eFinancialCareers

Western bankers might be queuing up to enter the UAE, but it seems the focus of many of the region’s largest financial players is very much on developing a pipeline of local talent. The thorny issue of Emiratisation has never been higher on the agenda, at a time when financial institutions have the option of a beauty parade of international talent, following the jobs bloodbath in the West. While many... Read more

With liquidity locking up and financial recruitment showing signs of cooling, the UAE government has been quick to ensure the trickle of pessimism in the markets doesn’t turn into a flood. It has implemented a series of measures designed to shore up confidence in the region’s banking sector. President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said yesterday that the government would guarantee all deposits and savings in national banks and... Read more

Lloyd’s TSB, the UK bank, is planning to open a full-scale branch network in the GCC, in a sign that more international banks are going to make efforts to break the branch restrictions currently placed on them by regulatory authorities. Local banks in the GCC offer far more job opportunities at the moment. They currently account for 77.4% of total assets in the region because they have access to government... Read more

With healthy profits last year, and plans for up to 20% rise in assets, the Bahraini banking sector is suddenly looking like a more attractive place to work. The liberalisation of Bahrain’s investment laws has seen the assets of Bahrain’s banks rise by over 30% in 2007 to $285bn, according to a report by Securities and Investment Company (SICO). It anticipates another 20-25% per annum over the next three years. What’s more,... Read more

Financial services firms in the GCC are set to increase their headcount by 30% in the next few years, and up to 50,000 more jobs could be created. A study by Hewitt Associates shows that banks in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Jordan are laggards when it comes to recruiting enough people to cope with increased levels of business. As a result, they’re set to splurge on staff. “Being... Read more

Jobs are plentiful, talent is scarce, competition is fierce and fickle financial services professionals in the Middle East are now changing jobs every seven months. The skills shortage in financial services in the Middle East is well known and it seems bankers are using this to their advantage – bolting after bonuses and shifting jobs for extra cash or a better position. Speaking at a recent conference, and citing headhunter... Read more