The attractiveness of the UAE for the peace of mind, the comfortable lifestyle it provides, the ability to raise a family and the safety standards are among top factors that make the country a ‘home away from home’ for expatriates, a report said.

Working in the UAE has also been beneficial to the expatriate community in helping them to achieve several personal goals such as buying a home, better savings and forging lasting friendships, added the new survey by Western Union, a leader in global payment services.

The survey results revealed interesting insights as part of “My Yellow Brick Road” UAE campaign which was launched by The Western Union Company to highlight interesting insights into the lives and journey of expatriates in the country.

According to the survey, “High Levels of Safety” and “Making Good Friends” stood out as key factors in helping expatriates to feel at home in the UAE while “Better Savings” stood out as the top personal goal for expatriates residing in the country.

Aimed at showcasing the lives of expatriates and their journey in the UAE, the “My Yellow Brick Road” Campaign brings to life the personal stories of individuals from different countries who participated in the survey.

“The stories of these expatriates are not only a reflection of their personal accomplishments, but are also a great source of inspiration for other residents of the UAE,” said Hatem Sleiman, regional vice president – Middle East at Western Union.

“The results from the survey reflect the expatriate community’s appreciation for the opportunities the UAE has provided them and how their journey to the UAE has helped them achieve several personal goals to make their lives better.

“As a global and reliable facilitator of cross border money transfer for expatriates, Western Union is proud of this initiative in telling the stories of customers’ lives and their integral role in strengthening and enhancing the positive and dynamic environment of the UAE,” he added.

The responses from the survey highlighted a stimulating mix of personal and professional accounts of expatriates with responses also indicating the strength of the bond they share with the UAE.

Diego Salazar is an American citizen originally from Colombia who has made UAE his home for the past 3 and half years. He said: “As an engineer in a local aircraft maintenance company, my work contributes to achieving my company’s vision of being a world class company by establishing the company’s processes and management systems and training the local workforce to think customer first.  I am also involved in transferring knowledge to the local workforce. Working in the UAE has helped me to save money and I plan on staying here for another five years.”

Reflecting the vibrant multicultural landscape of the UAE, the survey highlighted Armando Santos, a native of the Philippines.

“I love the culture of the UAE and now I have also learnt to speak in Arabic so communication becomes much easier,” he added.

“In my work place at the Al Ain Zoo, I have made suggestions to segregate general waste materials like bottles, papers etc to maintain the cleanliness of the zoo for the sake of the animals and enhance the natural surroundings. Having been in UAE for seven years, I truly feel at home here because I have a better lifestyle and I have made good friends. Working in the UAE has helped me save money, buy a home, and start a business and I plan on staying here for a long time,” he added.

Asel from Kyrgyzstan said: “I have followed my yellow brick road for the last three years which led me to the UAE. I have more peace of mind here and have made some good friends which makes me feel at home and I have grown to truly love this country. Along the way I found a job in the travel and tourism industry and the work I do is important to the economy of the country. Working in UAE has helped me to save money and buy a home and I plan on staying here for another 50 years.” – TradeArabia News Service