At first sight, speaking French in the Emirates appears to be somewhat extravagant as you sip your café au lait and take a bite on your pain au chocolat. Yet mastery of the French language and moreover Arabic and English is a real asset in the job market. Just ask our Lebanese friends and they will agree!
In fact, the Emirates are the first Middle East trade partner for France (and the 23rd in the world). France is also the 6th largest supplier for the Emirates. You may not know that Alstom is building for ADWEA the Qidfa power station in Fujairah and that Thales won the signaling and telecommunications contract for Dubai’s Metro.
Many French companies are represented in the UAE. Total of course but also l’Oréal, Chanel, LVMH or Cartier for your luxury items. There are also the distributors Carrefour or Geant Casino, the banks Calyon, BNP Paribas, Natexis or Société Générale, defense companies such as Nexter, Dassault, EADS, Safran, Thales, telecom companies such as Alcatel-Lucent or Orange Business Systems, not to mention Veolia, Suez Environnement, Bateaux Dubai and almost 300 others. And for sure, we have to bear in mind all the companies coming from the 32 essential countries of francophonie, where French is set as the official language ! Main projects such as Sorbonne Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum are also significant for the UAE.
How enriching can it be for a French speaking company to employ an Emirati who speaks Arabic as well as English? Who better than an Emirati to teach us the subtleties of the market in his country and who better than a French speaker to appreciate the cultural and linguistic diversity on his doorstep.
So future geologists, history teachers, R&D managers, safety directors, ‘perfume’ product managers, asset managers, PR and communications managers, account managers, refinery console operators, supply flow managers, human resource directors, marketing managers, economists, IT engineers, management accountants, if you want that little bit extra success in your careers, the speaking French can do no harm!
- In Abu Dhabi : French Business Group
The Business Council, a private non-profit association was created in 1974 with the support of the French Embassy. It became the French Business Group (FBG) some years later and was affiliated in 1996 to the French Chambers of Commerce Association present in more than 76 countries worldwide. Today, the French Business Group represents 230 members with business interests in France and in the UAE from all sectors, forming a dynamic and powerful business network.
The FBG main objectives are to :
- promote and contribute to the development of commercial, economic and industrial relations between France and the UAE.
- Encourage and promote the exchange of information, cooperation and joint venture between UAE and French Enterprises.
- Develop and reinforce bonds between the French and the UAE business communities.
Adress : P.O. Box 73390 Abu Dhabi
Tel : 02 674 11 37
Fax : 02 678 66 50
Email : fbgad@emirates.net.ae
Website : www.fbgabudhabi.com
Location : Al Kheily building – office floor – suite 05 (near the Sheraton Hotel, behind Shamyat Restaurant and the Regency Hotel).
- In Dubaï : French business Council
Created in 1987, the French Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates (FBC) is a non profit local association under UAE law which represents over 350 Members. FBC main objectives are :
o to promote and inform FBC business community trough an array of events and services .
o to promote and developp business and commercial relationships in and Between Dubai, the northern Emirates and France
o to provide business Support to FBC Members and French exporters to set up or increase their business in the UAE
- Business support:
The FBC, through 'FBC Présence'scheme offers French exporters and FBC members, flexible solutions to efficiently set up or increase their business in the region by providing an array of comprehensive range of business services. - Recruitment services :
The FBC employment service is a non profit service with :
- an updated expertise on the recruitment market in the UAE.
- a network of more than 250 companies, members of the FBC. - The employment service’ s main objectives are :
• to assist companies in their recruitments.
• to assist candidates in their job research in Dubai & Northern Emirates.
• to link HR professionals within the FBC network. - The link employers/ candidates is constantly operational through:
- a list of short resumes sent to FBC members and available on FBC Website (cf Company Section )
- a list of Job offers is available on FBC website ( cf Candidates section)
P.O Box 25775 DUBAI
Tel : 04 312 67 00
Fax : 04 335 2120
Website : www.fbcdubai.com
Emails :
Membership: monique.mounir@fbcdubai.com
Director : fabienne.lucas@fbcdubai.com
Recruitment services : employment@fbcdubai.com
Business support : agneslopezcruz@fbcdubai.com
Accounts : florence.sturma@fbcdubai.com
Events & Communication : severine@fbcdubai.com
Location : Oud Metha Road - Employment department of the French business Council
Maud Pujol-Dorey
Tel : +971 4 312 67 03
Fax : +971 4 335 21 20
Email : employment@fbcdubai.com
