Dolman | Legal Recruitment - Sydney, Australia

Dolman regularly places lawyers throughout the Middle East in international and domestic law firms.

Dolman's International Consultants know the cities and the legal market well, and can help you plan your career move in the region.

Below we have included an overview of the basics of living and working in the Middle East to answer most frequently asked questions. Please contact any of our International Consultants for further information.

The Middle East has a rapidly expanding legal market in all of the following areas: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The majority of international law firms are based in UAE, and this information focuses on the UAE, particularly Dubai, as it is the key business and legal centre.

The UAE is a federation of seven Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Qawain and Fujairah) six of which federated in December 1971 after independence from

Britain

; Ras al-Khaimah joined in 1972. Since that time, the UAE has developed rapidly into a nation with modern infrastructure and a high standard of living.

The ruling structure of the UAE reflects a careful allocation of power among the seven Emirates, with Abu Dhabi being generally regarded as the first among equals. It has 94 per cent of the country's oil reserves, covers 87 per cent of the UAE's total area and is home to 38 per cent of the population.

The UAE economy is buoyant and increasingly becoming diverse with tourism and real estate becoming key economic areas. GDP is comparable to any wealthy Western nations, making the country an attractive place for expatriates. The impressive growth in Dubai's economy has been aided by investment friendly legislation such as "free zones" found through out the UAE offering tax incentives for example the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its stock market (DIFX) which has attracted foreign investment.

The current President is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi since 1969, is considered a pro-western moderniser. The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid bin Said Al Maktum, is the Vice-President and Prime Minister.

The region is hot and dry in the Summer, and warm and pleasant for the rest of the year. Summer temperatures range from 32-43◦C, and Winter temperatures range between 25-35◦C in the middle of the day. At night, Winter temperatures can fall below 10◦C. You can expect for the sun to shine for between 8 and 11 hours in every day.

The UAE legal market is one of the most important markets in the Middle East and has experienced a dramatic increase since early 2004 with a wave of major international firms establishing offices in the UAE. Firms are willing to recruit from any Commonwealth country and Arabic language skills are not required.

Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate, and most law firms are based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with some International firms having a presence in both centres. The key areas of practice are:

The work in law firms tends to be of a more general nature, allowing lawyers to broaden their skills if they wish. Most lawyers who make the move have between 2 and 7 years post qualification experience.

Women are welcome in international law firms that operate in the UAE, and also rise to high levels in many domestic firms. Treatment differs slightly from country to country – women who work in the UAE will not find much change in their lifestyle, whereas working as a female lawyer in Saudi Arabia is quite challenging. In all Middle Eastern countries it is advisable for women to dress modestly. Generally, however, women are treated well and play key leadership roles in the business community and government.

Residence Visas are issued by the Naturalisation and Immigration Department at the Ministry of the Interior. Note that they are closed every Thursday and Friday.

Visas will not be issued to Israeli citizens, those with passports with an Israeli stamp or if your passport has been issued for less than 6 months.

To obtain a visa, you will need a passport, at least 2 photographs (passport size), any application forms in duplicate, a letter from your sponsor in the UAE to the embassy (in duplicate) and from your company (if different to your sponsor).

Before you can apply for a residence visa, you must take a medical test and obtain a Health Card (costs approx: Dhs 300; US$ 82), which can be issued by the Ministry of Health or a recognised private hospital. There is an age limit of 50 years, although exceptions may be made to this rule. In general, residence visas are valid for three years. If you are coming to the UAE with family members, you should obtain a family visa, which allows you to sponsor your parents, spouse and children under the age of 18.

Employment permits are generally simple to obtain where the applicant is from a Western country and has a position arranged for when they arrive.

The process for obtaining a residence permit is not too rigorous, and it will generally be granted to anyone with a work permit (and their families), as long as they have a job and some qualifications. It is very difficult, however, to become a citizen of UAE, no matter how long you have lived there.

