Why Oman is most attractive for expatriates?
The latest International Expat Insider Annual Index 2015 ranked Oman third in the Arab world and the Middle East and 24th internationally in the category of most attractive destinations for expatriate workers. For the past many years, the Sultanate always stood on top in similar global surveys, especially as a destination, where an expatriate aspires to work. Omani citizens are not surprised to know that their country has come first in this index last year among all the Arab countries favoured by the expatriates, and third among Islamic countries and 30th globally.
The Sultanate has moved up six ranks internationally in this new index and fell only two ranks at the Arab level.
The advanced ranking of Oman among the top Arab and other countries, confirms the increasing interest and desire of expatriates to come for work and stay in the country. They live and work according to the employment laws of the country. These laws are governed by social integration with nationals, facilities, fairness and equality between expatriate and national workers, especially in rights and duties.
Nevertheless, it seems that great numbers of expatriates in the world look forward to working outside the Arab countries due to the instability, political disturbances and wars in the region. These factors force them prefer countries outside the Middle East.
The reasons why other countries are ranked above in this index include ease of settlement, social integration, and along with the views of arrivals on the extent of their happiness regarding the way native citizens and residents treat them. These factors also include satisfaction with the facilities provided by these countries.
However, many of those who have migrated to the Western countries spent some period staying here before heading to the West.
The index listed top ten most attractive countries for foreign workers in the world. The list includes Ecuador (second consecutive year), Mexico, Malta, Singapore, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Thailand, Panama, Canada and Australia, while some Arab countries were lagging, coming further behind in the classification.
Qatar for example, came 54th; Saudi Arabia 61st position, and Kuwait 64th.
These global indices and studies also cover social, economic and recreational life for the people. Ecuador, in the South America continent, stood first at the global level for the second consecutive year. Nine out of ten people expressed their satisfaction about their lives in that country.
These surveys are conducted in more than 60 countries, covering the conditions and satisfaction of expatriates there.
It also surveys the opinions of thousands of expatriates and solicit the opinions and status of those who know the value of education and life. They investigate housing conditions, services and lifestyle, integration and interacting with the people and native citizens. They also study the extent of their understanding of their languages, customs and other social matters.
The overall questions include quality of life, possibility of external work and family life. Also included are modes of recreation, the capacity to make friends there, prospects for romance and building relations with other expatriates and personal finance.
They also include transport and ease of family life, healthcare, availability of quality education, jobs, job development, job security and ease of localisation. There are findings exposed by these studies concerning the status of residents and expatriates of the two genders in these countries.
There are many results regarding the Sultanate that we can analyse illustrating the Omani reality regarding these indicators.
We have among us today about 1.7 million expatriates living and working in various professions and disciplines, a figure to keep in mind as the population of the Sultanate is in the range of 4.2 million people.
Expatriates constitute more than 40 per cent of the populatin and most of the expatriates have respect and admiration for the Omanis with their rights respected. Everyone treats them with tolerance and respect their customs, practices and their religions.
Expatriates in Oman are living in safety, enjoying the security and peace just as all citizens.
This kind of acceptance and forbearance made the Sultanate occupying an advance rank as an excellent place for expatriates in which to live.
The top ranking of Oman among the top Arab and other countries, confirms the increasing interest and desire of the expatriates to come for work and
stay in the country.