Western Jobseekers Make a Beeline for the UAE

DUBAI - Online recruitment agencies in UAE have reported an increase in the influx of jobseekers from the United States and European countries.

Dhanusha Gokulan

Published: Fri 20 Feb 2009, 1:25 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 1:31 AM

According to some of the major online recruitment agencies in the Middle East region such as Bayt.com, since the last quarter of 2008, the number of foreign registrations in their web sites has been increasing considerably.

Bayt.com has organised a free consultation service for the unemployed as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

The free consultation service started on February 15 and will continue till February 26 at the Dubai Internet City Amphitheatre from 12pm to 2pm.

Participants are given tips on how to market themselves better, and prepare an attractive curriculum vitae. They are also advised on the employment options currently available.

Amer Zureikat, the Regional Manager of Bayt.com said, “The consultation usually costs the job seeker $350 (Dh1,285.59). But we are doing this entire exercise for free. We are getting 80 to 85 registrations for the programme every day and our capacity per day is only for 75 people. The professionals who give the consultation are employees of Bayt.com.”

He added that currently the web site has 2.7 million registered job seekers, and the number is increasing day by day.

“As of today, Bayt.com has over 5,000 fresh jobs and since the economic downturn, there has been a 17 per cent increase in the inflow of registrations from the US and European countries. Only seven months ago, we conducted a survey on the traffic on Bayt.com by location, and registrations from the US were 4 per cent,” said Amer.

He said that the Gulf region was still highly attractive to majority of the jobseekers from all over the world.

Tendai Karigambe, a Zimbabwean national who participated in the free consultation said, “I came to the UAE from the UK about a week ago, and this consultation session has been very helpful. Even during this financial crisis employment prospects in this region is really good as compared to other countries around the world.”

Dr Mariya Ghorayeb, a Lebanese dentist who was also present at the consultation said, “I am looking to pursue private practice in the UAE and from what the consultants have told me, there are still many job opportunities in the health care sector.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com