Career Opportunities- USA vs Middle East

by **Faheem** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 6:18 am

For those of you working in the Middle East and are also familiar with the work atmosphere in US. I would like to pose a few questions....

What kind of opportunities exists in the Middle East for a Network engineer? I have extensive experience in design, deployment and supporting inter-networks with various complex applications and uses.
If I were to look for a job in Middle East; where do I start looking? Job sites? Consulting opportunities? Consulting agencies? Are family visas pretty much a standard?
I am sure few threads to this will promt more questions from me.

Thanks

by **Faheem** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 9:30 am

Needless to say I am hoping Kulcha Bhai will be able to help me out here with a great deal.

by **Kulcha Hyderabadi** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:14 am

Faheem bhai, thanks for your confidence in me. As a pan ka dabba owner, I get to meet a lot people working and living in the Arabian Gulf. What I gathered from them is that big organizations are not hiring professionals on their payroll as they used to do in the past. They contract the services of these professionals through Manpower Suppliers. Outsourcing is a big thing now and rightly so, as it helps reduce overhead expenditure. Qualified IT professionals (Asians), depending on skills and experience are paid between SR8000-10000 (1 US$ = 3.75 Saudi Riyal) as a starting salary. At a first glance, the money looks bad compared to what is paid in USA; however, you have to take into consideration several factors. Working environment in the Gulf is kinda relaxed, tension free and is less stressful than in the Western World. Salaries are tax-free; no medical insurance, housing and living is dirt-cheap. A bachelor can live lavishly on a budget of SR1000 per month (excluding housing). The beauty of working in the Gulf is that you can last in the job as long as you want. They don’t wave pink slips at your face and turn you into a “Corporate Whore.” Annual paid vacations, healthy severance benefits, good educational facilities for kids, almost a crime-free society (no muggers, no hold-ups, no break-ins)and a comparative low cost of living makes working in the Gulf a real pleasure. I see my customers, working in the Gulf, visiting Hyderabad almost twice a year and they look quite healthy and happy. It would be great if you can find a job in big organizations like: Saudi ARAMCO, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Telecom, Mawarid, SABIC, Al-Rashid Group, Al-Zamil Group etc. If you are really good and your skills are needed, you can always negotiate starting salary. The negotiation margin is big and the one, who asks more, usually gets. Post your resume at:www.alfalak.com. http://www.sceco-east.com.sa, http://www.saudiaramco.com.sa. http://www.albayt.com . - Good luck and when you come to Hyderabad on your first vacation (Rayban glasses, Benlon T-Shirt, a liberal spray of Dunhill perfume, a smouldering Rothmans dangling from your lips), drop by my Dabba for a great Ram pyari pan.

by **Bhaimiya** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 1:33 pm

Kulcha Bhai: As expected your in-depth answer is wonderful, no need to add more. FYI banda is working in Mawarid Group of Companies.

by **Radha** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:27 pm

Faheem, My way of explanation is different than Kulcha Bhai,
I can just say, to work in Saudi is totally different than in other part of the world.
\"\"Hamey aiysee Jannat Nahi Chahiye, Jahan se Madina dikhai na dey\"\"

by **hardcoder** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 2:05 am

Hi Kulcha. I never really gave a thought to working or living in the middle-east maybe because I am more comfortable with a hybrid of the Asian and American cultures. I am more comfortable in the US and can relate to people better here than in India, and I\\\'ve got used to the work culture here, but what scares the $hit out of everybody is the thought of getting a pink slip anytime. Nobody is really secure here. Well, India is no better in this regard because many people I know have been laid off the \\

by **hardcoder** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 2:07 am

Hey my long message was truncated at the point where I put in double quotes. And I forgot what I typed for the last 20 minutes, can\'t type it all back again

Admins/Coders, do something about the double quotation character pls

Thanks

by vj » Sun Jul 14, 2002 9:00 am

kulcha bhai,ur informstion was great!! but i have a question,..now im not sayin this with any prejudice..but just something which was nagging me.do the companies in the gulf prefer muslims,coz i too heard abt the perks of the jobs in the gulf,but i also heard there is a slight disadvantage for hindus!! no offence to anyone,but i guess we are all adults here!!

