Posts tagged: real estate

You may think that every gym is the same, but this is not the case. You get your affordable run of the mill gyms, which offer you the basics, then you get regular gyms which may include weights, circuits, personal trainers and classes, some come with a swimming pool and then you get a luxury gym. A gym that is a specialist in everything you need to keep up a healthy and fit lifestyle moving forward.

The first thing you are going to want to look at when looking for a luxury gym in your area is to find the services provided. Do they offer training and rehabilitation? What about nutritional advice or weight management programs? Do they give you a choice of services such as post natal recovery or pre event planning? Does their team give a full range of services that you need to meet your fitness or weight loss goals now and in the future? Be sure you find a luxury gym that will accommodate your full needs offering a comprehensive all-inclusive approach that you can count on when it comes to your workout routine.

Next look at the location of the facility. Can you get there easily either on your way to work, during your lunch break or on your way home. It’s important to choose a luxury gym within easy access, if you have to drive a fair distance out of your way to workout, chances are you will give it a miss on your way home. Having a facility that you can access with ease increases the chances of you attending on a regular basis without too much fuss.

Always check the reviews from past and current members. If the facility is new, speak to some of the new members when visiting to find how they are enjoying their experience and if the luxury gym is providing them with the services that they expected. You do expect more from this caliber gym, so don’t be afraid to discuss this with current members to get an honest feedback from people who are already using the facility on a regular basis. This small step can help you narrow down your search and make your decision accordingly.

Check to identify their opening times. This is a very important step especially if you work long hours and you want to work out before you start work to give you the energy boost for the day or you want to stop on your way home and need to make sure that the facility will be able to accommodate you. Most luxury gyms will open early and close late to make sure you get the workout experience you deserve at all times.

Always ensure that any luxury gym you are thinking of joining has a team of experienced and qualified personal trainers. Personal trainers can be highly effective to your workout routine. They work with you, put a unique and tailored program together for you to follow and they check your progress. The benefit with this is that you get results in a shorter period, you learn how to do exercises properly to do the best result and you get to workout safely, reducing your risk of injury.

Finally, identify if the luxury gym will help you with nutritional advice, monitoring and rehabilitation in the event you do injure yourself. You want results and you need to discuss your results openly with the trainers before you start, so that they can make sure you do the results you are looking to achieve without delay.

Living in Qatar can be a remarkable cultural experience, as you get the opportunity to explore the ways of a new country. It can be different from your home country in many ways. Read to know about some important things to consider when relocating to Qatar for job.

In 2013, Qatar was recognized as the world’s richest nation by Forbes. As indicated by the United Nations Development Program, it has had the highest human development. It is estimated that more than 500 expats arrive in Qatar daily. So, Qatar is home to a huge number of expats who have migrated here for work, and the individuals who are attracted to its luxury of life.

Jobs in Qatar

Due to the large influx of expats in Qatar, the whole nation has gradually transitioned towards English being the preferred language to conduct business in. Aside from the petrochemical sector, employments are opening up in different industries, like construction, real estate and many more.

Most expats are likely to secure a job before arriving in the country. The work week for the most part runs from Sunday until Thursday, with Friday and Saturday serving as the weekend.

It is normal for expats who work in senior positions to work on weekends, or extra time. Some other necessary things associated with your job and living are as mentioned below.

Cost of Living

There are plenty of chances to make and save money when living and working in Qatar. Most expats are attracted to the high pay packages offered. Despite the fact that the expense of products and services has gone up throughout the years, it is still easy to live comfortably. Rent costs vary depending upon the kind of property you’re looking for. The allowance is either paid monthly or as a single amount.

Accommodation

The accommodation here varies from lavish villas to more modern apartments. Expats who have families will in general like to live in compounds, as they offer more prominent security and you are normally surrounded by other expat families also.

In some cases, organizations have been known to lease a whole compound exclusively for their employees, which also reduce the rent charges a bit. Some complexes come with all the conveniences you could need, from gym and pools to bistros and general stores. Most villas come with at least four rooms and a garden area also.

Health Care

The health care system in Qatar is very acceptable. Regardless of whether you are a local or an expat, the Hamad Medical Corporation offers free clinical treatment to any individual who registers with them. It is important to know that an expected 500 expats are moving to Qatar every day, which is putting a huge strain on the system.

