Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates

Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates

 are migrants or descendants of the Philippines living in the United Arab Emirates. More than 700,000 Filipinos live in the UAE, of which 450,000 live in Dubai, and they form 21.3% of the population of Dubai. Dubai is home to the largest population of Filipinos in the UAE, followed by Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. In 2007, Filipinos in the UAE sent more than US$500 million in remittances back to the Philippines.Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates are migrants or descendants of the Philippines living in the United Arab Emirates. More than 700,000 Filipinos live in the UAE, of which 450,000 live in Dubai, and they form 21.3% of the population of Dubai. Dubai is home to the largest population of Filipinos in the UAE, followed by Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. In 2007, Filipinos in the UAE sent more than US$500 million in remittances back to the Philippines.

Filipino workers

Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates are primarily migrant Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) employed in the architecture,construction, cargo shipping design engineering, energy,information technology, marketing,medical, real estate,retail,telecommunications, and tourism sectors or as domestic helpers.The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment also has two Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.These offices, as well as agreements between the Filipino and UAE governments, have set the monthly minimum salary for OFW's at US$400.Because of the high number of Filipinos in the UAE, OFW's have called more direct flights from the UAE to the Philippines.

Population decline

The Global financial crisis of 2008–2009 has taken a toll on the working Filipino population in the United Arab Emirates, and in December 2008 alone, 3,000 Filipino workers lost their jobs.The overall population shrank by 20% at the end of 2008 as compared to the end of 2007.The Embassy of the Philippines in the UAE asked laid-off Filipinos to register, because of the possibility of job openings in Qatar. However, the decline could also be attributed to new visa and passport requirements that the government of the UAE instituted midway through 2008, affecting up to 20,000 Filipinos. Those with expired visas were stranded on the Iranian island of Kish, and at Al Buraimi, Oman near the Oman/UAE border.

source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipinos_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates

Banking in the UAE | Banking Environment

Banking Environment

The UAE has 23 local banks and 28 foreign banks. These financial institutions, through their branch networks and affiliate service centres, cater to the financial needs of the UAE population of approximately 8.2 million. Besides conventional banking, UAE also offers Islamic banking which has seen a tremendous growth in the recent years. All banks offer Automated Teller Machine (‘ATM’) facilities which operate on a central ‘Switch’ system. A customer of a particular bank can, therefore, use any other bank’s ATM for conducting banking transactions.

 In the context of organising the banking activities, the UAE Central Bank has taken certain measures and issued a number of directives in 2011 for regulating loans and other services offered to Individuals, implementation of IBAN, regulating provisions on loans etc. In the background of these new banking sector legislations, the UAE is in a better position to weather adverse shocks and global headwinds which will help the banks to gradually overcome asset quality and loan exposure issues.

Account types

The most common account types offered by UAE banks are as follows:

• Foreign currency accounts can be held by residents domestically and abroad. Accounts in domestic currency (AED) can be held in domestic banks’ overseas affiliates and are freely convertible into foreign currency.

• Non-resident bank accounts denominated in domestic currency (AED) are permitted in the UAE, as are accounts in foreign currencies belonging to non-resident banks and financial, industrial and trade companies. Non-resident accounts in domestic currency (AED) are freely convertible into foreign currency.

• Interest is generally offered on savings accounts and time deposit accounts.

 Besides conventional banking, UAE also offers Islamic banking which has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years.

Banking Authority

The Central Bank of the UAE is the banking regulatory authority in the country and its main responsibility is formulation and implementation of banking, credit and monetary policies. UAE’s currency, the Arab Emirate Dirham, is pegged to the United States Dollar at a fixed rate of AED3.673: US$1.
 Additionally, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (‘DFSA’) is the regulatory authority for entities including banks, investment banks, asset managers established in the free-zone, Dubai International Financial Centre (‘DIFC’). The DIFC is the financial and business hub connecting the Middle East region’s emerging markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas. Since its launch in 2004, DIFC, a purposely built financial free zone, has been committed to encouraging economic growth and development in the region through its strong financial and business infrastructure, which makes it the destination of choice for Financial Services firms establishing a presence in the region.

Access to local financing (e.g. local lending)

Granting credit facilities to a customer varies according to the customer’s credit standing, as well as the credit appetite of banks. A number of factors are considered by a bank prior to the granting of the credit facilities, including the following:
• Nature of the business activity;
• Legal status of the establishment;
• Establishment’s business history in the UAE;
• Financial position and future prospects of the establishment;
and
• Management.
Key documents required by banks in order to open accounts are as follows:
• Copy of valid trade licence or certificate of incorporation;
• Copy of the power of attorney or Board resolution;
• Passport copies, including resident permits, of key people; and
• Copy of valid chamber of commerce registration certificate (mainly for limited liability companies and branches of foreign companies).

