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Where is the best place to work in the Gulf?

The GCC's financial centres are vying with one another for a limited pool of talent, so where would you rather work?

The benefits of each, as far as we can see, are:

Bahrain - the traditional home of finance within the GCC, aiming to recreate past glories. An expanding banking sector and favourable regulation has made it more attractive recently.

Dubai - rapidly expanding financial centre with a knack for self-promotion, touted as the ideal new home for out-of-work investment bankers in the west.

Qatar - full of potential, ambitious and jostling to be the next big thing.

Saudi - the dominant economy in the Middle East, attracted a slew of new banks, both local and international; offers a fast developing capital markets industry.

Will Bahrain continue to grow? Is Dubai's allure fading or growing? Will talent migrate back to Saudi? Is Qatar's promise too much to resist? Or is there another dark horse on the horizon? Your thoughts please...

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AUTHOReFinancialCareers Gulf Insider Comment
  • Mo
    Mohan M
    24 July 2008

    Looking for a senior banking role within Corporate or Retail. Presently working with a regional bank in Dubai and intending to change immediately to Dubai, Qatar or after I have seen favourable comments about Saudi Arabia. How is Saudi really?

  • cj
    cjamdan
    22 July 2008

    Saudi sounds somehow tempting all of sudden. Anyone in this forum working in investment banking there (Saudi Arabia), that can share with us some valuable feedback on how jobs, deals and living standards are really like?

  • Me
    Mel
    22 July 2008

    I think i would recommend Qatar, coz it is in its embryonic stages now and has tremendous potential. the social life sucks though!

  • fb
    fbusa456
    22 July 2008

    I believe having the banking background as well as information technology couple with B.Sc or M.Sc is the right combination for this type of job. (1) Helps to be able to manage projects (2) Helps to be able to perform financial operation research and analysis, and finally. to be able to manage human capital.

  • az
    aziz
    22 July 2008

    Residence problem in dubai , very costly , not possable with family here to stay. now for job dubai now no more good.

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