There is a growing interest among many young Saudi nationals to work in neighboring states such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE as they hunt for attractive salaries and a better work environment.
The Kingdom enjoys a robust economy, a stable geo-political environment and a strong private sector. But more efforts are needed to retain Saudi talent with fair salaries, say investors and industry experts.
Arab News spoke to a number of businessmen and employees to find out why young men and women are keen to Kingdom to work and live in other GCC states despite a booming economy in their home country.
Saied Al-Jaber, a Saudi writer and a public relations expert, worked in the UAE for a year for an excellent pay package. He said he was happy with his UAE job but decided to return to the Kingdom to be with his parents.
“I believe that good salaries and excellent working conditions offered by GCC firms are major factors that motivate Saudis to move to these places," he said.
Al-Jaber said he worked at an international PR company in Dubai that provided many financial incentives. His salary was 100 percent more than what he received in the Kingdom.
“What attracted me the most in Dubai is the work environment and professionalism,” he claimed. "In other GCC countries, we can do our work without being constrained by bureaucracy," he said.
He suggested that the GCC countries should adopt common standards and rules for job offers, contracts and recruitment.
Such steps, he said, would create a level-playing field for Gulf nationals in the GCC region and promote more cooperation between Saudis and other GCC nationals.
Al-Jaber said ambitious Saudi youth were increasingly targeting progressive GCC companies because they were disillusioned with local work patterns.
It is ironic that most companies, that are attracting Saudi nationals in GCC states, are run by Saudi investors with foreign partnership, he pointed out.
He said some investors, put off by the slow recruitment process in the Kingdom, move to neighboring countries that offer what he calls a business-friendly environment. These factors also harm the job prospects of Saudis, he pointed out.
Al-Jaber claimed that career-minded Saudi nationals are still finding it tough to find good positions despite rapid investment in Saudi infrastructure, real estate, tourism, financial services and other key sectors.
Nadia Al-Sheikh, a Saudi national who owns a public relations office, said she was forced to join hands with non-Saudi PR companies in GCC countries to organize events that could have easily been held in Saudi Arabia.
"I face many issues when I try to organize events,” she said. “There are many logistics issues, visas for foreign guests etc…”
Nadia said she could easily create many job opportunities for Saudi youth in the Kingdom if she is given the opportunity to conduct her business successfully in Saudi Arabia.
"Most youth travel to work in GCC countries because they find a competitive work environment plus the good package," she said.
She added: "We have to prepare the Saudi labor market to retain highly qualified youth and provide them with better job opportunities. What we are noticing is that companies in GCC countries are snapping up Saudis who return from scholarships, equipped with exceptional qualifications and expertise."
Nadia said new graduates returning home with excellent foreign qualifications are unable to find good career prospects in the Kingdom because they lack experience in relevant fields.
In contrast, she said top firms in GCC states woo fresh Saudi graduates with amazing packages that include housing, transportation, health insurance and air tickets. Mohammad Al-Luwiheg, who has been working in the IT field in Qatar for the past three years, said he left the Kingdom as he could not find any suitable job here.
"In Qatar, I got a fair offer that included transport and housing allowances and air tickets. I never expected such a salary. Also, I would have never dreamt of receiving such an amount in the Kingdom," he said.
He added: "I don't mind working in the Kingdom or abroad as long as I receive a salary to match my talent and expectations. In Qatar, my colleagues and I take part in many training courses to develop our skills and language. We rarely find such opportunities in the Kingdom."
