Top 3 Pro’s & Con’s of working in the Middle East

With all the work opportunities we have in the Middle East I’ve been asked a few times what it’s like to work over there, so here’s my top 3 pro’s & cons from my time over there.

Pro’s

1.     Probably like most, No.1 is the overall Package – great salaries, work-life balance, sports and social activities and the sunshine to enjoy them.

2.     The Welcome – I’ve been fortunate to travel to many parts of the world and I’ve been to some very friendly and welcoming places though nothing gets close to the welcome you get in the Middle East

3.     Safety – I’ll admit this was not something I expected before I went out, I was most pleasantly surprised by how safe and relaxed I felt – crime is virtually unheard of, people are so friendly, I can honestly say I’ve never been so chilled out as I was out there.

Con’s

1.     The roads – driving is a challenge, you need eyes in the back of your head and the peak times are just best avoided.

2.     The administration - pace of life is just slower in the Middle East, this has its benefits but also means things rarely happen quickly, for paperwork you just need to plan in advance.

3.     The peak heat and humidity – most the time the weather is great, wall to wall sunshine, but in the peak of summer especially when the humidity is high it is just punishing. I often wondered how people managed to get by in the days before air-con.

In summary I had a great time, it’s not for everyone but for me the pro’s significantly outweighed the con’s and if my family circumstances were different I would certainly be looking to go back out.

I’d be interested to hear the views of others, do you agree or do you have a do have different top 3’s – please comment and let me know?

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