The Middle East is the region that sits at the confluence of Asia, Africa and Europe. The countries within this area come under Asia, but for geographical clarity, this transcontinental region is categorised as a separate landmass. The Middle East can be divided into four distinct culture areas: Arab, Turkish, Iranian, and the newly evolved Israeli culture – all these represent distinct variations within the broader Islamic civilization.
Although the economy is diverse, the oil industry has earned a remarkable reputation worldwide. During the period from 1965-1985, the oil-producing states (such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar) generated enormous revenue from exports; thus contributing to the overall growth of the region. In the past few years, several countries have taken significant steps to diversify the economy, with a particular focus on developing the financial services sector.
With the tremendous growth in the financial services industry, the Middle East has emerged as an attractive destination for highly-qualified professionals, offering great career development opportunities and competitive salaries. There is a huge demand for financial specialists in various sectors, including wealth management, insurance, risk and compliance and banking. Better regulatory measures, along with political and economic stability means the Middle East is an ideal market to invest money in.