by **Kulcha Hyderabadi** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 9:44 am

Nope VJ.....there are hundreds and thousands of non-muslims, including hindus working and living in the Gulf. There is no discrimination in salary structure. I mean all Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Filipinos) are paid equally. The restriction for non-muslims is limited to the cities of Makkah and Madina. You can find Hindus working almost everywhere in the Arabian Gulf and in good positions too. Additionally, there are several joint ventures between Saudi Arabia and India in industrial, manufacturing and consulting sectors and there is no restriction on employing Hindus.

by **Kulcha Hyderabadi** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 9:47 am

Radha ji, I too love Madinat-al-Nabi, but wouldnt go that far to equate it with Paradise. I draw a clear distinction between the Creator and the Created Ones.

by **Ravi Rajan** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 3:28 am

I would suggest ... you go to Dubai. (Dubai Internet City - DIC) is the best place for NETWORKING people, I am in US currently, but I had worked in DUBAI for nearly 5 years. I tell you, Dubai is too good in all aspects. Now, I am getting more than what i used to get, here in US, but still I miss DUBAI a lot, one of the reasons ... Kulcha Bhai has already mentioned... PINK SLIP... Faheem try Dubai.

by **shaad aabad** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 3:38 pm

Aadab Kulcha bhai,
Never seen such an informative panwala...mashAllah! i am sure u can help me too..i recently landed a job in Dubai..the salary is no great shakes but it is better than what i was getting here...i was wondering how much money i could be saving...this is just my second job (i am 26 years old) and for me the criteria now is how much money i can save...any tips for a bachelor in dubai? FYI, my office is in Deira, a suburb of Dubai...

by **Bhirr Ustaad** » Wed Jul 17, 2002 11:27 pm

Salamalaikum Kulcha Bhai, I am very surprized at your answer and fail to comprehend why you reacted in such a way to what radha said. She said.. \"\"Hamey aiysee Jannat Nahi Chahiye, Jahan se Madina dikhai na dey\"\" ........ You could have reacted by saying..... \" No When Allah decrees Jannah upon you then its definetely better than anything else on earth \"....and that would have been acceptable and I would have given you the benifit of doubt that you did not understand the realtion and affinity of Madine-Tayyiba to Rasul Allah alyhi afDalus salaatuwas Salam, which Radha is actually referring to . But you very abruptly say \" 1) I too love Madinat-al-Nabi, but wouldnt go that far to equate it with Paradise. 2) I draw a clear distinction between the Creator and the Created Ones\" Yaakhi this is Ajeeb to say the least, In your reply point 1) makes sense and can be left as your own personal judgement and radha has her own judgement, however point 2) is where I am at loss to comprehend anything Firstly what did Radha say to mix or diminish the distinction between the Created and the Creator ?...this was uncalled ,thoroughly illogical and an unconnected response to say the least Your statement tantamounts to accusing Radha of such a serious mistake...Allahu Akbar !, And if this were a class of logic then you would fail the course for such an unconnected statement.
 When you say \"I draw a clear distinction between the Creator and the Created Ones\" then it means that the person you are talking to does not......so please explain as to what is the Creator in radhas statement coz Madina-tayyiba and Paradise both are creations of Allah-izz-wa jall and she is palinly comparing them both. I am sorry if I was harsh but this is what I see everywhere these days ,People who dont weigh their words before they speak and dont take a minute to accuse and slander ...Maybe you misread her message and thought it to be something else..........thats the best excuse I can come up with in your favour. May We All be given HidayaH.

by **Radha** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 9:28 pm

Bhirr Ustaad, I think you have explained Kulcha bhai correctly, which i was trying from the day he wrote. I am sure he did not understood what actually the sher is refering to, I think i should not have wrote such sher\'s on the board.

by **hardcoder** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:19 am

Radha, can you translate the urdu saying you posted a few days ago? I tried to translate it to English, but I can\'t make out most of the words.

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