UAE is favourite expat destination in the Gulf During 2011, Saudi Arabia led the way in terms of job creation, with 62 per cent of firms there increasing their head counts. Across the Gulf, the oil and gas, health care and retail sectors expanded the most, while banking and construction - which suffered particularly during the economic crisis - fared the worst. Overall, nearly all Gulf countries saw economic growth within the period. The survey found that last year's political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East had had a "mixed" impact on recruitment. Many employers said they were finding it harder to attract Western expatriates, who feared the region was unsafe, but that there were now more non-Western expatriates from places which had experienced unrest looking for work. Bahrain's ability to attract and retain talent in the Gulf was severely damaged by the uprising which broke out in February last year, causing it to drop from the fourth most popular country among expats in 2010 to the least. It also had the lowest rate of job creation. Zoya Pasha, a 22-year-old British expat, said that she was unsurprised that the UAE was the most popular destination for expatriates, and that Dubai was the most sought-after city for relocation. "Having lived [all over] the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, I can say that Dubai has a wide appeal," she said. There is something here for everyone. You have your pick of music concerts, sports activities and beautiful beaches, and there are great restaurants, bars and clubs. For what you would pay in the UK for a small flat, over here you can get a brand new ensuite apartment with a gym, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room all a stone's throw from the beach... the job market is picking up at the moment too, and there are excellent opportunities.