Expatriates are choosing to call the UAE ‘home’ for increasingly longer periods of time and investing more in their homes than they have in the past, reveals a survey.

A recent study of the salary packages of multinational companies in the Middle East has shown that the traditional focus of high basic salaries and cash allowances is shifting towards long-term incentives and ‘protection’ benefits which are enticing expats to stay longer.

The changes in benefit practices are being driven by the continuing increase in multinational companies based in the region, expansion of the expatriate workforce, and greater mobility of expatriates between jobs.

“Increasingly, expatriates are making a long-term commitment to living in the UAE due to new employment incentives that encourage long service and also a greater understanding that the UAE is a safe place to raise a family,” said Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) retail and marketing general manager Ajai Kumar Dayal. The group is distributors for Better Life, United Colours of Benetton, ID Design, and Leigh’s Paints.

“In the past, it was common for people to come to the UAE with a two- or three-year plan, but now people are deciding to stay, to raise and school their children, and make a home for themselves here,” said Dayal.

According to the results of the survey, pensions and medical, life and disability insurance, and lifestyle benefits such as company car allowances and leave entitlements are proving increasingly important, while allowances for housing, transport and education remain popular.

Many employers are motivated to focus on benefit provision, not only to respond to competitive pressures but also erosion in value of cash-based remuneration paid in local currencies which are pegged to the weakening American dollar.

Almost all companies in the Middle East provide additional perks and allowances to their expatriates. These vary between countries and employers, but the majority provides allowances for housing, schooling and flights home. In the UAE specifically, 86 per cent of multinationals in the survey provide housing allowances, while 90pc provide support with schooling. All participants, without exception, provide allowances for return flights to expatriates’ home country.

“There has been a noticeable shift in the number of expats buying high-quality home appliances over the past few years. People no longer want appliances that are inexpensive and perform for the short-term, but appliances from trusted brands, that will last longer, and have excellent resale value if and when the time comes for them to move,” added Dayal.

Better Life has experienced consistent year-on-year growth since its inception in 2003. Now with five stores across the UAE and Oman, Better Life’s unique concept of providing consumers with a specialised retail experience has become a preferred choice for those shopping for the finer things in life.

Part of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, Better Life are the distributors for a range of internationally acclaimed brands including Siemens, Electrolux and Fisher & Paykel, all of whom have a reputation for innovative household appliances that are developed with technology, design, user friendliness and environmental awareness in mind. – TradeArabia News Service