About United Arab Emirates
A thriving global hub where people from all walks of life flock in to explore life in grandeur, UAE is every young professional’s dream home away from home. Comprising seven emirates, the United Arab Emirates a country formed in 1971, under great visionary and leadership of the father of the nation His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan is now one of the most developed countries in the world.
If you’re planning to move into the UAE for work, get ready to live among a global community. While Abu Dhabi, UAE’s capital, forms 87% of its land and houses most of its population, Dubai is the stunning business focal point of the country. The other 5 emirates are also fast-developing states striving to keep up with Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Apart from the blue crystal clear skies and turquoise beaches, what is so inviting about this Gulf country? What prompts professionals in the healthcare sector to turn down glamorous job offers from the UK and the US and settle down in the UAE? Let’s take a look.
UAE is home to over 200 nationalities - 2.6 million Indians, 1.2million Pakistanis, 1 million UAE natives, followed by other nationals. Expats make up 80% of the population contributing their fair share to the evolving cosmopolitan culture in the country - a fine melange of various religions, ethnicities, languages, and cuisines. Regardless, English is widely spoken. Although the UAE is an Islamic country, you won’t have a hard time finding temples, churches, and gurudwara here; UAE can easily be called a cosmopolitan country. You will have a true global living experience in the UAE working together with a multicultural workforce.
A National Tolerance Program was established under the Ministry of Tolerance in 2016 to reinforce respect, pluralism, and mutual understanding among the diverse section of people living in the UAE. The program also aims to work with partners around the world to encourage religious inclusion. As a part of this, in 2018, the UAE government allocated 14 more acres to the proposed Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Tolerance is one of the core values which has elevated UAE as a global power with a significant say in international affairs.
UAE has a federal system of governance uniting the seven emirates together with both traditional and modern elements of leadership. The emirates are governed by local governments, but they have a voice in the civil administration. The UAE has a distinct national identity in place which has much to do with the political stability the country enjoys.
Under the administration of visionary leaders, the United Arab Emirates is one of the most developed countries in the Middle East with an enormous GDP per capita. Although the economy is heavily reliant on shipments of oil and natural gas which accounts for 40 percent of total exports and 38 percent of GDP, UAE has long been investing in other sectors to diversify the economy. As a result, the manufacturing sector has thrived and the services sector is fast growing. While moving into the UAE, the one factor that daunts most expats is their spouse's career. Under the current economic condition, they won’t have any difficulty finding a job that suits their qualifications.
The ultra-modern healthcare system in the UAE is second to none. The state-of-the-art relief centers and medical facilities host people from across the globe every year. Orthopedics, sports medicine, fertility treatment, dermatology, and dentistry are some of the specialties medical tourism thrives upon. Skilled and experienced healthcare professionals are hired from other countries to meet the growing demand. (Approximately, 181 doctors are allotted per 1,00,000 residents.)
The Federal and Emirate Governments have significant roles in the healthcare sector regulations. In 2018, a humongous 50.3 billion AED (3.4% of GDP), was spent on healthcare. Thus, immigrants need not worry about their medical bills. Medical insurance is provided to immigrants both by the state and employers.
You will be surprised to learn that the UAE has a separate ministry for Happiness. The National Programme for Happiness and Positivity was launched to elevate UAE to one of the top 5 happiest countries in the world by 2021. These are the 3 key objectives the initiative puts into perspective:
Most developed countries are still to follow in the footsteps of this initiative taken by the UAE government.
The quality of living in the UAE is one of the finest in the world. You will find some of the best schools, universities, and hospitals here. Being one of the world's fastest-growing tourist and business destinations, UAE has well-developed and extensive road, water, and air transportation systems.
For many years, Dubai and its sister states were allegedly the most expensive cities in the world. But a dramatic decrease in cost of living is recorded in the last few years. Accommodation costs are also drastically reducing owing to the brimming rental market.
Expat students are admitted to both public and private schools in the UAE. Public or private, schools have to undergo stringent quality checks imposed by the government to get a certification, there are plenty of nation-specific schools and international schools. The language of instruction can be English, French, Urdu, Hindi, or other depending on the management’s affiliations, still, a special emphasis is placed on English. The curriculum, fee structure, and eligibility vary from school to school, but you won’t run out of options as there are around 1600 international schools in the UAE educating more than 1 million students.
The best part about living in the UAE is that the government doesn’t impose any tax on personal salaries. Tax-free income makes UAE a true haven for expats. Whatever you earn, you own.
There is always something happening in the UAE, the city is always alive. Nightlife in Dubai is on par with London and New York. Dubai boasts of the world’s largest mall, in addition to thousands of restaurants, shops, and bars. The places to hangout are countless, suiting your budget and personal interests. Also, it is important to note that the working culture in the UAE is employee-friendly. Fridays and Saturdays are holidays, giving you ample time to explore places beyond your home and work. Most expats in the UAE point out work-life balance being a major advantage of settling down in the country.
