Arabian Business’ Post

As May 1st dawns, employees around the world, including those in the UAE, may be experiencing a mix of emotions. For many, it's a day to celebrate and honor the achievements and contributions of workers across various industries. Some may look forward to enjoying a well-deserved day off, spending time with family and friends, or simply relaxing and rejuvenating. Others may feel a sense of pride in their work and the roles they play in their organizations, reflecting on the dedication and effort they bring to their jobs each day. They may also appreciate the opportunity to connect with colleagues, share stories, and foster a sense of camaraderie in the workplace. However, amidst the celebrations, some employees may also be mindful of the challenges and uncertainties that persist in today's world. From economic uncertainties to health and safety concerns, the global landscape continues to evolve, impacting the way we work and interact with one another. Nevertheless, on this International Workers' Day, employees in the UAE and beyond can find solace in the collective spirit of solidarity, resilience, and hope. It's a day to acknowledge the invaluable role of workers in shaping our societies and economies, and to renew our commitment to building a future where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

🌍 Comparing Life, Salaries, and Happiness: Saudi Arabia vs. UAE Curious about the differences between living and working in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and the UAE 🇦🇪? Here’s what you need to know about the cost of living, salaries, and the happiness index across these two Middle Eastern powerhouses! 👇 1. Salaries & Living Costs 💰: A salary of 5,000 SAR in Saudi Arabia compares to around 6,500–7,500 AED in the UAE due to higher costs of living, especially in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In Saudi Arabia, affordable rent, groceries, and fuel make it easier to save, while the UAE offers higher salaries but at higher living costs. 2. Quality of Life & Happiness 😊: The UAE frequently tops regional happiness rankings due to its cosmopolitan lifestyle, healthcare quality, and infrastructure. But Saudi Arabia, driven by Vision 2030, is rapidly transforming with new entertainment, social freedoms, and investment in public spaces. 3. Opportunities & Economic Growth 🚀: While the UAE’s economy is highly diversified (think tourism, finance, real estate), Saudi Arabia is expanding rapidly, creating opportunities in tourism, tech, and renewables. Both nations are building a future of growth and innovation! 4. Social and Work-Life Balance ⚖️: The UAE offers a vibrant lifestyle with plenty of leisure options, while Saudi Arabia is evolving with more social freedoms and entertainment options than ever before. Both countries are unique and exciting for residents and expats! 🌟 Where do you think the future looks brighter? Let’s hear your thoughts! 💬 #SaudiArabia #UAE #MiddleEast #LivingAndWorking #QualityOfLife #HappinessIndex #CostOfLiving #ExpatLife #Vision2030 #FutureOfWork #saudilocal #CVwriting 👉 Follow me for more insights on career trends, salaries, and life in the Middle East!

💼 Why Are Wages Stuck in Dubai’s Hospitality Industry? Uncovering the Economic Forces Behind the Stagnation! 💼 Dubai’s hospitality industry is a powerhouse, attracting millions of tourists each year and generating substantial revenue. But despite the industry’s rapid growth, wages for essential staff like waiters and cleaners have remained frustratingly stagnant. What’s holding back salaries from keeping pace with the city’s progress? Let’s dive into the economic factors at play. 📉 1. Supply & Demand Imbalance: Dubai’s hospitality sector relies heavily on expatriate workers, creating an abundant supply of low-cost labor. With high competition for these jobs, there’s little pressure on employers to raise wages, keeping salaries low and often below the rising cost of living. 🏙️ 2. Rising Operational Costs: Hotels and restaurants face increasing costs tied to premium real estate, utilities, and marketing in a highly competitive market. To maintain profit margins, many companies prioritize cutting operational costs – often at the expense of wage increases for frontline workers. 3. Reliance on Temporary Contracts: Short-term employment contracts are common in the UAE’s hospitality industry, enabling employers to replace staff more easily without long-term wage commitments. While this offers flexibility, it reduces job stability and opportunities for pay raises. 4. Lack of Collective Bargaining: Unlike in many other regions, Dubai’s labor market has limited collective bargaining or unionization, restricting workers’ ability to negotiate better pay and benefits. 5. Currency Stability vs. Inflation: While the UAE Dirham’s stability is beneficial for foreign investments, it doesn’t shield low-wage workers from rising costs in essentials like housing, transportation, and food. As a result, the “real wage” value for many hospitality employees has effectively decreased over time. 📊 Addressing wage stagnation will require policy interventions, stronger worker protections, and a shift in industry practices to prioritize fair wages. Let's raise awareness and push for a more equitable hospitality sector in Dubai! ✊💬 #DubaiEconomy #HospitalityIndustry #WageStagnation #LaborRights #CostOfLiving #FairWages #EconomicTrends #EmployeeWellbeing #SustainableGrowth #HospitalityWorkers