Since 1962, the government has made massive investment in health care infrastructure, such that the system is very well regarded internationally. Nonetheless, most expatriates see fit to take out private health insurance policies, as this covers emergency repatriation as well as care while in the UAE.

Apartments are the most common form of housing in UAE, and they are generally well appointed with excellent facilities. Rental prices vary greatly, but the most expensive are usually found in Abu Dhabi. Villas can also be rented, but the average cost for a very well appointed villa is about 20,000AED (AU$7,000) a month. Note, however, that villas are usually only leased for periods of at least a year and may require a year of rent to be paid in advance.

Sheikh Zayed Road	38K - 48K	55K - 65K	75K - 85K	100K - 120K
Riqqah & Muraqabat	33K - 36K	39K - 43K	55K - 60K	65K - 75K
Satwah	26K - 30K	37K - 42K	47K - 57K	62K - 75K
Bor Saeed	30K - 32K	38K - 43K	50K - 55K	65K - 70K
Oud Metha	30K - 35K	40K - 45K	55K - 65K	75K - 90K
Abu Hail	32K - 35K	35K - 40K	55K - 70K	70K - 75K
Nasser Square	24K - 28K	33K - 35K	40K - 45K	50K - 55K
Al Mamzar Riqqah	30K - 35K	35K - 40K	50K - 65K	70K - 80K
Qusais	25K	40K	55K	70K

Dubai is the only emirate that has relaxed their property ownership rules recently legalising foreign ownership of properties in designated areas. The other emirates are following in Dubai's footsteps. However, lenders will only lend up to 70% of the purchase price and deposits are generally around 40% of the purchase price. There are only a few domestic banks that are willing to lend to non-residents, but it should be noted that the purchase of property confers an automatic right to residency.

Construction standards are comparable to those in the West, and properties are usually generous in size.

Only those with residence visas are able to open bank accounts in the UAE. Banks are open from 8am to 12pm, Saturday to Thursday. Most people coming from overseas prefer to use accounts offshore.

The quality of life in the UAE is excellent. The large international business community has led to a wide range of recreational activities, shopping, sports and facilities for families being established, particularly in Dubai. Crime is extremely low, and English speaking schools with an English curriculum are available.

With the added advantage of no income tax payable on earnings, most people who decide to move to the UAE find that they live well, and save up to a third of their income, after all expenses. The cost of living is generally lower than in Australia, New Zealand or the UK.

Working in the Middle East is a great opportunity to experience a diverse culture and dynamic legal work. If you would like to know more about opportunities in the region, please do not hesitate to contact a Dolman International Consultant.

Other Middle Eastern Opportunities

Bahrain

The kingdom of Bahrain is a large desert archipelago made up of 36 small islands in the Persian Gulf. The capital Manama is linked by roadway to the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. Bahrain is the Gulf's financial centre with over 365 banking institutions within the kingdom and a well established regulatory framework. Accordingly, there is a strong legal market despite Dubai emerging as a rival commercial centre. The country is very keen to attract foreign investment and allows non-nationals to own 100% of businesses and property in specific areas including in Manama.

The sultanate of Oman is located on the south-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered to the West by Saudi-Arabia and to the north-west by the UAE. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said who acceded the throne in 1970 directed that oil revenue be used to modernise the country’s infrastructure and government structure. The Omani legal market is small, although several well known international firms have established offices in the capital, Muscat.

The state of Qatar occupies a small peninsula in the Persian Gulf, bordering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The current Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power in 1995 and has embarked on a comprehensive programme of social reform transforming Qatar into a thriving economic centre for trade and investment. Since 2006 when restrictions on foreign law firms have been eased, the legal market has opened up with a number of elite international firms opening offices.

The al-Saud family has ruled the oil-rich state of Saudi Arabia since its creation in 1932. Its leader, King Abdullah has run the country since 1995. Saudi Arabia is a major legal market. English law by and large governs commercial contracts. Foreign firms are obliged to operate in alliance with local Saudi firms.