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If you are considering applying for jobs in Saudi Arabia or Dubai, or any one of the Gulf States, you should be aware that once you start work it is not easy to change.  An employee is sponsored by an employer, who will have paid a great deal of money in visa and relocation fees to bring the worker to the country, so they will not be keen to allow anyone to terminate a contract early.  When taking Gulf jobs, the worker has an obligation to remain loyal to the employer.

It has been the case in the past that some workers whose contracts have ended have found a new job while they are still in the country.  This means that the employer has obtained the services of an experienced employee and has not had to pay out for visa and relocation fees.  There are now new procedures in place to prevent workers from doing this. 

Employment contracts are now worded so that they protect employers.  Open ended contracts are used rather than fixed term agreements and the worker has to agree to leave the country for six months after the end of the contract and before they can apply for a new job and visa. 

In order to transfer to another job a worker must have a ‘no objection certificate’ from the company they currently work for, but this does not mean that they will no longer be subject to rigorous checks.  The easiest way to change jobs is to leave at the end of the contract and reapply after the six month waiting period has elapsed. 

Since the 1970’s, the oil and petroleum industries have been in the forefront of the Saudi economy.  Exports represent nearly 40% of the nation’s gross domestic product, with 90% of these exports having their origins in the oil and petroleum industry.  This, combined with Saudi Arabia’s heavy influence and leading role in OPEC, has made the nation an excellent place for job seekers interested in the petroleum industry.  There are a great number of opportunities not only working in the oil fields as technicians or engineers, but also in all support functions of this business.  Accountants, construction workers, designers, architects and project managers all play a vital role in maintaining the strength and viability of Saudi Arabia’s petroleum industry.

While the petroleum industry is at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s economy, the nation as a whole is pushing forward in other directions.  The strength of the petroleum industry has allowed the nation to carry a very small amount of public debt, at just 20% of the nation’s GDP.  Being able to post significant budget surpluses year in and year out has led the nation to investing in infrastructure, defence, manufacturing and agriculture. 

While these jobs are growing in number and strength, it’s safe to say that for the time being this path is paved with the success of the work done in oil.  While not all jobs in Saudi Arabia are abundant, there is still a clear source of opportunities working in oil.  Work in different fields does exist, however these types of jobs will not likely be a major element of the Saudi economy for some time.

If you are wondering whether there are any opportunities in telecom jobs Saudi, you will be glad to know that several positions are quite readily available for those who have the right experience and skills.

Companies such as Arabsat, Mobily and Zajil International Telecom are regularly advertising for certain positions to be filled.  For example, telecom engineers should be able to find a host of positions available with these companies and more that they might be capable of filling.  Telecom networking engineers’ positions also commonly appear in job adverts for telecom jobs Saudi online.  Other positions are available too, so if you have experience in the telecoms industry it is not beyond the realms of possibility that you can get another position in Saudi instead of in your own country.

Engineers are not the only job roles that are available however.  Every telecoms company has a dedicated customer service department that needs to be staffed by people who know something about the industry.  If this is where your interests lie, look for these telecom jobs Saudi instead.

Some companies will accept CVs sent by email from prospective employees living in other countries.  They may also accept CVs sent in via fax, as Zajil International Telecom does.  This company typically advertises any vacant positions on their website, but don’t be deterred – sending your CV in can still be worthwhile as it will bring you to their attention.

Follow this method with all other telecom jobs Saudi as well – you never know what will turn up.

The key industries dominating in the Dubai workforce are construction, engineering, finance and computer technology. There are a large number of senior managerial positions, and this goes some way to explaining why the workforce throughout the Middle East is male-dominated. There are plenty of banking and finance jobs available for foreigners, particularly those with recognised accountancy qualifications and/or experience at well-respected global financial institutions. Jobs in this sector might include mortgage broker, financial adviser, cost accountant and auditor. Again these jobs tend to be predominantly held by males.

The Saudi banking industry is the largest in the region. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency controls and regulates finance in its role as the central bank, and a large number of foreign banks operate in this region.

Most of Dubai’s industries are strategically-placed according to its range of economic free zones and MENA’s (Middle East and North Africa) finance hub is called the Dubai International Financial Centre, which opened for business in 2004 and has attracted a number of high-profile global firms, including NASDAQ Dubai – one of its key subsidiaries. The DIFC comprises of the following six sectors: banking and brokerage services (including investment, corporate and private banking), capital markets, asset and wealth management and fund registration, reinsurance, Islamic finance, and ancillary services. It is the world’s most rapidly growing international finance centre.

Firms conducting business in the DIFC benefit from various perks including 100% foreign ownership and a zero tax rate on profits. The long-term plan of the DIFC is to create 10,000 jobs which will be filled by a combination of indigenous workers and skilled expatriates.

Saudi telecom jobs are definitely more prevalent than they used to be.  If you are looking for work in this sector you will benefit from the increased number of developments in the telecoms industry in Saudi Arabia.

Telecommunications networks are much more widespread now than they have been in the past.  Private sector companies are making good headway in this industry, which means they have plenty more Saudi telecom jobs available.

Look for jobs with companies such as Mobily Career, Arabsat and Integrated Telecom Company.  They all have significant interests in the Saudi Arabia telecoms industry, and constantly have jobs available for those who have the right qualifications.  It is usually necessary to have the relevant experience in this sector in order to find and successfully apply for a position in Saudi telecom jobs.  This is particularly the case if you currently reside in another country and you want to move to Saudi Arabia and work in the telecoms industry there.

