Is DUBAI good for IT professionals?

How do I obtain information regarding overseas employment incld'g Dubai UAE? Prof. Civil Engr. and Bldg. Supt

• I am a Professional Civil Engineer with some 26 years experience in the field as Sr. Project Manager, Project Executive and Sr./Project Superintendent from Illinois, USA. I have worked on all the largest Building projects in Chicago as well as several Nuclear Plants. I am looking for a senior position directing/managing and superintending large groups of tradesman or professionals in the construction of any kind of building, convention center, hospital, airport or transportation facilitiy overseas. Including and especially Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where there appears to be a building extravaganza. What kind of yearly salary can be expected? What are the living conditions like while working there? How long does the avreage person stay there? What are the tax rules and consequences? Who are the biggest and best constructors there? What about passports and visas?

• Answer:

  Hi, I am an Electrical Engineer, working as Projects Controller in UAE. With your type of Experience, I think, US is the best place. UAE, particularly Dubai is becoming a concrete Jungle with tall and colorful buildings to reside and run your office show. Its mearly a show bizz and no big Industrial development. Yours is sort of Industrial construction Experience which can be used else where. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have big money and they are investing it in Real Estate. Name it, world's tallest, World's costiliest, World's biggest...... (just pride buildings...). I wonder an Engineer with an Industrial touch has nothing to do with much. If you still decide to proceed further, the openings are vast and the salaries are much attractive for seniors like you. To be frank, white skins (American & Europeans, with English) are highly rated workers. They are considered to be people with technology & ideas. (!!??!!). So, best way to enter is to get in to consulting or Project Management Firms. Salaries will be (minimum) 40,000 Dhirams per month plus house plus medical plus car plus club(s) plus Annual tickets to home town.... etc. No wonder, there is zero tax here. Living is equal to NY or any other big cities in the world. But still there are people manage to live with as little as 1000 Dhirams per month all inclusive. Hence labor is not all that expensive like in US cities. 1 USD = 3.67 Dhirams. Living conditions are OK. Little stringent rules, but it affects not much. Here Visas are Employment based. Hence, if you loose employment, you loose living status. Still you have 30 days stay in time to fetch a new job from the date of visa cancellation. Regarding Civil Constructors, you name any big company in the world, they are here. From Parsons to Hyundai... SNC Lavalin to Schlumberger..... Mitsubishi, Proger.... All the MNCs to have a local partners here. So, the names of the companies might look crazy, but he original companies from US and else where are the same here. Of course you need a valid passport to enter UAE and there must be a visa from the sponsoring company (Employer) to work here. For a tourist, US nationals can get their visas on arrival. This is not fit for working. Better to get a job first and moving in. Being a senior person, getting a slot will take a little time. Best of Luck.