Are people really losing their jobs?

[Porridge GTI]

I keep reading and hearing about it but it always seems to be somewhere else.

[IanUAE]

After 12 years working for the same company here in Dubai (and 17 years overall) I was made redundant at the end of June. Luckily I was able to pick-up some consultancy work for July and August and start a full time position in September. I work in the water utility management sector.

[shirt]

We recently made our entire finance team redundant in favour of centralised (uk) resource and a computer system. This is on the back of the same happening to marketing and other cuts. One of the office buildings on our compound is now completely empty and another has one empty floor. Headcount has probably halved since I started.

At least our parking problem has been solved.....

[Paracetamol]

12 out of 80 houses on our compound are now empty (previously fully occupied)..and 40pc of my kids class will no longer be returning to school..this is in Abu Dhabi which seems badly hit.

[DubaiJohn]

I'd echo this sentiment. Abu Dhabi is being decimated the big EPC are or have got rid of loads of roles.

We've been growing for the last couple of years but have completely frozen recruitment for the foreseeable and it seems as though getting contracts paid is like getting blood out of a stone. Where we offered open credit in the past it's all LC now even with long term trading partners.

[Brads67]

shirt said:

At least our parking problem has been solved.....

I`m happy for you.

[ThePlanner]

There are a lot of redundancies across Abu Dhabi. But not being reported in the news.

My complex previously had a waiting list for tenants but now around 30-35% empty, which is around 260 apartments.

[Rich_AR]

Me! I was unfortunately made redundant recently.

Seems it's happening a lot, but people are not really talking about it? Plenty of people returning to their home countries of late as well (including myself).

[XB70]

Sorry to hear that Rich. Hope it all works out for you with the next move.

[K50 DEL]

Following the death of the owner of my company in 2015 all staff were made redundant.... even back then I was unable to find anything else in the region and came back to the UK

Have been looking to return ever since but most ICT roles now seem to either be outsourced or staffed from the subcontinent so there's been very slim pickings and fierce competition and sadly as I don't have a degree I seem to get binned in round one!

From what I hear from the friends I have left there, the place is incredibly quiet, I still hope to return though!

[Fats25]

K50 DEL said:

most ICT roles now seem to either be outsourced or staffed from the subcontinent so there's been very slim pickings and fierce competition and sadly as I don't have a degree I seem to get binned in round one!

If it makes you feel better (and it won't!) - I know a very competent ex-colleague with masters degree, and is a Pakistani national, so looking for a lower package than I am sure you are, and he has not had a sniff in the past 6 months either.

It is interesting (or concerning) how the dynamics are changing in the recruitment here. I have Emirati friends I have discussed this with, and it concerns them too, that MultiNationals are not recruiting Europeans/Westerners on the same packages. More money than ever is leaving the UAE, rather than being enjoyed here.