Dubai & the Middle East
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other locations in the Middle East are the current hot spot for people looking for international work. Apart from the booming metropolis of Dubai, locations such as Abu Dhabi and Qatar are also experiencing similar booms. These three locations, plus Bahrain and Oman, are commonly considered the main expat centres and are all family friendly. In all of the locations there are large western expat communities, with a good social scene, crime free and friendly. To work in any of these locations, you will need to find employment and be sponsored by an employer. Types of projects in these locations are varied, but there is a large amount of very interesting major projects, such as The Palm Islands, as well as many high rise towers. There are also marine, road and infrastructure projects, but these are not as common as the large building schemes. Salaries in these locations are free of local income tax.
In other parts of the Middle East, such as Iran, Iraq and Saudi, positions are now more commonly become single status locations. Projects in these locations are often heavy civil engineering and related to the petrochemical industry or else government or World Bank funded development projects.
Hill McGlynn’s Middle East offices, based centrally in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have the contacts and networks to source opportunities for candidates across the Gulf region. The teams in both offices are more than happy to discuss in more detail any aspect of living and working in the Middle East, as well as assist in finding work.
For contact information for our Dubai office, click here.
For contact information for our Abu Dhabi office, click here.
For more specific information on any particular country, please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website by clicking here.
When thinking about the Caribbean, images of white sand beaches and crystal clear
water comes to mind. Working in the Caribbean region is a very real possibility
at the moment, as after the Middle East, this region is also very busy. Across locations
such as the Bahamas, Barbados and the Turk & Caicos Islands, there are many new
hotels & resorts springing up, as well as marine and road projects aimed at developing
the islands for tourism. 
With increased mobility across Western Europe since the formation of the EU, many
Brits have wanted to live in the likes of France and Spain. However, working in
these countries can be a challenge. Construction and civil engineering work is normally
conducted in the language of that country and hence unless the language is spoken,
it is hard to find work in this sector. 
With many Eastern European companies looking for entry to the EEC, there are many
EU funded projects ongoing that are designed to bring countries up to a certain
levels in areas such as infrastructure, public health facilities, highways and transportation
and education. This has led to opportunities for experienced professional staff
to get involved in projects such as water treatment and sewage works. Opportunities
in these Eastern European countries are ideal for single status candidates or married
status candidates with no children.
These three Commonwealth countries have many opportunities for work, as all three
countries are booming. However, with living costs generally lower, salaries on offer
are often lower than the UK, so candidates looking to work in these locations will
need to be looking more at emigration for life style reasons than for earning potential.
All three countries governments operate policies to enable skilled and qualified
staff to work in their countries, so candidates can apply for work permits before
setting off. Generally, you will need to visit your chosen country in person to
secure employment, although in recent times, some companies have conducted recruitment
programs in Europe.
Opportunities in the Far East are less than they used to be, due mainly to the abilities
of candidates from Asian countries. However, in recent times the region has picked
up and there is plenty of work in places such as Macau, mainland China and Japan
but candidates will need to possess experience that is not generally on offer in
the region. 
Always considered the more remote and exciting continent to go and work in, there
are still opportunities across Africa, although there is definitely less than there
used to be. With World Bank funded projects ongoing, tourism hot spots and Oil &
Gas booms in certain countries, the availability for the adventurous worker is still
there. The majority of positions are in remote or more dangerous locations, so positions
tend to be for single status candidates. So if the idea of working on a road in
Ghana or a hotel in Nigeria interests you, then please contact our UK International
office to discuss. 
