Survey finds UAE among top 10 countries for expat placement

The survey, conducted in April and May of this year, surveyed 11,922 people aged 18 to 65 in the global market.

“The UAE is among the best in the world,” said Jerome Droesch, chief executive of domestic health and wellness services at Cigna International Markets.

In recent years, the UAE, the second largest economy in the Arab world, has undertaken a number of economic, legal and social reforms to strengthen its business environment, increase foreign direct investment, Attract skilled workers And provide incentives for companies to set up or expand their business.

In 2019, amendments were made to the Golden Visa scheme to simplify eligibility criteria and expand the beneficiary category.

This 10-year visa approved To investors, entrepreneurs, technical professionals earning more than AED 30,000 (US$8,167) per month, exceptional talents, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, real estate investors, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes.

One green visa Five-year residency for skilled employees without the need for a sponsor or employer. The minimum education level is a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and the salary should not be less than Dh15,000.

The UAE also introduced a one-year digital nomad visa in March 2021, allowing people to continue working for employers in their home country while living in the UAE.

Cigna’s survey found that foreign workers who moved to the UAE stayed longer than those who moved to other countries.

It said the average length of stay of foreign workers in the UAE was 4.4 years, compared to the global average of 3.2 years.

Employees in the UAE are also leading the way in workplace mobility. The study found that 40% of workers in the UAE have changed jobs in the past 12 months, compared with the global average of 24%, thanks to economic growth, flexible visa rules and increased opportunities.

Some 55% of employees in the UAE also want to change jobs in the next 12 months, compared to 36% globally.

Meanwhile, Cigna said 53.2% of residents would be happy to take a pay cut if it meant they had time to do other things, compared with 42% globally.

The survey showed that the UAE’s work happiness index was 71.7, higher than the global average of 69.5.

“The health and well-being of employees has become a top priority, and employers need to step up to create an environment where employees feel more cared for, supported, and can grow in their personal and professional abilities,” Mr Derosch said.

nation Cigna said the overall happiness index was 68.2, well above the global average of 62.9, followed by the US, UK, China, Spain and Australia.

The UAE’s overall wellbeing sector grew by 2.1, the highest of any country, thanks to policy improvements, new visa regulations and increased confidence in the country’s economic growth over the past two years, the report said.

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UAE Salary Guide 2022 – In Pictures