National Day: UAE is our home, say expats

Over 70 per cent of the expats surveyed moved to the country for a better job opportunity.

A sense of safety and security, good job opportunities, as well as a great quality of life, has led to 86 per cent of surveyed expats proud to call the UAE their home, new research by Xpress Money has revealed.
Over 38 per cent of expats residing in the UAE, who were surveyed by Xpress Money, consider the country to be their home because they feel safe and have a sense of security here. In addition, 27 per cent of expats are grateful for the good career opportunities and the cultural diversity the country has to offer; while 25 per cent of the expats feel that the UAE has given them a better quality of life.
These results come from a national survey of expatriate opinions conducted by Xpress Money on the occasion of the 45th UAE National Day. The survey sampled 311 respondents coming from different countries and backgrounds, who are largely employed with the private sector.
Over 70 per cent of the expats surveyed moved to the country for a better job opportunity, while 20 per cent moved because their spouse or family was here. Of this 20 per cent, 16 per cent are women who feel that UAE has given them a better quality of life and they feel safe and secure in the country. Another interesting finding of the survey is that every second generation expat who is born and raised in the UAE considers this country their home.
"We conducted this survey to comprehend the social cohesion of the UAE's multi-cultural society, and understand what makes the country a preferred destination for expats. The UAE is home to around 7.8 million expatriates from the world over. The nation's vibrant economy, dynamism, and the vision of its leaders has created a safe, welcoming and enriching lifestyle for the country's residents," says Xpress Money's vice president of global marketing, Ashwin Gedam.
The survey also showed that 47 per cent of expats believe that the UAE has helped them give their families back home a better life, while 33 per cent owe the fulfillment of their dreams to this country. Also, 18 per cent of expats credit the UAE for their successful careers across various industries. It is also noteworthy to point out that expats who have lived in the country for less than five years as well as those who have lived for over 10 years, equally share the same sentiments of calling the UAE their home. This goes to show that irrespective of the time spent, the UAE extends the same spirit of oneness to all its expats.
"We're seeing that the security, economic vibrancy and quality of life the UAE provides is resulting in more people staying for longer, and becoming a part of the nation's success story. This gives the UAE a competitive socio-economic edge because less transient populations are more likely to be productive members of society. The survey indicates the strength of the UAE's founding values of tolerance and inclusivity, and shows how the country's commitment to innovation and prosperity is helping attract global talent," Gedam noted.
"The results of this survey indicates that His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE's Vision 2021, to make Dubai amongst the best countries in the world, could soon be a reality," he added.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai