DUBAI, UAE, September 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Safe place to live and work,
possibility of making good friends and having a comfortable
lifestyle are the main attractions
The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a world leading money
transfer company, today revealed several interesting insights about
the lives of residents in the GCC while highlighting the
attractiveness of living in the region.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150927/271100-INFO )
60% of respondents pointed to a deep sense of safety and
security as being the top reason that makes living in the GCC feel
like home for them, while 52% cited the presence of an extensive
network of friends and 49% the comfortable lifestyle they enjoy as
reasons that encourage them want to stay on in the region. 65% of
the survey respondents commented that they had achieved their
primary goal of saving money in the GCC further underscoring the
appeal of the region in terms of facilitating the accomplishment of
their top personal goal.
The survey, a part of the "My Yellow Brick Road" campaign
brought to life the personal stories of individuals from different
countries who participated in the survey, while asking respondents
to share their thoughts and experiences on life in the region. Of
the 500 respondents who took part in the survey a majority were
living in Saudi Arabia (30%)
followed by UAE 29 %, Kuwait 15%,
Qatar 10%, Oman 9% and Bahrain 6%. The average age of the respondents
was 30 years. 60% of them have stayed in the region for around 5
years, 24% have stayed for 10 years and 16 % stayed for over 15
years.
The work they do plays a significant role in the life of
residents in the GCC, with as many as 70% respondents saying their
job was "very important" in terms of contributing to their host
countries, and 63% of respondents said they enjoyed their work.
"The results of the 'My Yellow Brick Road' campaign revealed
interesting insights about the experience and aspirations of a
diverse community who have come to build their careers and future
in the GCC," said Hatem Sleiman,
Regional Vice President - Middle
East at Western Union. "For these residents, the GCC as a
region is their home away from home, and the survey results
underscore the deep-felt appreciation they have for the boundless
opportunities and growth potential the region has provided
them."
One of the survey participants, Jeffrey
Roy Pascual who is originally from the Philippines has been living in the UAE for
16 years; he plans to stay in the UAE for the mid to long term. He
said: "As a child, I used to play in the sandy areas of
Dubai just outside our residence.
Life was very simple back then. Not much electronics and it was all
physical play. Now, checking the area where I grew up, you'd find a
lot of high-rise buildings. I was a part of it, I am a part of it,
and will continue to be a part of Dubai."
According to Badria Salloum, a
Yemeni national, "I have been in KSA for the last 26 years and it
really feels like home. My job in the healthcare industry allows me
to provide quality healthcare to my patients and serve the people
of Saudi Arabia and I am proud of
that. From a personal standpoint, I try and give back to society in
my own way by working for philanthropic causes to help people in
need who have nothing. Working in Saudi
Arabia has helped me save money, have a better lifestyle and
travel to new places.
Manoj Kumar, a national of
India said: "I have followed my
yellow brick road for the last 4 years which led me to Oman. Along the way I found a job in the
Retail industry and the work I do provides the community with
better lifestyle choices. I am raising a family here and I can
practice my favorite hobbies which makes me feel at home. At work,
I have trained and promoted my Omani colleagues at many levels in
the store and I always provide them with opportunities to grow.
Some of them are successful managers in other retail stores."
Responding to the survey, Tarek
Bouraoui who is from Tunisia said, "I work in the sports medicine
field and am very proud of the development of Qatar in the field of sport and medicine. I am
very happy to be part of this development and to contribute to it.
When my family and I came to Qatar
12 years ago, we did not know anyone but were able to build a great
network of friends from different ages and different nationalities
and that is why Qatar truly feels
like home for me. I also enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
Working in Qatar has helped
me to save money, buy a home, have a better lifestyle and I plan on
staying here for another 10 years
As a global payment services provider that millions of people in
the region rely on, Western Union is pleased to be associated with
this initiative in highlighting their stories and their integral
role in GCC society while acknowledging their contribution to the
success of nations in the region." Sleiman added.
The "My Yellow Brick Road" campaign derives its title from the
popular children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" where the
main character embarks on a magical journey travelling along the
Yellow Brick Road to achieve their goals.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global
payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago
Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment
services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with
fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around
the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of
June 30, 2015, the Western Union,
Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a
combined network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries
and territories and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the
capability to send money to millions of bank accounts. In 2014, The
Western Union Company completed 255 million consumer-to-consumer
transactions worldwide, moving $85
billion of principal between consumers, and 484 million
business payments. For more information, visit
http://www.westernunion.com.
SOURCE The Western Union Company