommunications sector; I have now been living in Dubai for 10 years.
There is a reason that more than 90 per cent of Dubai's population is made up of expats: Dubai is strategically located with quick and convenient access to major destinations in Asia, Europe and Africa. For many companies it makes good business sense to have some form of operations in Dubai, opening up job opportunities across a wide range of sectors. However, with a local population of less than 250,000, there are simply not enough locals to fill these positions, opening up a good number of opportunities for expats.
The city offers immense opportunities for a successful career, superior quality of life and unparalleled safety. For women especially, all of these factors are very compelling reasons to consider a move to Dubai. Furthermore, even routine tasks such as visa and licence renewals seem to get done quicker for women, as government offices often have separate queues for us.
For some women with children at home, pursuing or continuing a career may seem challenging, if not impossible. However, with access to good-quality education, high levels of safety and the convenience of domestic help, Dubai provides many benefits for women who are keen to get back into the workforce.
For women with an entrepreneurial streak, there are several groups such as the Dubai Business Women Council, International Business Women's Group Dubai and the Women's Network Group, which provide professional support and networking opportunities.
In my personal experience working here, I can confidently say that my growth curve has been fairly steep - perhaps more than it may have been in my home country. This might be because of the transient nature of many Dubai residents, which tends to cause a high turnover in the job market. For those who are willing to dedicate some years and prove themselves at their jobs, many opportunities can be found. In my home country, for example, people who live and work there tend to stay in the same position for years, making the climb difficult for newer entrants to the workforce.
Many who are considering a move to the UAE might harbor the fear of facing gender discrimination, as they would in other parts of the world. But in my personal experience - and even that of close associates - women in the UAE are highly respected and their opinions are valued. Companies encourage women in leadership positions in the private as well as public sectors.
I was fortunate to find an opportunity when I initially applied for jobs from my home country. However, things are different today, with the city attracting increasingly more expats and competition heating up for similar job functions. The focus today is not solely on work experience and technical knowledge, but also on soft skills. With advantages like proven superior emotional intelligence and a knack for building meaningful relationships, women are well positioned to develop themselves as versatile individuals who can be prized assets to the workforce.
In the present scenario, one's search might be more fruitful if applying while visiting or living in Dubai. The new six-month job-seeker visa, introduced by the UAE government, also allows the seeker ample time to expand their job search and engage in discussions.
The writer is director for people and change practice at KPMG Lower Gulf. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.