More than a third of the region’s respondents (35%) said their companies were still giving special expat packages according to the latest: “Expat Packages in the Middle East” poll. The report conducted by the Middle East’s number one job site Bayt.com found that35% of the Middle East’s respondents said their companies were still giving special expat package,44.9% said they were not and20.2% did not know. When asked if they thought the days of special GCC packages were over45.3% replied that yes,29.1% no and25.5 % said they did not know.
“The figures are interesting because they show that with the current global economic crisis and increasing economic maturity in the region, there seems to be some degree of downward pressure on traditional regional expat packages” commented Amer Zureikat, VP Sales, Bayt.com.
When asked if their companies’ pay policies depended on nationality,66.4% of respondents answered yes,21.3% no and12.3% said they did not know. However, when asked if they considered special packages to be fair,38.8% of respondents said they were indeed fair,39.2% said they were not and22% said they did not know.
“There seems to be a growing feeling in the region that special packages are unfair. This could be linked to the rise of more qualified and seasoned regional employees who do not feel it is necessary to pay expats more for the same type of work as well as the increased sophistication of regional employers who have embraced global pay policies and practices,” added Zureikat.
When asked what special benefits expats working on their companies received,21.6% said more pay,4.7% said more housing allowances,3.7% said schooling for children,0.3% said club memberships,7.5% said plane tickets home,10.3% said better training and development and51.8% answered many or all of the above. When asked what would most induce respondents to move or stay abroad as expats,44.7% said improved financial prospects,31.2% overall lifestyle enhancements,18.1% career opportunities that don't exist at home,2.4% health and/or education facilities that don’t exist at home and3.6% said other.
Expats were also asked if they repatriated their incomes to home countries. Of those who answered yes,27.9% repatriated more than75% of their income,16.1% between50-75%,18.5% between25-50% and16.7% between0-25%. In contrast,20.7% said they did not repatriate their income.
Expats abroad were asked if their overall life quality had improved since their move. More than half (54.3%) said they were living better than back home,20.6% said their quality of life was the same as back home and25.2% said they were living worse than back home. Asked if they were saving more than back home,30.5% said substantially more,27.9% said to a reasonable extent,20.6% said marginally more and21% said they were not saving more.
“We conducted this poll to chart the region’s current expat opportunities and the level of satisfaction current expat employees felt. Our poll showed that in the end, despite the fact that the economic crisis did impact the region, the Middle East is still a promising and attractive place for expats looking for a better quality of life and an opportunity to save money,” concluded Zureikat.