Growth and the work environment in Dubai

The growth of Dubai has been the envy of the other Emirates, but it has also taken its toll on the environment. Desalination plants that make the water drinkable emit so much carbon dioxide that the U.A.E. leaves one of the largest carbon footprints in the world. “Growth has been so intense and enormous, but people forgot about the environment,” Jean-François Seznec, a Middle East expert and professor at Georgetown University in Washington, told the New York Times. “The attitude was, business comes first. Now, they are seeing increased problems, and they realize they have to be careful.”9 That awareness is extending to design. Wanting to lead by example, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce began retrofitting the Chamber of Commerce with sustainability in mind in 1999, before there was widespread understanding of the importance of sustainability. In 2009, it became the first building in the Arab world to achieve LEED certification.10 The effort “. . .demonstrates the Chamber’s commitment to conserving resources and implementing best practices, and reinforces our strategic objectives of creating a favourable business environment for the Emirate, supporting the development of business and promoting Dubai as an international business hub,” said HE Eng Hamad Buamim, director general of the Chamber.11

Indeed, some say the ideas of sustainability are imbedded in Islam. Sigrid Nökelm, a sociologist who has studied Islam, says “Khilafa refers to the idea of mankind as trustee of creation. It is the duty of mankind to maintain the order of creation. The fruits of the earth are to be enjoyed, but its resources must not be wastefully exploited.” The research she did for the Munich-based foundation Stiftung Interkultur shows that “Muslims who take religion seriously express the view that religion demands ‘respect for nature’ which then prompts them to actions in their everyday lives.”12

Workspace Design and Layout in Dubai

In the private sector, especially with large multinational companies, workplace design and layout tends to be traditional, i.e., private offices with large wood desks with full fronts and large leather chairs that make it clear who makes the decisions. Western-educated designers create work environments with access to windows. Workers who are not managers sit in work areas with low panels so they have access to natural light. Installations will often have the same footprint from floor to floor with very few changes. Dubai is just beginning to use open floor plans but the plans still include lots of workstation walls. It’s unlikely that the owner will ever sit with the general population, says Stallings. Often, Western organizations setting up offices in Dubai will follow typical corporate standards but will incorporate (in addition to prayer rooms) accents of local style, such as Arabic fretwork, a closeable canteen area for privacy during Ramadan, and modesty panels at the front and sides of a workstation.

Primary design considerations are the cost of real estate and the construction budget, rather than job function or technology support, which tend to be an afterthought except in global companies. Furthermore, local companies and the private sector don’t think in terms of ergonomic needs. “That’s not part of the design process,” says Stallings, unless the decision-maker is a high-level manager who has been educated in the west or has been otherwise exposed to the field of ergonomics.8 There’s an economic reason many ergonomic tools used in North America are not used much in Dubai. Income earned in the Middle East is tax-free. The city is full of workers who’ve come to make more money than they can in their own countries. When they have enough saved to start their own businesses back home or when they get tired of being separated from their families, they leave. Owners aren’t very motivated to invest in an employee they know will be moving on soon.

In addition, there’s no such thing as worker’s compensation in Dubai, so there’s no incentive for an employer to try to make sure the employee doesn’t develop back pain or a repetitive stress injury. The predominant employer attitude is “payment for Culture and Work Styles in Dubai Research Summary / 6 Z services.” If the worker isn’t delivering, then the company doesn’t feel any obligation to keep him or her on the payroll. The Dubai offices of multinational companies, which also generally follow local labor laws and regulations, may see things the same way.

Technology use is intermittent but growing rapidly. Office workers may have a smart phone or mobile device. There is internet access at work, but many companies will block certain sites, and non-managerial employees may be given e-mail accounts but not browsing capabilities. Unlike multinationals doing business in Dubai, local businesses don’t typically have internet or intranet sites. The large number of youth in the region and the rapid economic development may speed the rate of acceptance of technology.

