The campus is set to become the largest dedicated hub for AI and technology companies in the Middle East and North Africa
uae10 hours ago
For Turkmenistan national Dovlet Hojayev, 27, Dubai is the place to be. A professional web programer and IT specialist, Hojayev says the UAE offered him an excellent opportunity to work and grow.
"I've been here almost five years. I was a fresh graduate, and I was looking for a place which is in demand," he said. "When I first came (for a visit) in 2007, I was like a tourist. When I saw everything, I realised it was very developed when compared to some CIS countries. And when I saw there was really no online shops ... I thought this is the place I should come."
Now, five years after moving to Dubai, Dovlet runs BetterWeb,a small but successful web development firm.
"There are four of us now, all from the CIS," he said. "What I like is that everyone has his own thing and they are brilliant at that. I think a developer in the CIS can earn about $1,000 a month maximum. Here he can earn more."
Although he says he now feels "very comfortable" living in the UAE, Dovlet noted that there are a few things he misses from Turkmenistan.
"The weather, that's number one. Number two, trees. Watermelons is number three," he said. "You can find everything here, but some of them are too expensive and some of them are not sweet."
Additionally, Dovlet said that in cosmopolitan Dubai he is never far from fellow Turkmen, despite the country's small population of just over five million.
"There is a community (of Turkmen)," he said. "We have a lot of successful people working here. We aren't too many as a nation ... you won't hear Turkmen everywhere, but sometimes you meet and then you know one more Turkmen."
"I think when the USSR crashed, a lot of people with money came here to invest in the UAE's development of new properties and so on," he added. "Then they started to pull people in from the CIS. It's much easier to understand each other. The mentality is the same."
As an example, Dovlet noted that he has encouraged several of friends to come to the UAE.
"When I came, I helped two or three of my friends to come here. I told them to get their diploma and I'd help them," he said. "The UAE is very open. I don't think that any Russian, for example, would feel out of place here ,,, it's very okay to live here."
"I feel very comfortable here. Maybe I got used to it in the last five years," he added. People are very helpful ... I see a lot of opportunities. I think I'll stay here."
bernd@khaleejtimes.com
Interviewed by Bernd Debusmann Jr.
Street Talk is a weekly column to get a glimpse of people's lives in UAE
The campus is set to become the largest dedicated hub for AI and technology companies in the Middle East and North Africa
uae10 hours ago
Dravid's tenure comes to an end after the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies
sports11 hours ago
Stand-in skipper Jitesh believes the absence of key England players will not affect his side's morale on Sunday
sports11 hours ago
Netanyahu came under personal attack from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for failing to rule out an Israeli government in Gaza after the war
world12 hours ago
The fund is designed to finance the production of artistic and creative works in film, music, performances, and video games
uae12 hours ago
Fico has been in hospital since Wednesday when a lone gunman shot him four times, including in the abdomen
world12 hours ago
The country was one of the donor states to freeze around $450 million in funds after Israel accused 12 UNRWA staff of participating in the Hamas-led attack
world13 hours ago
This inclusive community service is available daily on Al Hamriya Beach from 6.00am to sunset
uae13 hours ago