Considering the number of expats who arrive in UAE seeking for better job opportunities, the results of a new survey are more than surprising. No longer is money motivating factor for UAE residents – Emiratis and expats now put family first.
UK/Dubai-based HR consultancy firm Oxford Strategic Consulting announced the findings of its latest survey on nearly 3,000 GCC nationals and expats. The respondents were asked to pick up three things that motivated them the most in life. The most influential motivator for over half of all expatriates (57%) and a large part of GCC nationals (41%) was family. According to the researchers, the results “challenge the widespread employer stereotypes” about Emiratis and other GCC nationals, who are said to be obsessed with status. Status was actually the least common motivator, with only 2% of the nationals choosing it among their top three. The percentage among expats, as a matter of fact, was the same.
But family isn’t the only thing that motivates UAE residents – for 27% of expats and nationals, finances were essential in life. 31% of GCC nationals also said religion and beliefs motivated them in life, compared to 22% of expats. Foreigners’ third most common motivator is “striving to achieve” (25%), followed by career/work (24%), and optimism (14%). Generally, the results are showing similar tendencies for Emiratis and expats, despite some differences. For instance, “status” was chosen by only 2% of the people in the two groups, as well as peace and stability, which were important for 7% of the residents.
However, expats were more likely to choose career and work, personal development, friends, recognition by others, and helping society more than GCC nationals. They, on the other hand, were more likely to choose materialism, easy life, and hobbies and traveling as influential motivators in their life.
The survey also asked respondents what three things discouraged them most in life. The answers here are very different for the two groups. While for GCC nationals, the most discouraging thing were negative feelings (40%), finances and cost of living (32%), expats said they were discouraged the most by negative treatment fro others (33%) and immoral behavior (31%). In fact, the answers were pretty odd – only 9 of nationals and 10% of expats were discouraged by poor health. Other common issues, which one would expect to be seen as major problems, such as work problems, inequality and injustice, and concerns for family were also among the least discouraging factors in their lives.