The workplace conditions in Dubai

Just as there isn’t a typical style of dress, there isn’t a typical style of office. That depends on the sector (public or private), the owner (international company or local company), and the sponsor (laissez faire or involved).
In the government sector and in companies that are locally owned, the workplace is hierarchical, and offices are one way of conveying status. The general population might have a white laminate work surface, a three-drawer pedestal, and a task
chair. Managers’ offices will have a similar configuration but a higher back chair,
a return unit, and a nicer finish on the furniture legs. Senior managers might have
a veneer top. Those who own or run the company have large, enclosed offices, lavishly outfitted.
In multinational companies, the offices tend to reflect the culture of the home office of the parent company, but the extent varies according to how involved the company’s Emirati sponsor is. Any company that isn’t local needs such a sponsor in order to set up shop in Dubai, and a hands-on sponsor can have an influence on the look and feel of the office space.
For example, a large multinational company may have corporate standards for workspace size, furnishings, and ergonomic support, but “those get lost in translation,” says Jennie Stallings, dealer and training manager for Herman Miller in the Middle East and Africa. “One European company had a height-adjustable desk and a particular chair as its standard package for its European offices. The local sponsor reviewed the plan and rejected it. His line of reasoning was that no one would work standing up, so there’s no need for height adjustable desks. And, since the company wouldn’t be able to use its standard package, anyway, it may as well open up the bidding process. Then he strongly encouraged the company to seriously consider his friend’s bid.”
Sending business to family and friends is part of the Arab culture. And having an involved sponsor can also work in a multinational company’s favor when the
sponsor urges his other contacts to use the products and services of the company he’s sponsoring.
The high value the culture puts on relationships is evident in the way people integrate work and socializing, as well. The work day begins around 8:00 a.m. and may go until 6:00 p.m. and includes morning and afternoon tea breaks, long lunches followed by a rest, and several breaks for prayer in the afternoon.
The long breaks provide the opportunity for connection that may result in business. “The time you spend with your customer or with somebody for lunch can turn out to be a business opportunity,” says Louda Mattar, Supply Chain Manager at H2O Concepts. “This is the culture here.” 7 Because so much time is spent socializing, meetings may run long, delaying the start of the next meeting. Or perhaps the next meeting will be cancelled altogether. It’s all part of the normal day for Muslims—but Westerners are still expected to be on time for meetings. In short, people and relationships are more important than schedules. “The rituals of daily life don’t change just because people are at work,” says Stallings.
The days are different, however, during the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and eating in public is prohibited during those same hours. The business day is abbreviated, with workers going home at around 2:00 p.m. to rest, but when the sun sets, they gather with extended family and friends to eat and socialize. Although the setting is casual and children may be playing underfoot, these conversations often morph into work. In this way, work and life are tightly interwoven to form community.
Religion is a focal point of life every day, not just during the month of Ramadan. The work week begins on Sunday and goes through Thursday. Muslim men are required to attend Friday prayer, which is congregational and generally held in a mosque.
Some offices have prayer rooms. Public sector companies and multinationals with over 50 employees must provide separate ones for men and women and places to clean up before prayers. In small, private companies, a male manager will simply close his door and everyone will know not to bother him for five minutes. Workers who aren’t managers may take prayer rugs to the corner of a room that faces Mecca and pray there.

Factors affecting to attract people to work in the Dubai

The Middle East is an area that’s burgeoning in many ways—politically, economically, and demographically. Bordered by Asia, Africa, and Europe, the region is an assortment of cultures and religions. Ethnic groups that live in the U.A.E. include Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, European, African, and Emirati. Although the region itself is ancient, dating back 3,500 years, the demographics of its people currently skew young. Sixty-five percent of the population in the Middle East is under the age of 25,1 and creating jobs for this generation of young people is an overriding concern in these countries. Much of the region’s wealth is attributable to having the world’s largest deposits of easily extractable oil, but the petrochemicals, aluminum, banking, and tourism sectors have also been important to the economic health of the region. Countries in the Middle East are expected to see a three to five percent increase in GDP.2

The Middle East is often perceived by Westerners to be synonymous with conflict, but there are many areas in the Middle East where people of many different nationalities meet, live, and work side by side. The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is one of those areas, and the largest emirate, Dubai, with its high influx of international workers (expatriates make up 80 percent of the workforce there3), is an excellent example. As a microcosm of the region and as the most desirable location in the Middle East for a head office, according to one study,4 it’s a good example of the issues that can come up when East meets West in the workplace. Politically stable, Dubai has developed a reputation for being a safe place for people of all nationalities to work and for companies from all over the world to do business. It is a constitutional monarchy that’s been ruled since 1995 by Sheikh Mohammed, who had a vision of Dubai as an international hub for business and leisure. His vision was quickly realized. In 1990, the number of tall buildings in Dubai could be counted on one hand. Just 20 years later, the skyline is crowded with skyscrapers, including the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Dubai is small (about twice the size of Rhode Island) but has more cultural diversity per square foot than perhaps anyplace in the world. Of its two million inhabitants, only 100,000 are citizens.5 The rest are there on work visas. Women make up 14 percent of the workforce.6 Arabic is the official language of Dubai, but most people use English to conduct business.

Culture and Work Styles in Dubai.

Considered the most desirable location in the Middle East for a head office, Dubai has seen a huge influx of international companies and workers. Doing business there, however, is more difficult than simply following corporate policies and standards. Cultural norms rooted in Islamic law affect everything from when and how business is conducted to office design. Success is based on understanding these differences.
As a microcosm of the region and as the most desirable location in the Middle East for a head office, Dubai is a good example of the issues that can come up when East meets West in the workplace.
The high value the culture puts on relationships is evident in the way people integrate work and socializing. The work day begins around 8:00 a.m. and may go until 6:00 p.m. and includes morning and afternoon tea breaks, long lunches followed by a rest, and several breaks for prayer in the afternoon.
The U.A.E. is the most cosmopolitan and Westernized country in the Middle East. Dubai is positioned as an economic center for the Gulf area. It is also a popular holiday destination for tourists. This region has much to offer in terms of a lifestyle and career development. With a history of both political and social stability there is no wonder that a large and skilled multicultural workforce has settled here. The absence of a bureaucratic approach to business is another attractor. Dubai offers some of the best financial incentives offered anywhere in the world. The sophisticated lifestyle and safe conditions make this an ideal location for both the workers and businesses alike. 21st Century economic expansion has transformed the once traditional culture into a multicultural tapestry. The mix of traditional and modern and of Eastern and Western cultures has made working and doing business in Dubai a one-of-a-kind experience.