Job market news for finance professionals in Middle East | Recruitment news for financial professionals in the Gulf

Despite the holy month of Ramadan, a number of key hires were announced throughout August. However, given the time of year, recruitment activity was slightly subdued. Abraaj Capital, the Middle East private equity firm, has opened a new Palestine operation targeted at the SME sector and has hired Fayez Husseini to lead it. ACE European Group, the insurance firm, has named Steve Dixon as managing director of its MENA operation. BDO,... Read more

Understanding cultural differences – such as the potential pitfalls of public displays of affection – is something every expat should furnish themselves with before moving to the Middle East. But the disparities of doing business are not always so obvious. Based on conversations with industry practitioners and financial sector recruiters, we've compiled six adjustments every Western banker should prepare themselves for when working in the GCC. 1. Learn to love Arabian coffee... Read more

Recruitment levels in the Middle East financial sector last month hardly set the world alight. But, some firms have unveiled a string of hires, while others have suggested that expansion is back on the cards. Al Masah Capital, the recently established alternative asset management firm, has taken on Akbaer Naqvi as an executive director, who is tasked with building the firm's hedge fund business. Arqaam Capital, the Middle East investment bank, has... Read more

While recruitment in the Middle East financial sector remains relatively subdued, some senior hires hint that expansion is back on the cards at certain institutions in the region. AlixPartners, the US advisory firm, has formally kick-started its DIFC operations as it looks to capitalise on a potentially lucrative pipeline of corporate turnaround work. Arab Banking Corporation has named Ian Gore as group head of resources, saying that "attracting, developing and retaining" talent... Read more

The case of Charlotte Adams, the British woman jailed for kissing in public in Dubai, highlights how the emirate's strict decency laws could land expatriates in trouble. Considering the region's reliance on a foreign workforce, could this deter financial services workers from making the move in the future? For those who haven't followed the case, last week Charlotte Adams dropped her attempts to appeal against a month-long jail sentence for kissing... Read more

Qatar banks could create more than 5,000 new financial services jobs this year, with expat bankers in particular looking to move to the emirate. The forecast by recruiter Kinsey Allen has suggested Doha’s financial services industry will employ some 20,100 people by the end of this year, more than three times the 6,200 people employed by the sector in 2006, and significantly more than the 14,900 people working in the industry... Read more

Considering the Middle East's aspirations to rival London and New York with its financial centres, this isn't something to shout about, but the region is becoming an increasingly attractive (and low cost) destination for international banks to transfer back office functions to. One bank to make such a move last year was BNP Paribas. Jean Christophe Durand, managing director for the bank's GCC operations told Emirates Business 24/7 that relocating business... Read more

Business plans for 2010 are in place, and sentiment around the Middle Eastern financial sector has taken a more positive slant. However, recruitment in the first month of this year remained relatively muted. Arab Banking Corporation has unveiled Dr Khaled Kawan as its new deputy chief executive. He will have responsibility for the group's wholesale banking, universal banking and group operations. The Bahrain Financial Exchange has named Salah Al Abdulla as... Read more

This short video originated with our colleagues in the US. Featuring Cat Miller, eFinancialCareers' response to Maria Bartiromo, it's intended to help you suppress the instinct to be horrible about former/future colleagues in interviews. Watch carefully.

Don't go there.Watch the video.

After the recent turmoil, it's possible that the coming year could provide something of an acid test for the lofty ambitions of the Middle Eastern financial sector. Here's our considered opinion on potential hiring activity in 2010. 2010 could be a good year for: Private equity: The huge volume of 'dry powder', or non-invested capital, that private equity firms in the GCC have been sitting on just gets bigger – the Gulf... Read more

Picking out the positives after a turbulent year for the Middle East financial sector is no easy task. However, here's our considered opinion on who has fared better, and which sectors have suffered. 2009 was a good year for... Sovereign wealth funds: Some comparatively risky investments have paid dividends for the Middle East sovereign wealth funds this year. Most notably the Qatar Investment Authority's $1.1bn profit on its Barclays stake sale and... Read more

Previously, we've been running a feature whereby readers of eFinancialCareers' editorial are able to submit their CVs totally anonymously (and with all distinguishing features removed) for constructive criticism by the community. We'd like to start doing this again. This has happened on three occasions so far, and we like to think the experience has been valuable for both the CV writer and reviewers. The results are visible here, here and here. If... Read more

The month of Ramadan is typically a quiet period for financial services recruitment in the Gulf and this year was no exception. Though a handful of new firms commenced new operations, the majority of recruitment was restricted to replacement hires and internal reshuffling. Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, the Japanese commercial bank, has started its operations in Bahrain Financial Harbour, 10 months after signing an initial lease agreement. Banque Saudi Fransi has named... Read more

After picking up a bit of momentum over the last few months, financial services recruitment in the Middle East was relatively slow August. Obviously times are tough, but it's also in a large part down to the annual summer lull and the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has named Malik Sarwar as global wealth management executive to lead the team as it targets... Read more

Have you spent months out of the market in the past two years, but managed to get a financial services job again fairly recently? If so, we'd be interested in hearing from you. We're looking for people who can share their experience of losing a job, and the path back to career salvation. If this applies to you, please email us in utmost confidence and utter anonymity at editor_gulf@efinancialcareers.com.

In the interest of balance, considering all the recent talk of a Middle East expat exodus, it's worth pointing to a new report which suggests they are still able to live the high life in the region and have no desire to leave. Four GCC states were in the top ten of the latest HSBC Expat Explorer, with Qatar the highest ranked at number two. The survey is, however, based... Read more

Following on from last month's CV review, another brave candidate has submitted their CV for you to offer constructive criticism. Below is their profile (with all personal details removed) and little about their search for new employment so far. Can you offer some tips about where they may have been going wrong and what, exactly, can be improved about their CV? "My preference is to work in the investment banking sector,... Read more

While a decent number of both local and international firms continued to open new GCC offices throughout May, the majority of hiring activity was restricted to internal promotions and additional responsibilities. AB Capital, the investment banking division of Arab Bank Group, has gained a licence to operate in the Saudi Market. It will be headquartered in Riyadh and will offer investment banking and asset management services. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank has unveiled... Read more

eFinancialCareers now has a presence on both LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow our editor Paul Clarke on Twitter at PaultClarke. We also have a brand new Linked In Group for eFinancialCareers EMEA, and are actively soliciting members. If you are a financial services professional then please join, we would love to have you….