Showing posts with label Emiratis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emiratis. Show all posts
Friday, August 27, 2010
Emirati employment
I was reading another blog today which was written by an Emirati working as manager in the banking sector. He was discussing the banks rejection of an Emirati’s application for a gold card. The issue was around his existing debt and not his monthly earnings :-
“The man makes a good living, and he works in a govt entity that is arguably the best place to work in the WORLD. He had just joined 4 months ago, and makes 34K. This is his FIRST job, and once he passes the 6 month mark he will be making around 48K. I know this. Its all right there.”
This just shows how pampered these guys are. So, after 6 months in his first job he will be earning the equivalent of c£100k tax free (the figures quoted are in Dhs per month) and with a job for life. He might not even be any good at his job!
I worry for this country. I don’t know how it will ever truly be run by locals if they are not incentivised to perform or progress and not just given hugh sums of money on a plate for doing even the most trivial job. There is certainly no incentive for Emiratis to work in the private sector when such salaries and job security is available in the public sector. The government’s answer to this seems to be to offer subsidies to those employed in the private sector to bring them up to the level of the government jobs. So then you will have a low grade Emirati employee earning a salary 3 times his boss’s boss’s boss! Like that’s ever gonna be sustainable.....
Monday, July 19, 2010
Emirati weddings
Here's an interesting blog about Emirati Weddings.
Thanks ultra[blue] .....
http://www.al-emarati.com/2010/07/so-just-how-diverse-is-uae.html
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Bloody women drivers! (I'm quoting ok! - well kind of)
I love the way that there is so little political correctness over here. You can say pretty much whatever you like and no one is going to be too bothered if you are being discriminatory about one group or another (unless it is against the Emiratis of course). There are always great examples in the classified ads with flat share requests saying things like "Tamil, muslim, bachelor only" or "Kerala , male only" - not good enough to say Indian only, but which part of India!
Even in formal job advertisements you can say "Filipino female only" or "Arabic speaking Muslim only". It seems so far away from the state of affairs at home where it is now illegal in adverts to be racist (not arguing this one), sexist, ageist, sizeist or to suggest any religious preference. It really is a problem in the UK now - if you get the wording wrong on an advert, you are leaving yourself open to legal action for discrimination. So when the old, fat, Jewish guy doesn't get the job as the gym instructor at the local muslim girls school - he can sue! If you just want a young, fresh out of college type to take up a junior role, you can't just say that, because everyone has the same rights to apply. You can't use the words like "vibrant", because they may "suggest" that the job is for young people.
Enough I say, let's take up the UAE way. Which leads me on to the main subject of this blog.
Apparently, after a survey has been done to show that 92 per cent of driving accidents in the UAE are caused by men - the main point they want to highlight is...........wait for it.........women are driving too slowly!
Classic.
I have a come across a number of dozy women drivers yes, but in terms of those likely to cause an accident the main culprits are young, male, Emirati or other Arab guys driving too fast in cars that are way too powerful for them to control properly.
There is a problem with driving too slow (again, way more men than women as I see it) - but is more of an issue of lane discipline. It's just about being in the right lane for the speed you are going - not doing 90kmph in the lane second from the left.
IF YOU ARE NOT OVERTAKING THEN GET OVER TO THE RIGHT YOU MUPPETS!
That concludes the lesson for today.
Amen.
Kareem Shaheen
The National - News
16 Jan 2010
ABU DHABI Women driving too slowly are causing accidents and traffic jams and can lead to as many problems on the roads as speeding drivers, the Ministry of Interior said yesterday. While the vast majority of road accidents are caused by men, the...read more...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
More jobs for the boys.....
Kareem Shaheen and Samihah Zaman
The National - News
21 Dec 2009
Emiratis working for the federal Government will receive a 70 per cent rise in their basic salary. Yesterday’s announcement means the basic monthly salary of ministerial undersecretaries, who are at the highest grade of federal government positions,...read more...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
38th National Day
The locals celebrated their 38th National Day (commemorating the unification of 7 Emirates into 1 independent nation of Emirates) in their usual inimitable fashion! Emiratis love their country and their leaders and they love to celebrate, so on National Day all these things come together. The Corniche in Abu Dhabi become an unofficial DIY parade, with people who have spent 1000s of Dirhams decorating their cars driving up and down the street. There is a real party atmosphere which everyone joins in with.
This year there was much made about a massive firework display that would be set off from 25 points around the city and from barges on the waterfront. They started an hour late (at 9.30pm) by which time many people, especially those with young children had already gone, or started going home. When eventually they came, they were the biggest let down ever! Most towns back home would have better displays on Nov 5th. I don’t know what happened – maybe it’s the credit crisis!
This year there was much made about a massive firework display that would be set off from 25 points around the city and from barges on the waterfront. They started an hour late (at 9.30pm) by which time many people, especially those with young children had already gone, or started going home. When eventually they came, they were the biggest let down ever! Most towns back home would have better displays on Nov 5th. I don’t know what happened – maybe it’s the credit crisis!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Off to the UK
"out of office" enabled on my email, "on leave" voicemail message recorded, cases are packed and now just whiling away a few hours before we leave for the airport. Yippee!
