The ever-deepening war crisis in the Gulf countries (West Asia) has increased the concerns of Indian professionals working there. The Middle East, which for decades was considered the safest place in the world for a career and a bright future, is now facing clouds of danger. The situation has become so stressful that Indian citizens and top executives are now rethinking their long-term career plans. Now the biggest priority for them is to return to their country i.e. India by any means.
The illusion of ‘safe haven’ is breaking
The recent geopolitical turmoil has completely changed the peaceful and stable image of the Middle East. The figures of the country’s leading executive search firms are a clear testimony of this big change. In the last few days, there has been a huge increase of 25 to 30 percent in the inquiries from senior officers sitting in Gulf countries about looking for jobs in India.
According to Atul Vohra, Managing Partner of Transarch India, the current war has broken the myth of the Middle East being a ‘safe haven’. People now do not want to compromise on the safety of themselves and their families. A perfect example of this is that of a senior official of the energy sector. Some time ago he had rejected the role of ‘Chief Operating Officer’ in India, but as soon as the war started, he himself contacted the recruitment firm. He clearly said that he no longer sees his family’s future secure in this area. Top executives of many other energy companies are also either seeking transfer to their company’s Indian operations or looking for jobs outside.
Shadow of fear from Qatar to Dubai
According to the report of Economics Times, the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty is not limited to just one country. Mid-level professionals working in a multinational tech company in Qatar have started looking for jobs in India, because their elderly parents sitting in India are very nervous seeing the situation there. Many families living in Dubai are also confused. Repeated alerts are being sent to citizens asking them to stay in safe places and stay away from balconies or windows.
K., Managing Director of EMA Partners India. Sudarshan mentioned this psychological effect in depth. Just a few days ago, employees working at the Dubai International Financial Center were evacuated safely after a threat alert. On Friday itself, debris from an Iranian drone fell on this financial center. When such incidents happen, it directly hits the mentality of people. However, some people are hopeful that the situation may improve in the next 10-14 days, but the fear that has set in regarding security is not going to go away easily.
India is not a compulsion, now a great option
The interesting thing is that the return of these professionals is not only due to fear, but India’s strong economy is also giving them a solid and safe option. Leena Rajput, Head of Financial Services, Korn Ferry India, says that traditionally the Middle East was the place where Indians wanted to go, but now the tide has changed.
Earlier, Indian professionals used to hesitate in returning home because there was a huge difference between the salary packages in India and the global market. But now this gap has been filled to a great extent. With the advent of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India, global leadership roles around the world are now operating from India. The excellent salary package and economic progress of the country have made this path of comeback very attractive. The economic conditions of the Gulf countries may be strong, but the uncertainty of life and property has put the ‘Gulf Dream’ in front of a big reality check.
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