Waiting times at the medical center have increased, and more individuals are opting for private health care services, which can be more costly. Organizations may or may not offer medical coverage to their workers, yet this is not offered by default.

The Takeaway

Getting a job in Qatar may have its pros and cons but knowing about certain things before going will definitely make your experience at a new country much better.

Globalization has spread quickly and pay differences are even more important today. Companies that were once purely “local”, with a few “expatriates”, are now operating internationally with multinational workforces. Managers are increasingly responsible for multinational employees in multiple locations, creating increasingly challenging demands for pay consistency within the team and the company.

Just as it has become increasing difficult to identify the “nationality” of a company, establishing the “nationality” of an employee has become even more complex. Third culture kids of yesterday are the global employees of today. The question “Where are you from?” is becoming a difficult question to answer for more employees than ever before. We have shifted from answering this question with reference to “nationality” (i.e. country of birth or citizenship) to referring to where we are “local”. Let us take Ramesh as an example.

Ramesh prefers to say “I am from Dubai and Mumbai” as these are the two places he feels he is a “local” rather than have to explain “My parents were from India. I was born in Dubai and grew up there, we regularly visited family in Mumbai when on vacation, but I attended university in Canada and worked in Houston for 8 years, before returning to Dubai. My wife is Canadian and my kids are American having been born there. We moved to Mumbai 5 years ago”. Is Ramesh global or local? What is his “nationality”.

The required skills for managing pay in the context of globalization are evolving, moving from local subject matter expertise (local market and local practices) to building international solutions for a global landscape (global market and global practices). The challenge within a multinational company today, is to find an appropriate balance between global consistency and local country and/or employee needs/requirements, whilst maintaining costs.

• Compensation: Global or Local?
• Benefits: Global or Local?
• Job structures: Global or Local?
• Incentives: Global or Local?
• Equity: Global or Local?

We now have sophisticated technology to manage multinational teams across borders but how do we manage the differences between global and local pay?

Imagine working in a multinational company and finding out that your colleague at the desk next to you (doing the same job, at the same level, with the same experience and qualifications, and a similar level of performance) earns double your salary and gets benefits you’re not eligible for. They are entitled to 35 days annual leave; you get 20 days. They are provided with accommodation, health insurance and their children’s school fees are fully paid for at the international school; you don’t get any of that.

So why are they earning so much more than you? What if you found out it was simply because you are “local”?

With a “Local” versus “Expatriate” pay approach, this is the reality.

Local pay is traditionally driven by the supply and demand for skills in a localised free market. These local markets have evolved over many decades and are dominated by nationals, the majority of whom have not, and do not wish to, move to other locations. Depending on the dominant supply and demand trends for jobs, each local market is different in terms of what is pays different skill sets in different industries.

Expatriate pay on the other hand is traditionally driven by the cost of living and hardship differences between the home and host location, using home location pay as the base and adding to this in accordance with the calculated home-host differences and a global benefits policy. While the gap differs from one country to the next, generally in a low-income country (usually a third world / developing country), local staff are paid far less salary and receive fewer benefits than their expatriate colleagues (usually from a developed first world country), even when they do similar work and have similar qualifications.

Local staff in developed, first world countries, with structurally high cost of living (high-income countries), earn far more than their compatriots in less developed, third world countries, with structurally lower of cost of living (low-income countries). That means that before applying any expatriate premium / incentive to take up an assignment in a low-income country, a high-income country expatriate is already way more highly paid. The problem is further compounded by the fact that in order to “encourage” someone to take up an expatriate assignment to a place that is less attractive to them, albeit with a lower cost of living, a significant premium is often required, which results in the pay gap being even larger between a high-income country expatriate and their low-income country local colleague.

These large pay gaps can create significant internal equity issues. Local staff can feel less valued than their expatriate colleagues and become resentful and dissatisfied. This is made worse when the expatriate is perceived as having a visibly higher socioeconomic status such as children attending the most exclusive private school, living in a more exclusive up-market house, or driving a luxury car.
Ramesh has and could continue to work anywhere on the planet. Should he be paid as an “expatriate” or as a “local” in Mumbai?

The obvious solution is to minimise the use of expatriates from high-income countries in low-income countries. Rather than sending an engineer from Germany (high-income country) to Dubai, it would, for example, be far more cost effective to send an engineer from India (low-income country) to Dubai. As the talent pool in low-income countries increases, more and more multinational companies are sourcing talent from them resulting in “brain-drains” and perpetuating the crippling lack of skills in these countries. This is a double edged sword for low-income developing countries. On the one hand they need to retain their skilled talent to help further build their economies and grow local skills, but at the same time, their expatriate remittances are a critical contribution to many low-income country economies.

The reality is that expatriates from high and low income countries around the world, will continue to work side by side in multinational companies, along with local staff in each physical location.

Many multinational companies are grappling with these issues and are developing new approaches to equitable and sustainable global pay. While there is no easy answer, any solution will require the development of frameworks that align global pay models with local pay markets in order that the principle of equal pay for work of equal value is achieved. This does not mean that everyone will be paid the same. These new approaches will require years of integration of global and local pay practices. Where differences remain, these will have to be transparent and defendable based on fairness.

It is no longer news that business investors from around the world look at entering foreign markets in order to expand their local business operations or diversify their investments and establish new operations in the international market.

Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial and growing companies consider international expansion as a marketing and growth strategy.

If you have been successful in your business for some time and you have already mastered everything about running a business, overseas expansion may just be the logical next move you have to make.

On the flip side, for a majority of others, just having an overseas registered company and business address makes more sense to them than moving over to these foreign countries to establish a brick-and-mortar office.

Whichever the case is, there are at least 7 reasons entrepreneurs incorporate an overseas company, subsidiary or a representative office.

1. EXPANSION. About 95% of the world’s consumer’s reside outside Nigeria. Entrepreneurs whose vision and target market is a global one would consider to enter new markets abroad thus increasing their company’s overall market share and growth potentials.

2. POSSIBLE UNTAPPED MARKET. The possibility of an untapped market in foreign jurisdictions may motivate a Nigerian entrepreneur to incorporate an overseas company, subsidiary or representative office of his/her local company. Nigerian entrepreneurs who produce and package local foodstuffs for sale abroad fall into this category.

3. PROXIMITY TO INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS. Truth be told, the Internet hs done enough to bring businesses closer to buyers. However, for some reasons, several business transactions may still warrant a traditional business presence in the city or country of operation. An overseas office of a local company need not be that big, and may be a home business address, a paid virtual office, or a small/liaison office just for the sake of getting customer feedback and linking back to the Nigerian office.

4. CORPORATE IMAGE. In order to boost their corporate image in the eyes of customers, suppliers, investors and businesses, some entrepreneurs just register an overseas subsidiary of their Nigerian company. This gives their target audience an impression that they are a company with international networks. In situations like this, the “international entrepreneur” need not set up a brick-and-mortar office abroad, he/she only pays for a virtual registered office in such country plus a mailing and telephone forwarding service.

5. COMPETITION. The fact that competing businesses or brands are entering the overseas market and are doing well motivates entrepreneurs in similar businesses to follow suit.

6. INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT. There are quite a number of international banking options available to companies registered in overseas jurisdictions – whether you are currently established in the overseas country or operating the overseas company from Nigeria. Having a corporate checking account abroad makes international payment much more easier by direct deposits, cheque or international wire transfers.

7. MIGRATION. Entrepreneurs considering a migration or move to an overseas country may incorporate a company in the destination country pending the time of their travel.

The United Kingdom, for instance, grants an Entrepreneur Visa to persons outside the European Union to gain entry to the UK for business reasons.

The initial visa will give you 3 years in the UK; and if during that 3 years you can show that you met certain criteria, you can then apply for a further 2 years extension visa. Following the 5 years, you’ll have the option of applying for permanent residency in the UK.

Many people seem to have the wrong image of schools in the UAE with many assuming they are predominantly Islamic-based and tend to “cold shoulder the West”. This is very much not the case as schools in the UAE are more open, more accessible and offer one of the highest levels of education in the whole world.

