Special Features
Half Of Expats Move To The UAE Without Sufficient Practical Information, Reports Zurich
Approximately half of all expatriates say they moved to the UAE without the necessary practical information to make the transition, while a third found the overall relocation experience more challenging than anticipated, according to research released today by Zurich, one of the world’s leading insurance groups. The findings were released on the same day that Zurich published: "Moving to your new world: A guide to living in Dubai."According to the survey of almost 800 UAE expats conducted by YouGov, 29% of expats found the overall experience of moving to the UAE more difficult than expected. Obtaining a driving license (21%) is cited as the most difficult part of relocation, followed by finding employment (18%), the cost of living (17%) and the weather (12%).
The greatest concern for most people before they move to the UAE is the cost of living (24%) and the ability to find or keep a job (22%). Younger people are most concerned about the cost of living, with 31% of those between the ages of 18-24 year citing this as a worry before they moved to the UAE. For people over the age of 35, continued employment is the greatest concern, with 34% highlighting this as an issue.
A lack of available information appears to account for the anxiety felt by expatriates before moving to the UAE, with almost half of respondents (45%) reporting they had very little or no information about the UAE before they moved. Only one in ten (10%) expats said that they had all the information they needed before relocating.
"Although the majority of people find moving to the UAE straightforward and simple, a third of expats struggle with the experience," said Maroun Mourad, CEO of Zurich’s General Insurance operations in the Middle East. "Moving to a new country is always a daunting undertaking, and everyone’s experience is different, but it seems that a lack of information increases the anxiety of people relocating to the UAE. That’s why Zurich has produced a comprehensive guide to living in Dubai, hopefully making the transition just a little easier for the thousands of newcomers who arrive in the emirate each year."
"Moving to your new world: A guide to living in Dubai" provides all the critical information a newcomer to the emirate needs to know, from obtaining a driving licence and finding a home, through to getting around the city and applying for a visa. The guide can be downloaded from http://www.zurich.ae/en/personal/hints-and-tips/dubai-guide.htm