Many Saudi telecom jobs are involved with the mobile network.  SCADA and communications engineer positions are quite frequently seen, as are jobs for project managers and project engineers within the telecommunications industry.  Many of these will require an appropriate degree and also some years experience – often five or more years in the telecoms industry. 

So if you have the required experience and qualifications consider relocating to Saudi and applying for Saudi telecom jobs now. It could be the change in career you have been looking for.

You only have to look on a few job sites online to realise there are plenty of Saudi IT jobs around.  The question is whether or not you have the right amount of experience to apply for them.

The answer really depends on what kind of position you want to find.  For example a recent job listing for a programme manager asked for twelve years of project experience in the field of IT as an absolute minimum.  Clearly this is not a position offered to those who are new to the field of IT jobs.

But there are various Saudi IT jobs that require less in the way of experience.  A recent job advertised online was asking for a programmer and developer (one position, not two).  This required the lesser amount of just two years experience in php, MySQL and various other competencies.  This would obviously be a better position to apply for if you were fairly new to the IT industry.  Of course there are other Saudi IT jobs which require different competencies as well, so be sure you match up your current skills with those that are needed by the industry in Saudi.

The other piece of good news is that once you have got your foot in the door, you can look to progress into other Saudi IT jobs over time.  Gaining further experience of the IT industry can lead to further career progression in the future.

Jobs in Saudi Arabia are not easy for foreign workers to find.  There are very few websites for recruitment agencies that are based in the Kingdom or newspapers with online classified adverts for jobs.  Those that do advertise are mainly in Arabic, which poses difficulties for western workers.

There are some recruitment agencies in the west who are employed to place workers in the Gulf States though applicants should be sure they are dealing with a respectable agency with a good reputation.

There are a number of global companies who have a base in Saudi Arabia who will advertise vacancies worldwide via their own websites and international press and for those searching for Saudi IT jobs or oil jobs this may be the best way of finding employment there. 

Employment for foreign workers in the Kingdom is only ever temporary.  Foreigners are not able to become citizens or own land or property.  This is one way of keeping control of immigration and ensuring that the country does not experience the problems which are afflicting some western countries at the moment.  The authorities also want to ensure that there are good jobs and career paths available to the young people of the country.

It is expected that large construction projects in Saudi Arabia will cease over the next few years so the need for foreign workers in that industry will come to an end.  There are several years of commercial development foreseen as businesses begin and grow and it is expected that there will be employment for western workers for several years to come. 

While you can get work in many jobs Saudi based, some careers have more potential than others.  In Saudi Arabia the main opportunities lie in oil jobs and teaching.  Another area with a lot of potential for jobs Saudi Arabia based is the health industry.

If you have an interest in these areas and you want to work out in Saudi Arabia in the future, you should ensure you have a degree of some kind before applying for a job.  Most positions require degrees or recognised diplomas.  It will also help make it easier to gain the required employment visa you will need to work in Saudi.

If you do not have an interest in one of the above mentioned areas, all is not lost.  The best way forward is to gain access to some of the many job related websites online today.  They have many jobs Saudi Arabia based you can look into.  If you spot something that appeals to you, find out what the requirements are to apply for that job role.  When it comes to living and working in Saudi Arabia, the more information you have beforehand the better you will fare.

If the career you are interested in is not an option in Saudi, consider whether there is another similar field of work you could venture into.  In either case jobs Saudi are typically given to those who are ideally qualified for the role.  Qualifications are just as important as practical experience in this way.

Despite the fact that the oil and gas industry continues to fuel the economies of the UAE, there are numerous employment opportunities available in several other professional fields.  This is especially true where the IT and telecommunications industries are concerned.  Over the past several years there has been a noticeable rise in telecom jobs Saudi opportunities.  Just be aware of the fact that the telecom industry in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf region Middle East countries has become very competitive.

There are a few steps you can take towards finding the telecom jobs Saudi career that is best suited to your qualifications and skill level.  Searching the major job posting boards online is the best place to start.  Make sure that you have updated your CV or resume so that it is as accurate as possible.  Additionally, you will need to compose a covering letter to accompany your CV or resume when you are applying to the companies that you are interested in working for.

Be aware that many overseas employers in the Middle East work through recruiting agencies to handle the application process.  Some charge you a fee while others charge the employer.  Unless you want to incur the added expense, stick with those that charge the employer the fee and not you.  You also should be aware of the fact that unlike so many other entities on the internet, the career and job search sector is not immune to scammers and they are not always easy to spot.

The IT and telecommunication industry has been experiencing positive growth over the past decade.  If you have been contemplating relocating to the Gulf region in the Middle East, you might want to consider the fact that there are numerous Saudi telecom jobs and career positions available in that industry.  However, you also need to be aware that this is an extremely competitive segment of the job market throughout the Middle East.  Here are some steps to take when applying for any jobs in this particular industry.

Update your CV or resume before applying to the companies you are considering.  You will also want to compose a cover letter to go along with your CV or resume as these provide the prospective employer with the best first impression possible.  Additionally, look at the larger higher paying companies first when searching for Saudi telecom jobs and particularly those that have been in business the longest.  You will then have a better opportunity to earn the type of wages you are hoping for and may well be provided with other benefits. 

Larger corporations offer long-term job security, which is a critical factor considering that you are relocating to a foreign country and might well be moving your family there.

You might also want to consider contacting a job recruitment agency to help match you up with the ideal Saudi telecom jobs.  Just try to avoid those agencies that charge you a fee for their services.