Investment in UAE schools

Despite the fact that the UAE is predominantly connected with oil and other natural resources many people seem to overlook the fact that the UAE authorities have invested billions upon billions of dollars into the local education system. The area now has some of the latest technology, the latest education facilities with the latest education techniques very prominent across the education system – which continues to attract overseas interest.

Teaching English in UAE schools

While in some areas of the UAE education system there has been a battle between the more traditional and the modern politicians in the region, the area has embraced English as a general teaching language. This has proved to be very beneficial not only for those moving to the UAE from the UK for employment but also those bringing families to the area and also requiring education facilities. This has helped many of those expats moving to the region to settle quicker thereby enabling them to concentrate on other areas of their new life.

Access to UAE schools

Anybody who is resident in the UAE is eligible for inclusion in any of the state run schools in the region and those who do not fit the residency criteria can pay to attend local education facilities. There are also a number of international schools in the region, an area which is obviously targeted towards the expat market and which continues to grow. However, the education ministry in the UAE plays a very important and a very hands-on role in the area of education as a whole, something which is adding to “life in the UAE”.

Higher education in the UAE

It will come as no surprise to learn that there are various overseas universities prominent in the UAE with the American University opening its doors to Dubai back in 1995. The ongoing success of the American University in Dubai has prompted a whole array of other overseas education facilities to look at branching out into the UAE. The overall level of education in the UAE, both in state run and private education facilities, is excellent and the area has one of the highest literacy rates in the world.

Conclusion

Slowly but surely it is becoming more and more apparent that the various rulers of the UAE have invested very wisely in a whole range of different sectors and areas of the region. However, a massive 25% of federal government spending is targeted towards the education sector, something which is continually bringing benefits to the region. When moving to the UAE from any area of the world you will have many things to consider but the very fact that high-quality education is available on your doorstep for your family is very much welcome.

You must meet several qualifying criteria set for being medically fit to enter the UAE. The most important aspect is that the criteria for being medically fit keeps changing and evolving. In most cases, it depends on the type of Dubai visa you need. The Dubai health authority has set certain medical tests that you must pass to receive medical certificate for a visa. There are certain medical tests that are standard for all types of employment visas, such as:

• Blood test and X-ray for HIV and/or AIDS
• Hepatitis B
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Leprosy
• Syphilis
• Pregnancy

You will need to do these tests at the approved medical centre only. Yet, it is easier than you think. There are several websites that identify local hospitals that are authorized to conduct these medical tests by the Dubai health authority. Find the centre in your region. Dubai health authority has set certain medical tests that you must pass to receive medical certificate for a visa. Then, based on the type of employment visa you want, you will be asked to conduct certain tests. The list above is comprehensive enough for all employment visas as it has enlisted all the deportable diseases. But, the tests and fees are based on the job description and stages of visas. Here are the most common forms:

• New Dubai Employment visa
• Employment Visa renewal
• New visa and visa renewal for domestic help (maid)
• Other new visas
• Other visa renewal

When you are scheduled for a Dubai medical for getting a visa, you will need to carry a few important documents along with you. These standard documents are:

• Valid passport
• Passport size photographs
• Health card (in applicable cases only)
• If you are a new employee, you must carry the employment offer letter or contract papers.
• Foe visa renewals, you must carry emirates ID, labour card or any other government issued photo ID.

Here is the quick step-by-step process for new visa applicants.

• Confirm the medical tests with your visa processing agency.
• Find the Dubai health authority approved hospital or service online.
• Enter your visa application details.
• Book the time for your test.
• Pay for all the tests. For most applicants, this amount is not small.
• Show up at centre with all the necessary documentation
• Undergo the medical tests.
• Collect the medical certificate for Dubai, if you pass the tests.

Clear these tests and you get one step closer to Dubai visa.

In case you are a foreigner and moving to Saudi Arabia to get a new job, this guide will present to you the critical aspects of preparing your move to popular expat cities, such as Riyadh. About 70% of workers in popular expat cities like Riyadh are foreign nationals. Most Saudi nationals are hired in the government sector, and almost 90% of employees in the private sector are foreigners.

