The recent furore regarding the Blackberry, the business phone of choice in the western world, and its makers RIM has led to some doubts in the industry as a whole, yet foreigners looking at jobs in the industry should rest assured that there are still plenty of openings.

The problem with the Blackberry stems from its widespread use an instant communications tool – a very powerful one at that – and has led to the Dubai Chief of Police, Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, making some alarming comments about the situation.

At a recent conference focusing on information technology Tamim told the audience that problems with espionage involving Israel, the USA and Britain had been the major cause of the expected curbs on the use of Blackberry’s, although no further details of the accusations were made.

Within the industry itself there have always been curbs expected on the use of mobile technology in the Middle East as certain aspects of personal freedom are not as developed there as they are in western countries, yet the Blackberry saga is a worrying one that will have a great bearing on the future of the industry in the UAE and Dubai.

Three year degree courses at the university will be on offer to 50 students who fail to get a place at Bolton but who achieve three A grades at A-level, in a move that is both innovative and an indication of the growing stature of the teaching and education sector in the region.

The courses will be exactly the same as those on offer at Bolton and accommodation costs, plus fees, will be pegged at the same level, although the subject of grants or loans is one that has yet to be finalised.

The vice chancellor of Ras Al Khaimah, Professor Rob Campbell, explained:

“This is the first time we have offered UK students the opportunity to study in RAK for the full three years of a degree course. The university will charge students the same tuition fees as its UK-based students and accommodation fees will be the same as they are in Bolton.” ”

The University of Bolton, Ras Al Khaimah, can boast the Crown Prince of the emirate among its graduates and is a highly regarded institution that is typical of the market sector in the region.

In an interesting contrast to the rise in available space a report by CB Richard Ellis, consultants in the industry, stated that rental rates have fallen considerably in recent years, indicating a loss of value in what were possibly over-inflated rental costs in recent years. Indeed, to rent retail space in Dubai costs almost half of the amount it would have done in 2006.

With some of the lowest rental charges in the Middle East – let alone Europe – Dubai may be set for an increase in retail that is unprecedented in the region. Global brands continue to move into the city and with such attractive costs there is likely to be an influx of worldwide retail brands in the years to come.

This in turn adds to the possibilities of jobs in the market, with sales and marketing openings coming hand in hand with an increase in retail lets. The way the market is developing indicates that Dubai is settling into its new found position as a retail centre for Middle East businesses, and the more international brands take up residence in the malls of the city the more others are likely to follow.

As Dubai emerges from the recent economic slump that affected the whole world and begins to re-emerge as a major growth area the increase in foreign companies operating in the region has led to greater reliance on the PA, and as a result an increased need for those with experience in organising the day to day lives of executives in a fast moving environment.

With a different set of laws – both in business and personal life – to those experienced in western society, the life and job of a PA in Dubai may take some getting used to for many people, but adaptability is very much the key to the position. Being able to act quickly and to play the part of intermediary between businessmen from both the East and the West is a prime objective of the Dubai PA.

With such diverse growth areas as the travel and tourism trade, the construction industry, finance and the media there is a widespread call for PA’s from all walks of life, but to expect a smooth transition may be a touch optimistic. Dubai is a promising place to work, and once the nuances of business in the UAE are understood a good PA can be worth a great deal.

With top class modern machinery and attention to detail in working practices that are second to none there is little surprise that the quality of service is high, yet a figure of over four million people visiting the region to take advantage of the facilities is a colossal amount.

Jobs in the healthcare industry are on the rise directly as a result of the growing interest in the industry, and these figures – official announcements from the UAE government – hold great promise for prospects in the region in coming years.

In the Middle East there is on bigger player in the medical tourism market than the UAE and the value of the industry is some $1.7bn, a major contribution to the income of the region.

One hospital that offers such services, the Canadian Specialist Hospital in Deira, fields some 1500 US patients every month, and Chairman of the hospital Mohammed Rashid Al Falasi explained:

“Treatment rates in the UAE are lower than overseas hospitals. We have hospitals, such as the CSH, offering ultra-high standards of medical services that reflect the development of medicine in the UAE, as well as the world’s simplest and most positive healthcare regulations [in the UAE] when it comes to dealing with patients from all over the world.”

