Middle East and Gulf States - Lifestyle

Where else will you receive tax free salaries?? The Middle East offer the chance to earn great salaries, free accommodation, free travel, generous annual leave, free annual flights home, free uniforms, free insurance. If you are interested in working in world class medical facilities, contributing your skills and being part of a truly international healthcare team then perhaps the Middle East is for you.

The Middle East & Gulf is a land of contrasts and offers a myriad of opportunities. Explore pristine unspoilt beaches, remote mountains, silent desert, beautiful oasis, modern shopping malls & exotic Bedouin markets. The Middle East offers a myriad of exploration opportunities to the open minded traveller.

Allied Health Employment has dedicated recruitment relationships with a select group of leading and modern healthcare facilities across the region offering outstanding employment conditions, lifestyle and benefits.

The United Arab Emirates:

The UAE of United Arab Emirates consists of several Emirate states including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai. Positions are available in cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ayn.

Location

The UAE is seen as economically advanced and prosperous by world standards, located centrally in "The Gulf" it is a melting pot of nationalities and cultures and is seen as one of the most relaxed states to live in by Western standards, in fact Dubai is a leading international holiday destination.

Climate

The UAE has a long hot summer with it's coastal location also contributing to high humidity in peak season (May - September) temperatures can sometimes reach to 48 degrees Celsius. Winter is when the UAE comes into its own with a perfect winter climate, low humidity, warm daytime temperatures and temperate nights. Over this time, the UAE becomes a thriving holiday resort for Europeans seeking unlimited sunshine, pristine beaches, crystal clear water, great shopping, top quality international cuisine and the ideal holiday location.

Geography

Deserts, pristine coastline, mountains, salt plains and oasis make up the unique geographical expanse of the UAE.

Population:

Approximately 75-80% of the population of the UAE is expatriate, the largest volume consisting of nationals from India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. There is also a large population of workers from Australia, New Zealand, UK, South Africa, Canada and the USA.

Language

The official language of the UAE is Arabic, however English is widely spoken by locals and expatriates alike. English is also the language spoken within the hospital systems. Other languages you will hear include Hindi, Farsi & Urdu.

Religion:

Islam is the nationally practiced religion

The Working Week

Depending on the site of your employment, either a 40 or 48 hour working week. The UAE weekend is over Thursday and Friday.

What to wear: The UAE is very liberalised by Gulf standards with respect to attire. On the beaches of Dubai you could be anywhere in the world. Islamic values should however be respected in general public and especially if you visit the souk. Sleveless dresses, shorts or short skirts are not appropriate for women in these environments along with shorts for men, singlets or being bare chested. Long loose fitting clothing is both cooler and acceptable for women, there is no need to cover your head,

Accommodation

All employees are provided with free fully furnished accommodation. Usually for most contracts, this is provided for the staff member only and not the spouse or family. Some sites will also offer an accommodation allowance where you can rent your own apartment with your family. This depends on the hospital you work for as to what they can offer. In this case, you will receive the allowance after you have worked for 3 month probationary period so your family can join you after this time. During the probationary period, you will be accommodated in share accommodation such as a 2-3 bedroom apartment. For Doctors, some paramedical staff and Senior management positions, usually benefits are provided for you and your family. For more details on what you might expect, contact your Allied Health Employment consultant.

Safety

The UAE is a very safe location by world standards for men and women alike. For the latest information, talk to one of your Allied Health consultants.

Rights

There are equal rights for men and women in the UAE with regard to education and employment.

For details on our hospital clients, click the "United Arab Emirates" link on the Middle East tab from the list above.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - KSA

Experience the amazing culture of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and earn some of the highest tax free $$ in the region. Saudi Arabia comprises the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula with Yemen and Oman to the south, the UAE and Qatar to the East along with the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Jordan to the North and the pristine Red Sea and Africa to the West. Temperatures and humidity do vary in the Kingdom depending on location with the higher humidity in the coastal areas. Central cities such as Riyadh can experience quite cold nights in winter and sometime even cooler days. There is a long Summer however where the temperature can only be described as HOT!

Language: Arabic is the national language of KSA as with other countries in the Gulf, English is widely spoken however and many signs are in both Arabic and English. The language used at the Hospitals is English.

Rules and Regulations: The government of Saudi Arabia operates under Islamic Sharia Law which is based on the Islamic Koran.

Dress: KSA has stricter dress regulations with respect to other countries in the region. Long loose fitting clothing is the rule when in public, most women will buy a Saudi Abbaya which is a long light cotton cloak worn from the shoulders to the ankles and covering the clothing underneath and are black in colour. There is no need for expatriate women to cover their face or head in Saudi Arabia. For men, tight fitting clothing is not acceptable. Long pants are expected but short sleeve loosing fitting shirts are fine. Inside the accommodation compounds the dress regulations are relaxed and staff can wear western attire freely.

Working Week: The weekend in KSA is Friday as the rest day with the start of the week on a Saturday. Our hospital sites work either a 44 or 48 hour week. Long shifts such as 12 hours are common.

Accommodation: Each hospital provides their own accommodation for staff at a compound site. Compounds can be similar in size to a western university campus with numerous apartment blocks, roads, shops and recreational facilities such as Olympic swimming pools, tennis and squash courts and playing fields. One of the Riyadh compounds even features a Bowling Alley!

Most nursing and allied health contracts will provide accommodation and benefits for the employee only and not their family, for management and Doctors, family accommodation and benefits will usually be supplied. Contact your Allied Health Consultant for further clarification on what you could expect.

Shopping: What you can buy in KSA you can buy anywhere in the world with regard to western style consumer goods. Large American style shopping malls are common with all the top European brands and fashion labels as well as food outlets. However KSA still offers you the chance to enter traditional markets and bargain for carpets, spices and other antiques.

Food and Dining: Saudi's consume more American Style fast food per capita than any other country! All the regular brands are there, Mc Donalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc etc, however if this is not for you, there is still world class dining to be appreciated with top quality international restaurants as well as local food vendors. All types of foods are available. Westers style supermarkets are prevalent with a large variety of imported and fresh produce, similar to you would find at home. When eating out, restaurants are divided into 2 sections, "Men only" and the "Family Section" The family section is for couples and their children.

Television and Entertainment: As an expatriate worker, you will be watching satellite television with the full array of movie channels, news channels such as CNN and BBC world, sports and documentary channels. There are also foreign radio stations such as BBC and CBC

Internet: The internet is common in KSA and widely used, some western sites deemed offensive are blocked out by Saudi censors. The use of email at home is common.

Taxation: At the present time, Saudi Arabia has no income tax system for its workers, this is a major attraction for expatriate workers heading to the Gulf. Applicants should investigate with a tax consultant with regard to the tax laws in their own country relating to earning foreign income.

Prohibitions: The following items are prohibited in KSA, alcohol, pork, pornography.

For details on our hospital clients and centres, click on the "Saudi Arabia " link on the Middle East list above