Types of Jobs

Because of great competitive salaries and working conditions, many individuals from abroad are keen on moving and working in Riyadh. With its wealth, immense oil reserves and good job openings for expats in the fields of oil drilling, natural gas, and mining, Saudi Arabia is one of the most attractive nations for foreign job seekers. Other significant industries in Riyadh that employ a large number of expats are real estate, construction and education.

There is regularly a shortage of local skilled workers for certain occupations in Riyadh. Some of these jobs and occupations have a high demand for foreign workers and are sectors in which expats get jobs easily.

Construction Workers

The construction and building industry are one of the quickest developing ones in Saudi Arabia. So, there is a steadily high demand for construction workers

Engineers

There is a long-term absence of locals for engineering-related occupations. So, expats have an extraordinary opportunity to find a new job in this industry.

Maintenance Workers

They are typically employed by oil companies and oil drilling equipment companies.

Medical attendants

Employments in the healthcare sector are permanently considered as shortage occupations in Saudi Arabia. There is a high demand for emergency clinics and medical centers for clinical staff.

Interpreters

Foreign interpreters usually are being hired by big oil-exporting companies in Saudi Arabia.

The normal working week in Riyadh is Sunday to Thursday, with certain stores and workplaces open for a couple of hours on a Friday, rarely on a Saturday. The average work hours of each week are 48 hours, 30 hours during Ramadan, for Muslim employees.

How to get a Work Visa

In order to work temporarily in Saudi Arabia, foreigners need to acquire a Saudi impermanent work visa before departure. A work visa and a valid passport are required to work in Saudi Arabia. The span of the work visa relies upon the term referenced by the supporting organization in the job invitation letter. It is suggested that a work visa candidate ask correspondent in Saudi Arabia for the longest validity possible.

Required documents to get Saudi work visa are valid passport(without Israeli stamps), 2 passport size photographs, visa application, payment receipt, a letter of invitation from the Saudi employer legalized by the Saudi Arabia Chamber of Commerce, work permit(employer in Saudi Arabia gets this for you), medical certificate and blood test not older than a quarter of a year, and ID card.

The Takeaway

Getting a job in a new country can be a stressful experience. Knowing where to search for and what things to consider beforehand will make this process much efficient and hassle free.

A Moving Walkway, also called Moving Sidewalk, is a walkalator or revelator used to transport people over short to medium distances across a horizontal or slightly inclined plane, unlike an escalator that moves vertically inclined. Several other terms like autowalk, flatalator, horizontalator, movator or movealator are also used to refer to the Moving Sidewalk.

First put in use in 1983 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, it was in the shape of a loop that ran down the length of walkway from the lakefront pier to the casino ahead. The walkway had two different sections, one where people could just stand or keep walking slightly ahead and the other where they could be seated. In 1900, a similar moving walkway was presented at the Paris Exposition Universelle.

The first commercial use of a walkway was proposed by a New York City firm, The Beeler Organization in 1924 for a Continuous Transit System for Atlanta, roughly on the lines of the Paris system using a linear induction motor, but the project did not materialize.

The credit for the first commercial moving sidewalk or walkway went to Goodyear, Inc., the company that built the “Speedwalk” inside the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Erie Station in Jersey City in 1954. It covered a distance of 277ft and moved up a 10 percent gradient at the speed of 2.4 kms/hr.

In 1958, Love Field airport in Dallas, Texas got the distinction of being the first airport to have the moving walkway installed.

Walkway Designs

There are two basic styles of moving walkways.

1. Pallet type – in this type, a series of flat metal surfaces conjoin together to form a moving walkway, similar to that of escalators. While most walkways are fitted with metal surfaces, some have rubber to provide extra traction.

2. Moving belt – this type features rubber walking surfaces or metal belts fitted over metal rollers that move along; the speed determines whether the surface feels solid or bouncy.

Both types of walkways are fitted with moving handrails for passenger safety.

High-speed walkways

Between the 1970s and early 2000s, several designs and patents were tested for high-speed walkways at various locations around the world. However, while some provided the advantage of transporting passengers over distances in quick time, the reliability, safety and comfort factors were always in question, indicating that a lot more had to be done before they could become commercially viable and a safe mode of transport.

