Iraqis Settled in the UAE

Iraqi expatriates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have made significant contributions to the UAE economy by establishing themselves in various sectors. Interestingly, the UAE has a multicultural fabric of over 200 nationalities, showcasing diversity in all seven emirates. Most of the Iraqi expats are settled in Emirate of Dubai and Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Some of them are students, and others are working as businessmen, professionals in the various service sectors in United Arab Emirates.

The Iraqis are also migrating to the UAE to improve their standard of living like many other expats in UAE. They have found multiple job prospects in the UAE as compared to the ones available in Iraq. They have also played a significant role in business sector in UAE.
The political instability in Iraq, also brought many Iraqis to United Arab Emirates. The UAE is an ideal country for them as it allows them to exercise their rights under the UAE legal system, and they can practice their culture freely. The Iraqi expatriates in UAE find the region safe for their families, too, as the UAE criminal laws are stringent, and legal cases ensure justice and fairness.

The influx of Iraqis has recently increased in the UAE. Many of them come from professional backgrounds and experience. They have expertise in business, engineering, information technology, healthcare, and tourism. Luckily, the UAE workforce is much needed in all these sectors to amplify the economic outcome at a greater level. Iraqi businesses in the UAE strengthen Iraqi-UAE relations. Both countries can collaborate for economic development in each other’s countries. Iraqis in UAE have a population exceeding 200,000. The closer estimates report around 250,000 Iraqis, living in Emirates.

Dubai is a leading economic hub worldwide. Iraqi expats have made several contributions to the UAE’s economic growth. They operate different businesses in Dubai and expand their businesses in Abu Dhabi or vice versa. The business-friendly environment of the UAE offers various platforms to the Iraqis. They have started an e-commerce business or open a restaurant in the free zones of Dubai, with 100% ownership. Moreover, these areas also have maximum tax assumptions, encouraging investors and entrepreneurs to establish great businesses in the UAE. Iraqi expats playing a big role in corporate sector of UAE.

The Iraqi workforce in the UAE is diverse. They work in different sectors of the UAE, from healthcare to information technology. Based on their qualifications and work experience, Iraqi expats fill in good positions vacant in multinationals and local UAE companies.

The Iraqis would love to make investments in the UAE because it offers them good money in real estate. They would buy residential and commercial properties, ensuring a positive contribution to economic growth.

The Iraqis want to keep a connection with their roots. Therefore, they have found multiple ways to keep themselves updated with the situation in Iraq and policies affecting the Iraqis within and outside Iraq. There are communities where many Iraqis engage with each other. It gives them an opportunity to network and collaborate on better ideas in the UAE while keeping up with the news of Iraq. Some restaurants also offer Iraqi food, including masgouf (grilled fish) and kebabs. The Iraqis are Muslims, and so they find solace in mosques and religious centers.

Iraqi expats can send their children to international schools in the UAE. Those schools have a British curriculum, which is helpful for expat students as they can pursue higher qualifications anywhere in the world with a British education. Though these schools are expensive, Iraqi expats want their children to pursue good qualifications for their careers.

The Iraqi expats have many advantages in the UAE. Still, they have problems adjusting to the country:

• Visa Status for Iraqi Expats

The UAE offers many visa options to individuals who want to settle in one way or another. The country offers Golden Visa for entrepreneurs and skilled individuals. Therefore, a few Iraqis might fail to achieve long-term residency due to a lack of experience and qualifications. However, they can enter the UAE on another visa type and plan to settle for the long term.

• High Standards of Living in the UAE

Life in the UAE is luxurious. For some people, the shopping experience is expensive. Yet, the majority of the residents are expats, and they also have to make budget-friendly purchases every time they visit those malls. However, living expenses are high in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as these two emirates have become the main economic hubs across the world.

• Competitive Job Market

The job market is competitive in the UAE. Not only Iraqis but also other people find it difficult to have a successful career. They are hardly promoted at their workplaces. A few Iraqis might be hired at managerial levels; otherwise, they are working in entry-level positions in the UAE.

The UAE ensures to have good ties with Iraq by creating friendly policies for Iraqi expats in the UAE:

• Flexible Business Laws

The Iraqis can operate their businesses in the free zones with efficient infrastructure in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. All other emirates also have free zones where the Iraqi expats can get tax incentives. However, it encourages Iraqi entrepreneurs to expand their business in the UAE.

• Golden Visa Opportunity

Iraqis can apply for a golden visa. This visa gives investors and skilled individuals the opportunity to get residency in the UAE for their contribution to the UAE’s economic growth. The golden visa also ensures good economic relations between the UAE and Iraq, as many Iraqis have amazing business ideas that can be utilized in the UAE.

Iraqis have positively contributed to the UAE’s economic growth. To ensure good relations between the two countries, the UAE has made flexible business laws for Iraqi investors and skilled professionals. This gives Iraqis an opportunity to improve their careers in the UAE. They will remain connected to their roots by joining several Iraqi communities in the UAE as the country allows expat communities to grow and celebrate traditions.