The same, but different

Soooo… the bad news is, the finger is still hurting when typing. The good news is it should be OK in 2/3 days, says the nurse. I would like to sincerely thank Viji, Robert, Samir and Ibtisam for their words of support. I did not expect it, and I was really touched by your kindness…

Encouraging Emiratis to “try out” the private sector

I was a speaker last week at the second Emiratisation Summit, an event organised by IIR Middle East in parallel with the Tawdheef career fair in Abu Dhabi. Usually as a follow-up of my speaking activities, I write a post or two on the conference I attended, reacting on the presentations of the speakers. Unfortunately…

The GRP certification in the Middle East : to take it or not to take it ?

My reader Samir recently asked me to write something on World at Work certifications, and their value worldwide and specially in the Middle East. Formerly known as the American Compensation Association, World at Work is the leading Total Rewards association in the world. They have 200,000 members, the majority of whom are based in the…

Frustrated : a story of customer service and data format

You know something that really annoys me ? It’s the way that the large survey providers tend to treat their customers in the GCC. Let me share an example. I have more, from other providers – maybe I’ll write them up too in the future. The customer by the way, yes, that’s me. And you.…

Do you pay for the job or the nationality ?

A recent article reviewing salary differences between nationalities in the GCC made me think. Obviously, in the region, we are all aware of these differences, even if we rarely mention them. According to the annual Gulf Business salary survey, “In the UAE, a Western expat makes 12.6 per cent more than an Arab expat and…

As an expat, do I long for my home country ?

This instance of Reader Question will give you a very personal interpretation of the answer. I hope to encourage you to think about the meaning of home, origins/roots and sense of belonging, as we are nearing a time of the year where many of us reconnect (or long to) with our families for Christmas and…

An important day for females in the UAE… and beyond

On Sunday (December 9, 2012), His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired a Cabinet meeting and made a series of announcements through his official Twitter account @HHShkMohd. Here is the one I want to celebrate today : We have also made a decision to make the representation of women, in all the boards…