Inclined moving walkways

Several high-end super markets, malls and multiplexes have installed incline moving walkways to transport people from one floor to another. Especially in supermarkets and stores that have multiple floors and where people use trolleys to handle purchases, these are very useful as they can transport the shopping carts and trolleys as well. They are similar in operation to an escalator except that there are no steps going up or down only a sloped incline with grooves on the ramp that prevents wheeled items like carts and trolleys from rolling away.

Applications of moving walkways

Airports, Museums, Public Transport, Theatres, Theme Parks, Zoos and some heavily populated urban cities are some areas where the application of moving walkways will serve the public well.

There is a global shift happening that is left unnoticed. The greatest exodus is occurring right under our noses and nobody is realizing the implications this will have on global markets and the economy in the upcoming generations. The U.A.E is priding itself with being one of the highest annual population growth countries worldwide with a staggering growth of 3.83 per cent from 2008 and a projected growth of 6.3 per cent for 2009. What is happening globally and what are the possible problems we are facing with the vast human evolution and recreational preferences?

Without much said, population is moving globally. Whether the shift is back to a country of origin or to greener fields, people all over the world are moving, restless from not knowing what is going to happen next with the rapidly changing economy we are currently living in. Thousands of people are losing value on their investments from moving about and the property market is suffering with big players holding back on investments and opting out of major deals with property developers.

The world’s biggest construction site, the U.A.E, is probably the one country that is suffering the hardest from the international movement crisis worldwide. Property prices are expected to fall by up to 60 per cent this year which has resulted in more than 50 per cent of Dubai’s construction projects being postponed or cancelled. This leads to manual workers leaving the country, followed by well educated white collar workers leaving. When they are gone, where will they go and what will they do? Better yet, if educated expats leave, will the UAE survive without the Western influence?

The U.A.E population is made up of approximately 20 per cent national Arabic and an overwhelming 80 per cent expats from all corners of the world. Currently, 1,500 visas are being cancelled daily, which means that well skilled and competent individuals are being forced to their home countries, leaving the place they have helped to develop and taking the red carpet home with them.

The major spotlight is now focusing on the real estate sector. Agents are working longer hours and showing more apartments, villas and office spaces to prospective buyers and leasers than ever before and only few are lucky to close a deal. It comes down to a matter of supply and demand and agencies are realizing that the client will go beyond means to get the best deal, especially with the current fluctuation of markets.

Dubai’s property market is foreseen to decline by up to 10 per cent by 2010 and analyst estimate that the population in Dubai will increase by 6.3 per cent by end of 2009, while 1,500 people are currently being made redundant. The revolutionary movement is happening as we speak and it will be interesting to see how and when this will affect the generations to come.

Here is your guide to Bahrain freehold property, some of the more popular real estate around.

Bahrain property is actually one of the fastest growing areas in the middle east, and the real state market is absolutely booming. Why is this? Very simply, the area enjoys awesome weather, crystal clear water of the Persian Gulf, and is a very wealthy area due to the low taxes and conservative economics.

So what kind of jobs area available in the area, and why are they so wealthy? Very simply, in the last several years the area has definitely moved away from being just based on oil, and now is home to many different kinds of business, such as financial companies, a growing tourism industry, info technology, to name a few.

The result as been many global companies are now moving to the area and setting up based there, which has therefore attracted top level executives and CEOs to move to the area. The result has seen the area grow in prosperity and wealth enormously in the last several years alone.

Of course, along with the growing business sector and people moving in, the real estate market is taking off as well, and in particular Bahrain freehold property. Since the growth started very recently, there just aren’t enough homes right now to meet demand, and therefore rental rates are getting very high.

The area is often compared to Dubai because of it’s close proximity, and because both are growing at very rapid rates. However, if you want to move to Bahrain, you can still do so much more affordably than you could in Dubai, as the pupation explosion isn’t quite to that standard yet.

Because of all this, if you want to get in on the real estate market, either to live there or invest in it, this is the time. Don’t wait much longer to get in on Bahrain Freehold Property, as the prices are going to drive down your profit margins and increase your expenses.

Due to the massive growth the area is seeing right now, this is certainly one of the top markets in the world today, and the time to buy Bahrain freehold property is now.