Below is the London weather report from the BBC. Great! Can't wait to get away from the heat for a week. I will be standing in the rain for a good soaking, with the local population looking at me like I am an idiot!
Will be great to see all the kids again. Jess got her A level results today and although she didn't get the grades she was hoping for, she has now got 3 A levels, which is one more than me! So well done Jess! Just got to wait and see if she can get a place at Coventry Uni which is where she wants to go. Next week it will be Darryl's turn to get his exams results - GCSEs this time.
Hoping we don't get swine flu which is rife in the UK at the moment.
Borrowing my brother's season ticket to go and watch Watford v Blackpool on Saturday - oh how I miss watching the hornets getting beaten!
Well it looks like tomorrow could be the start of Ramadan, so at least we will miss one week of that. I hear the moonsighting committee will be heading for Jebel Hafeet tonight to go and look at the moon and declare it a full moon. So, that means no eating, drinking, smoking, playing music or having sex in daylight hours. But apparently you can stuff yourself silly and fornicate as much as you like once it's dark! - so I'll look forward to that!
Apparently on average, despite it being a fasting month, most Muslims put on weight during Ramadan because of the gorging on calorific food in the evenings at the "Iftar" breaking of fast.
Most of the International hotels do cater for non-Muslims and have at least one restaurant open during the day. But you can be fined or worst case, imprisoned, if you are seen eating or drinking in public. In practical terms I didn't find it too difficult last year. I think as long as you are sensible and respectful of people who are fasting, then you are fine. At lunch I would either find a hotel coffee shop that was open, or go to a grocery store, buy something and eat it discreetly in my car. I was quite surprised last year to be offered tea or coffee when having a meeting with an Emirati in a government department - but I think the rules are balanced with the Arab wish to be welcoming to visitors and be good hosts.
On the whole though, honestly, I would rather be elsewhere in Ramadan, especially while it is falling in the peak of summer.
So, we'll be back in a week's time - swine flu allowing!
Below is the London weather report from the BBC. Great! Can't wait to get away from the heat for a week. I will be standing in the rain for a good soaking, with the local population looking at me like I am an idiot!
Will be great to see all the kids again. Jess got her A level results today and although she didn't get the grades she was hoping for, she has now got 3 A levels, which is one more than me! So well done Jess! Just got to wait and see if she can get a place at Coventry Uni which is where she wants to go. Next week it will be Darryl's turn to get his exams results - GCSEs this time.
Hoping we don't get swine flu which is rife in the UK at the moment.
Borrowing my brother's season ticket to go and watch Watford v Blackpool on Saturday - oh how I miss watching the hornets getting beaten!
Well it looks like tomorrow could be the start of Ramadan, so at least we will miss one week of that. I hear the moonsighting committee will be heading for Jebel Hafeet tonight to go and look at the moon and declare it a full moon. So, that means no eating, drinking, smoking, playing music or having sex in daylight hours. But apparently you can stuff yourself silly and fornicate as much as you like once it's dark! - so I'll look forward to that!
Apparently on average, despite it being a fasting month, most Muslims put on weight during Ramadan because of the gorging on calorific food in the evenings at the "Iftar" breaking of fast.
Most of the International hotels do cater for non-Muslims and have at least one restaurant open during the day. But you can be fined or worst case, imprisoned, if you are seen eating or drinking in public. In practical terms I didn't find it too difficult last year. I think as long as you are sensible and respectful of people who are fasting, then you are fine. At lunch I would either find a hotel coffee shop that was open, or go to a grocery store, buy something and eat it discreetly in my car. I was quite surprised last year to be offered tea or coffee when having a meeting with an Emirati in a government department - but I think the rules are balanced with the Arab wish to be welcoming to visitors and be good hosts.
On the whole though, honestly, I would rather be elsewhere in Ramadan, especially while it is falling in the peak of summer.
So, we'll be back in a week's time - swine flu allowing!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
"Dubai bashing" debate continues
Yet more coverage in the paper today about the recent UK press and TV coverage. Dubai British expats were quoted as saying that they didn't recognise the Dubai that was described. That's because you are probably one of the ones reported as going out partying every night getting drunk and admitting that you have never even spoken to an Emirati! These people lag me off! Also the ones who, when I return home from the UK say "I suppose you saw all the reasons why you live here now eh? " Well, actually, no. Of course there are the usual things that do get you down in the UK (and I'm sure I don't need to repeat them all) , but I also realised there were a lot of things I missed; some good lungs full of fresh air, popping over the road to the chip shop; a "greasy spoon" cafe fry up, normal driving practices; not having to repeat myself 5 times to be understood; not having a cacophony of languages blaring around me (at least not where I live in the UK) and on and on.....
