Dubai’s automobile market is currently showing positive signs, evident from the outcomes of the recent Dubai Auto Show. Many manufacturers opted to reveal their latest models at the well-attended event, garnering significant interest from both affluent buyers and car enthusiasts.
This stands in stark contrast to a period when departing expatriates chose to abandon their cars at the city’s airport, leaving their keys and apology notes. Dubai felt the impact of the global recession, which struck the Gulf region in late 2008, severely affecting the emirate’s real estate and construction sectors. This economic downturn resulted in the sudden departure of numerous expatriates and migrant workers, some of whom were informed of their termination while on vacation in their home countries. The memories of this challenging time linger, discouraging many from considering a return to Dubai in the near future.
However, in their home countries, the lack of job opportunities and underpaid employment drive them to take such risks. Regrettably, the government does not adequately address this issue, forcing individuals to accept low-paying jobs in deplorable conditions to make ends meet. Additionally, the ripple effects of the recession in Europe, the USA, and other developed nations have created a scarcity of jobs and reduced wages, tempting expatriates to accept positions far away from their home countries.