US
Yes, you might have enough money to employ a maid and a driver as an expat in the UAE, and perhaps your career prospects are pretty rosy. But you’re unlikely to feel particularly welcome.
The Middle East doesn’t score very favourably in the latest HSBC expat experience report – the UAE is ranked 18th out of 26 countries surveyed. Over half of respondents said they were staying in the country because of the career prospects, while just 15% said it was because of the lifestyle.
Dig a little deeper, and it doesn’t seem like a very friendly place at all – in terms of integrating with local people, the UAE ranked 25th, and most expats tend to stick with their own (see chart below).
Bahrain was voted the best place for expats within the Middle East, followed by Saudi, the UAE then Qatar.
Having lived and worked in the UAE for the last three years I find living here to be a double edged sword. I find the mix of cultures and religions envigorating and inspiring. Yet, the Government seems not to understand that many of the millions of expats here for work would gladly stay and make Dubai their home if they were truely welcomed by the Emirati. The expat must be allowed citizenship. This double standard keeps the expat population from setting down roots, raising families here, and taking ownership of issues/problems in the communities. If all expats are always simply “Labor” and return home after the job ends, the contract finishes up, the building is up …then Dubai runs the risk of disappearing into the sand. A country is more than buildings, more than architecture, it is a place where people want to live, where people are willing to fight to protect, to raise families regardless of nationality. America was once willing to open it’s arms to the world and in turn millions turned America into “home”.
It would seem that Dubai only wants tourists and day laborers.