UAE EMPLOYMENT
 

I have been offered a job as an Executive Assistant to the CEO of a corporation in Abu Dhabi. I am a single woman with many years experience in running and organizing an office , plus I have lived in Cairo, Egypt for five years previously.

Now, I am 52 years old--the CEO (cousin gto the Royal family) never asked my age....my background is nursing and I told the woman at the Embassy that that would be irrelvant to this position and I was not gooing to emphasize it at all. I do not plan on working there as a nurse and I that degree is not needed here.

Do they require a degree in a relevant field to work in the UAE? I listed the nursing on the resume. Also am I too old to get a residence permit?

I have not signed a contract and I wish to be advised by someone who works there.

I would be compensated highly for my experience plus living accommodation and car with driver.

I hear Abu Dhabi is lovely and the photos support this.

Thanks for your help

Most of these questions can be answered by your future employer, I think. Then go the the CIA website (yes, that CIA) and find the section that describes all the countries in the world. It's amazingly even handed and informative. Then go to the government website or call the embassy in your country.

Thank you for your reply. I am up and down about this position and so I am unsure if I will accept it. I will study all matters very carefully.

Jennifer

What are your hesitations? Safety? I don't think crime is a problem there. Other foreigners to talk to? I think that AD may have more foreigners than Arabs. I get an English language TV station on satellite from AD which also has an AD newsbroadcast in English?

Correction: The TV station is from another one of the Emirates, but the news covers all of them.

I just reread your first posting -- it will be a piece of cake compared to Egypt 5 years ago.

The issue of the degree depends on the job. If you've been offered the job and your resume has listed nursing, the corporation knows what it's getting in to- it wont be a problem.
Age also isn't an issue. You're NOT too old to get a residence visa.

UAE is made up of more expats than locals.

The only safety issue is driving- locals/ half the expat pop. drive like maniacs.

It can be a hard place to live but there are a lot of expat groups in AD that can help you out.

Check out expatwomen.com

Good luck