Three things on a Weds I thought was a Thursday what day is it anyway: 1) Dubai has risen three places up Mercer’s annual cost of living index, to make it the world’s 15th most expensive city for expats, on the back of higher housing costs. The emirate has seen the fastest rent increase of any major international city, says Ted Raffoul, outpacing HK, NY and Singapore. 2) But Dubai salaries are not increasing in line with that, says Greg Wright of recruiters Food People (below). People moving here need to look at more than just the money, he says, and consider quality of life as well - an area Ted says Dubai performed well in in their report. 3) Greg also says that he’s no longer seeing a major difference between Saudi and UAE wages – it used to be a 20-30% differential, now it's more of a level playing field. KSA companies can’t sustain those increases at the pace they’re hiring, he says – and can now find the talent they need in-country. 3.5) And an interesting anecdote from the Kingdom: Greg - whose company does 70% of its business in KSA - says Riyadh housing is now so tight there are waiting lists for popular areas.

The amended regulations significantly affect the hospitality industry, which has traditionally relied on a diverse workforce, including many expatriates. https://lnkd.in/gfr_x_ed #Omanisation, #HospitalityOman, #OmaniTalent, #WorkforceDevelopment, #TourismOman, #LocalTalent, #OmanJobs, #Hozpitality, #RecruitmentSolutions, #OmanEconomy, #Arabic

We are well into the year 2024 and the outlook for salaries in the UAE's hospitality industry is promising, driven by a strong recovery and an increase in tourism. With major events like Expo 2020 continuing to have a positive ripple effect, demand for skilled hospitality professionals is high. Salaries are expected to rise as employers compete for top talent, especially in luxury and high-end segments. Additionally, government initiatives aimed at boosting the tourism sector and infrastructure development will likely contribute to better compensation packages and enhanced job opportunities across the industry. Across multiple industry polls the lack of skilled management candidates is driving the industry's concerns.

The buzz is all about the recently concluded June 30 deadline for companies in the UAE with 50 or more employees to meet their Emiratisation quota. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) had mandated a 1% increase in the Emirati workforce before this date, with penalties for non-compliance starting July 1. In my opinion, the phased and systematic approach to increasing the employment of Emirati nationals in the UAE stands out and is likely to drive success compared to similar initiatives in other parts of the world. Abrupt implementation of workforce nationalization programs has faced significant challenges. Examples such as Malaysia's Bumiputera policy, legal interventions in Fiji, and Kuwait's Kuwaitization policy within the GCC have resulted in mixed outcomes. These have often led to undesired consequences, including significant skills gaps, reduced productivity, inefficiencies in the public sector, and brain drain among those not benefiting from such initiatives. The standout features of the Emiratisation initiatives are: 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Attracting talent to fit job roles is challenging, but the phased implementation with clear deadlines has allowed the private sector to better plan their recruitment. The reasonable time provided has minimized disruptions for employers. 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: The visionary leadership in the UAE has strongly advocated for skill building. The focus on enabling Emirati nationals to take up jobs not just to meet a quota, but by genuinely developing skills, is refreshing. At Phoenix Financial Training, we have witnessed and continue to be part of such initiatives. The commitment and drive shown by the government and related bodies in building talent in the country is truly commendable and is the cornerstone for achieving success in Emiratisation targets. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: At various forums, successful Emirati nationals in their respective fields lead by example and embody their principles. Their emphasis on hard work, skill-building, and the message that there are no shortcuts to success will inspire the next generation to focus on developing the work ethic and skills needed to make themselves employable. We are particularly proud to see many of our Emirati alumni from Phoenix Financial Training being advocates of this very thought and inspiring others. These features highlight the strengths of the UAE's Emiratisation efforts and set a promising example for achieving workforce nationalization goals effectively. #talentbuilding #emiritization #Mohre

Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking: How expensive is Dubai? The ranking highlights how cities around the world fare in terms of living expenses for expatriates https://lnkd.in/dW3pfJps

Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking: How expensive is Dubai? The ranking highlights how cities around the world fare in terms of living expenses for expatriates https://lnkd.in/d3nNySij

Dubai has risen to become the most expensive city for international employees in the Middle East, with rising rents and insurance premiums contributing to the increase in expenses. https://bit.ly/3LVkdo5 Find out more about the cheapest and most expensive cities in our 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking, and gain insights on how you can plan compensation strategies for international assignees. #talent #HR