The health industry is a major employer of foreign nationals and growth is expected to be rapid.

With the intention of covering news from the Middle East, the Indian regions and Africa the new office will be a major centre for news in the region, and according to reports in UK newspapers is set to be run by John Irvine, newly appointed as ITN’s International Correspondent.

In an interesting contrast to the opening of the Dubai office it was also reported that ITN would be shutting the outlet in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the understanding that its operations would be covered by the new Dubai bureau.

Explaining the intentions and advantages of the location, Jonathon Munro, deputy editor for ITN news, told the UK Guardian newspaper:

“The strategic decision to open the Dubai bureau will improve our longer-term newsgathering and ability to get teams on the ground for breaking stories in a wide area from Pakistan to Southern Africa.”

The first new ITN overseas bureau since it opened a similar office in China in 2006, the choice of Dubai highlights the city’s perfect location and adds to the potential increase in opportunities for those looking for employment in the media and PR world in the region.

With excellent working practices and guarantees of excellent salaries this is a country that has always attracted the cream of the crop, yet these days the competition is even higher. To prove your worth in the Dubai job market you need a certain amount of proven success and a reputation that carries before you.

As Dubai is central to the growth of business in the UAE it is something of a hub for managers in many areas of business. Construction is a major business in the region and the banking and finance world holds great influence and shows great growth with many banks from foreign countries opening branches in the city, while the worldwide reliance on IT and telecommunications means there is much scope for growth in these areas.

With such rapid movement in employment in the region as we are seeing at the moment it is vital that good managers keep a constant eye on changes in the market, and with teaching positions to add to the popular industries mentioned above there are plenty of options.

The UAE TRA is very strict about what can and can’t be used in the information technology world in the region an governs with an iron rod; any Voice Over Internet Protocols services – such as Skype, so well known and used by Westerners – are banned unless they are used in conjunction with Etisalat or Du, the local providers.

However, the glitches in the development of these telecoms routes should be viewed as another hurdle to be overcome in integrating the Dubai way of life, and laws, with the increasing influence of western attitudes, and the industry as a whole is one that is experiencing a modicum of worthy growth.

Call centres in the region are very much in demand as technology takes a hold in many industries, while attempts by the likes of Google – major industry players – to implement its technology in the region continue. It will take some time but the signs are that the IT industry in Dubai is slowly becoming one of the fastest growing areas of investment.

Knowing what to look for in a potential employee is an art that is learned over many years, hence experienced HR staff are at a premium. With a particularly notable resurgence of the hospitality trade, and a number of new hotels complexes being built, there is much need for recruitment experts in the industry as new locations come on line all the time.

The same is true in the construction industry as bigger and bolder projects become reality; in particular road building is a major area where HR staff are required these days and the number of foreign workers in the trade is at an all time high.

Other industry areas where HR and recruitment staff are in great demand include the fast growing business support sector, with telephony staff needed in many areas, and also the banking industry which is experiencing a rapid influx of foreign banks entering the Dubai market.

Anyone who has experience in the recruitment trade would do well to look to Dubai as it undergoes renewed growth for the demand for staff at all levels is certain to increase.

The project, including hotels in the Four Seasons and W Hotel lines, was first mooted when the former agreed to a hotel in the development some six years ago, yet only now is there a sign of the construction actually going ahead. Nevertheless, this is good news for those who are looking for jobs in the hospitality and travel industry and may lead to a further awakening of dormant projects.

With the Hyatt Regency Dubai announcing a new General Manager in recent days and looking to continue its successful tenure in the city, echoing the recent move by Raffles Dubai, there are definite signs that the hotel industry is returning to its former glory. Dubai offers excellent conditions for holidays and is becoming increasingly popular with western tourists looking to sample the luxury lifestyle, and the prospect for jobs in the region is becoming stronger.

With the UAE embracing the idea of hospitality as a money spinner there is much scope for vast future expansion, and with that comes the promise of more jobs not only in the hospitality and travel trade but in engineering and construction too.