Post: #1

Anyone here currently (or recently) working in the Middle East. In particular in oil or construction. Got a potential job offer on the table and want to get some real time advice on what it is like plus make some contacts if I do move.

Feel free to PM, whatever suits. Thanks

Post: #2

There is lots of sand and guys walking around in dresses. Not sure if this is what you want, drop by Syria anytime.

Post: #3

I predicted wrong that the first joke would be insta potties.

Post: #4

I have a friend that goes to Dubai every few months to teach 'professionalism.' He is super proud of himself for it but its really the same thing as fucking off to another country to teach English.

Post: #5

I'm also interested if anyone is out there.

It doesn't make sense to me, if oil prices are tanking because OPEC keeps drilling activity high, why aren't relocating to the Middle East? Or at least Venezuela?

I'm still working steadily in the states but if things go south I will be putting in applications abroad.

Post: #6

Lot of lonely Pinays working in the Middle East

Post: #7

(02-09-2016 03:41 PM)Silver_Tube Wrote:  I have a friend that goes to Dubai every few months to teach 'professionalism.' He is super proud of himself for it but its really the same thing as fucking off to another country to teach English.

Does your "friend" have an Instagram account?

Post: #8

(02-09-2016 03:41 PM)Silver_Tube Wrote:  I have a friend that goes to Dubai every few months to teach 'professionalism.' He is super proud of himself for it but its really the same thing as fucking off to another country to teach English.

Depends how much he gets paid.

Post: #9

I lived in Qatar for 2 years. Check out the expat exchange forum. You will get lots of info for any particulars in the country you choose. Additionally, Qatar had a forum called Qatar day that expats can read about detailed particulars from rent, buying a car etc. I am sure places like Dubai, Bahrain have their own independent forums.

Be careful !!!! The laws and employment system aren't the same as they are in the west. For example, one teacher I know got fired (losing his contract completion bonus) for drinking a glass of wine during dinner on a school trip to
Italy.
Get a car, bring a wife because it's slim pickings there. Someone said lots of lonely pinnays. True, but all the hot ones seem to be back on the islands.

As for construction, I have met a few who work in it. You will probably not even see a westerner doing any sort of manual labor. Before signing the contract, make sure you see the apartment. Better if you can visit the place first, go out, see the activities you can do etc. Questions you need to find out from being there as the recruiter can lie, is where is the apartment if housing is promised, what's it's condition, noise pollution etc. I can go on and on, but read the forums and you will educate yourself much better. Negotiate as much as you can. If they can't budge on salary, they can probably budge on paying your end of service gratuity (bonus) to be paid pro-rated each month. Good luck.

Post: #10

I have considered looking for work in Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. My biggest concern is that I would not be able to self administer trt anymore. Also, what would the standard of living be like? Would there be a decent gym to lift at, food quality, etc. I have a buddy that worked in Iraq and he got to pack a glock 17 while working and had a personal bodyguard. He told me he ate goat every night, fuck that!

Post: #11

I've been out to the Emirates. Here are pros and cons from what I've seen:

pros: good salaries with no taxes taken out, plenty of gyms, dune bashing, good restaurants, tons of Pinays, Formula 1, lots of foreigners from all over the world, buying alcohol no problem, ease of travel to normally expensive countries

cons: local laws and customs very different from west, bad drivers, most people need to commit to a 2 or 3 year contract, you could be working out in desolate western region of country esp if you are in energy sector, huge transient workforce and people can be let go for variety of reasons (and not receive end of service bonus, which is usually based on monthly salary X number of years worked) plus from March to October the weather is HOT.

Post: #12

Send me a PM if you have specific questions. I have been around the region for sometime although I don't work in the oil industry I might be able to answer questions.

Post: #13

(03-07-2016 04:33 PM)CamelToe Wrote:  Send me a PM if you have specific questions. I have been around the region for sometime although I don't work in the oil industry I might be able to answer questions.

Change of plans, I will be sticking put in South America for the future. Thanks though.

Post: #14

Even though the OP is going to stick to South America, I'd be happy to share some of my experiences from living in Saudi Arabia for about 3 years.

You can still find what you want, even though it sounds like they have tightened down the underground expat party scene over there from what I hear from some of my friends still there.

You can still game chicks if you have very good logistics(the last place I lived at, I brought home a few of the expats and a couple of Saudi girls) and a good alcohol dealer. It can be scary given the consequences of getting caught, but it kind of heightens the excitement even more. Except when you actually find yourself in a holding cell for being caught doing something blatantly illegal in the country, but that's a story for another day.

If you have some experience or even just want to teach English, it's not a bad place to be as long as you stick inside the main cities like Riyadh, Dammam, Khobar, and Jeddah. Even Makkah and Medina if you're a Muslim. You can make some good bank and start launching some of your own side projects with that tax-free salary.

I've been meaning to write a data sheet with my experiences along with the amazing stories that my friends also had. Maybe I'll finally start getting around to it when I have the time. Had a lot of fun and very wild times.

Post: #15

^^ I want to hear some of these stories. I hope you find the time to share them.

Post: #16

(03-07-2016 04:37 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 04:33 PM)CamelToe Wrote:  Send me a PM if you have specific questions. I have been around the region for sometime although I don't work in the oil industry I might be able to answer questions.

Change of plans, I will be sticking put in South America for the future. Thanks though.

Oil industry in S America? or are you still at the oil sands a few months on then a few months off?

Post: #17

(03-05-2016 06:44 AM)musashi Wrote:  I have considered looking for work in Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. My biggest concern is that I would not be able to self administer trt anymore. Also, what would the standard of living be like? Would there be a decent gym to lift at, food quality, etc. I have a buddy that worked in Iraq and he got to pack a glock 17 while working and had a personal bodyguard. He told me he ate goat every night, fuck that!

If you haven't tried goat I'll let you know it's pretty delicious. It's a staple in my culture.

Post: #18

I met a guy at work that transferred over from the middle east and he gave me the lowdown, bottom line: unless your at a senior position your not going to get a job over there. However, if you are up in the food chain you can get a lot of offers and the salary and perks related to that, big kicker is you also need a western passport; ideally american or british. Canadians and other western countries work as well.