Living in Mohammed bin Zayed City, where we are right next to Mussafah Commercial area and the labour camps, I can absolutely relate to the articles that have been written. I have walked through the labour camps (and I bet not many of my Dubai expat compatriots quoted today have!) and seen for myself the conditions. Many of the labourers of course really try hard to make the most of it and I'm also sure that some are treated much better than others. But even for the best of them it's not much of a life and I am sure that at it's worst in parts of Dubai, I can quite believe it is as bad as reported. For those that may have missed it in my previous posting, here's a link to some pictures I took on a Friday around the labour camps:-
I am also glad that through my work I do get to meet many Emirati people, almost on a daily basis. I enjoy this interaction, learning a little about them and their family and lifestyle (idle chit chat about family and life in general is important in business out here). Abu Dhabi has a much higher percentage population of locals than Dubai (c.20% rather than c.5% in Dubai) so you are much more aware of the local people and traditions and Abu Dhabi rightly wants to keep it that way. I, for one, hope they do and don't fall into the Duabi trap.
___________________ ~~ _______________________
Another article in the paper today (The National) was encouraging Emirati mothers to take a more active part in the upbringing of their children and not to just "dump" them on maids or nannies. This unfortunately seems to be common practice. An Emirati woman who is working on the campaign said that some local women will get their maid to pick the child up when it cries so they don't spoil their Abaya! I can well believe it! You see the maids struggling to manage the children round the malls while their parents (male and female) swan around several yards in front -the maids also have to carry the bags of purchases made by the parents too by the way! I do believe this is just downright laziness and ignorance. Even if they are treating their maids well, I agree with the article that it does jeopardise their culture if the children are not brought up by their own Emirati parents.
Living in Mohammed bin Zayed City, where we are right next to Mussafah Commercial area and the labour camps, I can absolutely relate to the articles that have been written. I have walked through the labour camps (and I bet not many of my Dubai expat compatriots quoted today have!) and seen for myself the conditions. Many of the labourers of course really try hard to make the most of it and I'm also sure that some are treated much better than others. But even for the best of them it's not much of a life and I am sure that at it's worst in parts of Dubai, I can quite believe it is as bad as reported. For those that may have missed it in my previous posting, here's a link to some pictures I took on a Friday around the labour camps:-
 |
| Workers Day Off |
I am also glad that through my work I do get to meet many Emirati people, almost on a daily basis. I enjoy this interaction, learning a little about them and their family and lifestyle (idle chit chat about family and life in general is important in business out here). Abu Dhabi has a much higher percentage population of locals than Dubai (c.20% rather than c.5% in Dubai) so you are much more aware of the local people and traditions and Abu Dhabi rightly wants to keep it that way. I, for one, hope they do and don't fall into the Duabi trap.
___________________ ~~ _______________________
Another article in the paper today (The National) was encouraging Emirati mothers to take a more active part in the upbringing of their children and not to just "dump" them on maids or nannies. This unfortunately seems to be common practice. An Emirati woman who is working on the campaign said that some local women will get their maid to pick the child up when it cries so they don't spoil their Abaya! I can well believe it! You see the maids struggling to manage the children round the malls while their parents (male and female) swan around several yards in front -the maids also have to carry the bags of purchases made by the parents too by the way! I do believe this is just downright laziness and ignorance. Even if they are treating their maids well, I agree with the article that it does jeopardise their culture if the children are not brought up by their own Emirati parents.
Friday, February 20, 2009
What a ridiculous law
OK, so basically a new law has been passed that prevents companies from sacking local Emiratis unless it is for "extraordinary misconduct". The Government want to keep up the levels of locals employed and for some reason believe that this policy will “increase their productivity, performance and loyalty” - will it my butt! I don't know if I'm alone, but if I knew I could just do the absolute bare minimum with no chance of getting sacked and still taking home my full wage, I think I might just start to take it easy a bit!
I know that some Emiratis are paid very high wages for doing pretty low level jobs (and I'm talking like c£75k a year for an admin job!) so this policy is in no way going to encourage private companies to mug themselves by employing more locals than they legally have to. The Government also says:
"The new policy also stipulates that underperforming Emiratis could not be sacked but must be given more training or transferred to work more suited to their skills."
What like? Tea boy?
Debate over impact of Emirati job protection
Salam Hafez
The National - News
20 Feb 2009
Private-sector companies are more likely to employ Emiratis because of a new government policy that protects them from being laid off, a labour official said yesterday to counter claims to the contrary. Feddah Lootah, the acting director general of the...read more...
I know that some Emiratis are paid very high wages for doing pretty low level jobs (and I'm talking like c£75k a year for an admin job!) so this policy is in no way going to encourage private companies to mug themselves by employing more locals than they legally have to. The Government also says:
"The new policy also stipulates that underperforming Emiratis could not be sacked but must be given more training or transferred to work more suited to their skills."
What like? Tea boy?
Salam Hafez
The National - News
20 Feb 2009
Private-sector companies are more likely to employ Emiratis because of a new government policy that protects them from being laid off, a labour official said yesterday to counter claims to the contrary. Feddah Lootah, the acting director general of the...read more...
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