DUBAI, UAE, December 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
"High levels of safety" and
opportunities to "Make good friends" cited as key factors enhancing
residents' experience in the UAE
"Better savings" highlighted
as the top personal goal in Western Union's "My Yellow Brick Road"
campaign survey
Reflecting the universal appeal of the UAE as a "home away from
home" to the wider expatriate community who reside in the country,
UAE residents who responded to a Western Union survey highlighted
the attractiveness of the country for the peace of mind, the
comfortable lifestyle it provides, the ability to raise a family in
addition to the safety standards and lasting friendships that they
have forged over the years. Working in the UAE has also been
beneficial to the expatriate community in helping them to achieve
several personal goals. Buying a home, having a better lifestyle
and, better savings were some of the reasons highlighted in the
survey. These results come out just as the UAE celebrates its
43rd National Day with widespread support and
participation from the UAE expatriate community.
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The survey results revealed interesting insights as part of "My
Yellow Brick Road" UAE campaign which was launched by The Western
Union Company (NYSE:WU), a world leading money transfer company, to
highlight interesting insights into the lives and journey of
expatriates in the country. According to the survey, "High Levels
of Safety" and "Making Good Friends" stood out as key factors in
helping expatriates to feel at home in the UAE while "Better
Savings" stood out as the top personal goal for expatriates
residing in the country. Aimed at showcasing the lives of
expatriates and their journey in the UAE, the "My Yellow Brick
Road" Campaign brings to life the personal stories of individuals
from different countries who participated in the survey. The
campaign's theme 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.
"The stories of these expatriates are not only a reflection of
their personal accomplishments, but are also a great source of
inspiration for other residents of the UAE. The results from the
survey reflect the expatriate community's appreciation for the
opportunities the UAE has provided them and how their journey to
the UAE has helped them achieve several personal goals to make
their lives better. On the occasion of the 43rd National Day of the
United Arab Emirates, I would like
to convey our warmest greetings and best wishes; wishing the UAE
and its people lasting progress and prosperity," said Hatem Sleiman, Regional Vice President -
Middle East at Western Union.
"As a global and reliable facilitator of cross border money
transfer for expatriates, Western Union is proud of this initiative
in telling the stories of customers' lives and their integral role
in strengthening and enhancing the positive and dynamic environment
of the UAE," he continued.
The responses from the survey highlighted a stimulating mix of
personal and professional accounts of expatriates with responses
also indicating the strength of the bond they share with the
UAE.
Diego Salazar is an American
citizen originally from Colombia
who has made UAE his home for the past 3 and half years.
Responding to the survey, he said "As an engineer in a local
aircraft maintenance company, my work contributes to achieving my
company's vision of being a world class company by establishing the
company's processes and management systems and training the local
workforce to think customer first. I am also involved in
transferring knowledge to the local workforce. Working in the UAE
has helped me to save money and I plan on staying here for another
5 years."
Reflecting the vibrant multicultural landscape of the UAE, the
survey also brought to life the story of Armando Santos, a native of the Philippines, "I love the culture of the
UAE and now I have also learnt to speak in Arabic so communication
becomes much easier. In my work place at the Al Ain Zoo, I have
made suggestions to segregate general waste materials like bottles,
papers etc to maintain the cleanliness of the zoo for the sake of
the animals and enhance the natural surroundings. Having been in
UAE for seven years, I truly feel at home here because I have a
better lifestyle and I have made good friends. Working in the UAE
has helped me save money, buy a home, and start a business and I
plan on staying here for a long time."
In the words of Asel who is from Kyrgyzstan, "I have followed my yellow brick
road for the last 3 years which led me to the UAE. I have more
peace of mind here and have made some good friends which makes me
feel at home and I have grown to truly love this country. Along the
way I found a job in the travel and tourism industry and the work I
do is important to the economy of the country. Working in UAE has
helped me to save money and buy a home and I plan on staying here
for another 50 years."
During the survey, participants were requested to fill an online
multiple-choice questionnaire and provide answers to questions
focusing on their personal and professional journeys as they move
from their home country to work and contribute to the development
of their host country. These stories represent initial feedback
from the survey which is going on till December 31, 2014.
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
September 30, 2014, 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. In
2013, The Western Union Company completed 242 million
consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion of principal between consumers, and
459 million business payments. For more information, visit
http://www.westernunion.com .
SOURCE Western Union