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I'm an American and will be attending Cambridge for my MBA in the UK and was having a conversation with a relative. My relative says that I can get a great job easily in the UAE with a Cambridge MBA. I told him that my only work experience is in non-profit work and want to work in finance after getting my MBA and that I believe that UAE employers will want experienced MBAs (as opposed to UK companies which will train inexperiencecd new MBAs).

My relative makes it sound too easy and profitable to just come to UAE after getting mym MBA. Do you think he's mistaken?

Yes he is mistaken. there are loads of ppl with MBA degree here. Betta go to Tanzania

Yeah my cousin said that an MBA from Cambridge or Oxfrd would be an easy ticket to high paying job in UAE even though I have no corporate experience. I don't think UAE is a country to start a career. Maybe come to UAE after 3-5 years experience, but not before.

I don't know where he is getting this thinking. By the way, he works in KSA.

There is no problem starting a career in the UAE. Its actually a good thing to have some GCC experience before you climb the ladder of corporate success.

Just don't go there thinking that you will be a god because of your MBA. Experience is gold and education is silver. Which is worth more?

Liban wrote:There is no problem starting a career in the UAE. Its actually a good thing to have some GCC experience before you climb the ladder of corporate success.

Just don't go there thinking that you will be a god because of your MBA. Experience is gold and education is silver. Which is worth more?

i agree with u liban, and i think it's also a matter of guts and good luck.

What I meant about not being a good place to start a career is that it seems most jobs are for engineer/IT/hotel/sales (and in local companies). If someone is starting career post-MBA, then it's probably better to work for a known instutition in UK/US (i.e., Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and so on) and get that blue chip work experience on resume and then go to UAE. If I start at UAE first at some local employer (in finance let's say), the brand name of the UAE company/the training/the experience won't be very attractive if I want to go back to US/UK later. Given that I can never become a permanent resident in UAE, it seems that eventually I will have to return to the West.

I'm guessing here.

I'd say go for the work experience in the UK/US for at least a couple of years. Employers in the UAE do look at experience, especially for expatriates, and as you say, it'll also do you good once you eventually go back to where you're from. Although now with the sale of homes to non-nationals, it is possible to get a permanent residence visa.. so perhaps you'll spend the rest of your life there.