Finance careers in the Middle East

By Ursula Jones

The booming economy in the Middle East is just one of the many reasons why finance professionals are flocking to the region. The sunny weather, the developmental peak, and the tax free salaries all play a role in attracting more and more people to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. And that’s not all; many finance professionals who have found work in the region also report faster career progression there. So if you’re thinking of immigrating for employment purposes, you should definitely consider a career in the Middle East.

Which financial career should you pursue?

Various finance careers are highly in demand in the region but some of the most promising are accounting and audit jobs. Despite the continuous influx of workers from all over the world, there continue to be many finance positions open. This is mainly due to the growth spurt in the business sector there. The accounting and audit positions are the most ideal as they are highly regarded in the business field, and thus usually get the biggest incentives.

Which country should you settle in?

Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E. are considered ideal to settle in as they are known as the wealthiest among the emirates. But if you’re really after audit jobs, Dubai is perhaps the best place for you to find lucrative jobs. While Abu Dhabi is rich in projects, Dubai is the center of the Middle East’s entrepreneurial side. Audit jobs in Dubai thrive in its commercialized culture, a result of the large number of businesses that choose Dubai as their main headquarters.

If you don’t want to immerse yourself in the highly commercialized and corporate culture that comes with audit jobs in Dubai, you can also seek finance job opportunities in Bahrain, which is considered as the Middle East’s centre of finance. If you are after IT audit jobs, you should consider Abu Dhabi, where technology is at its peak.

What to expect in terms of work environment

If you’re pursuing an audit job in Dubai or in other countries in the Middle East, you can expect a lot of perks. Aside from the given, i.e. the weather, the tax free salaries, and the thriving business culture, you can also expect one of the most comfortable working environments abroad. Dubai and Abu Dhabi both offer a hodgepodge of cultures thanks to the large variety of immigrant workers there, so they also offer a great opportunity to form new friendships and to learn more about other nations’ cultures. This also helps lessen the culture shock that many immigrant workers feel.

Many people tend to worry about living conditions in the Middle East, but the fact is that the Middle East is generally safer than many other countries and the accommodation options there meet higher standards.

Audit jobs in Dubai are also preferable for those who have plans to pursue further studies. There are large numbers of international schools in Dubai where you can obtain higher levels of education. There is also a host of socializing activities that you can engage in during your free time. Just make sure you are aware of the rules in the specific country you choose to work in, especially with regards to alcohol consumption. These rules vary per country, but they are generally more lenient in Dubai.

Ursula Jones writes about finance and audit jobs in the Middle East from Careers in Audit, for more information please visit http://www.careersinaudit.com

* All images US-PDGov