Includes:
• Introduction to the Middle East
• The legal market
• Visas and relocation
• Salaries
• Requalification
• After work

Introduction to the Middle East

Arabia, the areas made up of the Arabian Peninsula, is located in the south-western region of the Asian continent. The main commercial centres in the Middle East are located in the Gulf and include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and to a lesser extent Oman and Kuwait.

The UAE is where the majority of expats settle and is made up of seven Emirates including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Abu Dhabi is the largest and the wealthiest of the Emirates, and is the federal capital of the country. It is home to the majority of the energy and projects work for the region. In contrast, Dubai, which is relatively poor in natural resources compared with other Emirates, has developed a business culture that is somewhat more entrepreneurial in nature. Its reputation as a commercial and tourist hub is widely known and well deserved.

Bahrain is the largest of an archipelago of 33 islands. The Bahrain economy is largely oil and gas-based. Bahrain is a well-established centre of finance, particularly Islamic finance. The society is cosmopolitan and mixes on an equal and peaceful basis. Religious and academic freedoms are permitted, as is the right to drink alcohol. Westerners are warmly welcomed here and there is no fear of terrorism. Bahrain is a safe place and although not as well known as the UAE, has more of a sense of community and is an attractive destination for families.

Qatar, host to the 2022 World Cup, is one of the world's richest countries and is going through a phase of tremendous infrastructure development. Bordering the UAE and with a UK expat population of 10,000, Qatar enjoys a relatively liberal way of life, albeit more conservative than somewhere like Dubai. With the recent increase in oil and gas prices, Qatar is now the fastest-growing economy in the world, with many of the world's major project financings being arranged there.

There is a large expatriate population in Oman, which makes up about one quarter of the population. Muscat is the capital, which is full of splendid architecture and culture. The sea and beach are less than 10 minutes from almost any place in Muscat and the locals are tolerant and friendly. Oman is a hugely popular holiday destination and a highly attractive place to live. It is also unique due to its mountainous landscape, as well as deserts and beaches.

Saudi Arabia is comfortably the largest of the Arab economies and thus remains an attractive market for Western law firms, although the licensing of foreign law firms is tightly controlled. From a lifestyle perspective, 30,000 Britons enjoy excellent facilities with spacious air-conditioned villas and modern facilities. Saudi Arabia is known for its impressive US-style shopping malls and entertainment complexes. Financially, life in Saudi can be very rewarding, although it is the most strict on ‘social behaviours’.

The legal market

The Middle East offers lawyers superb career opportunities with law firms and in-house. It is fast paced, exciting and continues to attract serious global organisations to the region. It offers lawyers cutting-edge legal work, great client contact, relatively small but high-quality teams and impressive salary packages with zero tax. Over the last few years a significant number of top-tier City and US firms have signalled their commitment to the region by opening offices in Dubai and other major cities. Local full-service firms also offer high-quality work through established links with a superb range of local clients.

The work on offer in the region typically embraces corporate, corporate finance, banking (with a particular emphasis on Islamic finance), construction, projects, energy, IT, e-commerce and litigation. Opportunities in practice areas such as employment and, to a lesser extent commercial property, are limited.

The majority of international law firms in the region are British and located in the UAE. Many firms such as Clyde & Co, Clifford Chance, Trowers & Hamlins, Allen & Overy and Dentons have been in Dubai for many years but have now been joined by well-known international brands such as Norton Rose Fulbright, Ashurst, Simmons & Simmons, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells and DLA Piper amongst others.

The last few years has seen major US firms including Latham & Watkins (Dubai), Gibson Dunn & Crutcher (Dubai), K & L Gates (Dubai, Doha), Reed Smith (Dubai), Squire Patton & Boggs (Abu Dhabi,Dubai and Riyadh) and King & Spalding (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia), make major in-roads into the market.

Visas and relocation

Citizens of countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, France, Germany and Ireland visiting the UAE can obtain an entry visa on arrival in the UAE. This however, is only valid for 30-90 days, depending on your country of origin and will need to be extended once you arrive in UAE.

You will require a residency visa in order to obtain a work permit. If you have secured employment prior to moving to the UAE your employer will usually deal with your residency visa and your work permit. In order to gain a residency permit you have to pass a health check.

Other foreign nationals wishing to take up employment in Dubai must obtain in advance an entry visa and a work permit, having first been granted sponsorship by the company offering employment.

Residence and work permits are valid for three years and may be renewed. Work permits issued in one Emirate are not transferable to another Emirate. A residency visa is required in the UAE for obtaining a driving licence, health card, liquor licence and to rent accommodation.

Salaries

Remuneration varies across the region, mainly due to living expenses, but the only location where there is an obvious uplift is Saudi Arabia. Personal incomes, including all forms of salary and capital gains wherever arising, are not subject to taxation in any of the Emirates, Qatar or Saudi Arabia.

The major UK firms will generally provide a package which equates to, or is close to, London gross salary, while the US firms have generally paid New York salaries and bonuses. Other items included in the general package provided by most firms or companies are very similar to that in other major cities – entitlement to bonus, medical insurance, life assurance, a flight home each year and a pension or end of service gratuity.

While some aspects of life in UAE are cheaper that their UK counterparts, in general terms (and housing aside) the cost of living equates more or less to living in Central London.

Private practice pay scales:

Per month in United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

UK International Firms, Magic Circle Firms, US international firms as of December 2021:

Requalification

Regardless of jurisdiction, although knowledge of Arabic will always be advantageous, given that the majority of firms offer English legal advice, there are no re-qualification requirements to work in the Middle East. Business is conducted in English.

After work

Relocation to the Middle East, and Dubai in particular, offers what many consider to be the perfect blend of work and play; the emphasis on after-work socialising is strong. Dubai’s climate and first-class sporting facilities make it an ideal place to lead an action-packed lifestyle. Many types of sporting activities are on offer, including sand skiing, dune buggy racing, deep-sea fishing and ice-skating as well as plenty of world-class golf. In the space of just three decades, Dubai has emerged as the undisputed sports capital of the Middle East. Among the numerous top class events held in the emirate are the Desert Classic PGA Golf Tournament, UIM Class One Powerboat World Championships, ATP Dubai Tennis Open, Dubai Sevens Rugby Tournament and the Dubai World Cup horse race to name a few.

There are also a surfeit of shopping opportunities available. Dubai’s reputation as a shopper’s paradise extends to many aspects of the city’s bustling commercial life. One area where this is especially evident is that shopping centres serve both a regional and tourist market, than just purely local. Dubai’s retail prices are reasonable and the variety of products available matches that of any other major international city.

Dubai is a city that offers rare opportunities to experience local and ethnic cuisine from almost every region in the world for those who enjoy good food and a great dining experience. Only restaurants in hotels and leisure complexes are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is also obtained from two suppliers, each of which has several outlets in Dubai. It is illegal to buy alcohol without a licence. Licences are issued by the Police Department to non-Muslims holding a residency visa.

Ciarán O’Connor is a legal recruitment consultant at Nicholas Scott Global Legal Recruitment, the exclusive provider of jobs for The Global Legal Post. If you would like more information about moving to the Middle East please email him at ciaran@nicholas-scott.com

Click here to read more Nicholas Scott Career Guides