Dubai prospects; please advise

[MoeJoe]

Hi to all.

I will be graduating with a 2.1 degree in Marketing and Advertising. I have two options, either do an MA in International Marketing or find a job. What are my prospects in Dubai with just a BA degree and no experience? what kind of salary and perks can i expect to get? In the UK i can expect around £20,000 for grad entry, which would be taxed, and from this i would have to pay my rent etc. Could i expect equivalent of £20,000 with housing paid for by a company in Dubai? Or, should i do an MA and then try finding work in Dubai? How much more attractive would an MA make me to prospective employers and how would this manifest in currency and perks? Also, i am proficient at using Adobe Photoshop, Flash, Indesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver all CS3 and self taught. Also, what are the Emiratis like? I have been to Oman and loved it, the people were really amazing, i have HEARD that many Emiratis are a bit stuck up their behind and some are even hostile to expats is this true?
Your thoughts are most appreciated.

[Elphaba]

Have you applied to any companies or researched the types of job available? Without experience, I doubt you would find many companies looking to take you on, especially as a junior role in an ad or design agency won't pay very well. I suggest you obtain some work experience before trying to move out here. Degrees are 10 a penny these days, so you won't walk into a job just because you have one.

IF you were able to find a job, a salary equivalent to GBP 20,000 would be some AED 12,400 per month. Considering annual rents for a one bedroom apartment are now starting at AED 90K pa, you wouldn't get very far.

Emiratis are not always the same as the Omanis, but the countries are quite different. Emiratis aren't hostile to expats unless you have an odd attitude to them without knowing them or their culture. Starting with the assumption that your hosts are unpleasant won't get you very far...

[MoeJoe]

I have researched jobs, and what you said has reinforced by findings. Also, most entry jobs ask for Emirati nationals only.
I did not mean to sound presumptuous, i was just asking about what i heard. Ok i this bit is going by my experience from Oman, the Indians from the labour sector were the only people who made me feel uncomfortable, by this i mean their continual staring and talking about me in their language made me agitated. I know there are many Indian labourers in Dubai are they like this? Is it true that people tend to stick to their own in Dubai? i.e Westerners socialize with westerners, Emirati with Emirati, Indians with Indians etc? Also is religion taken seriously there by Emiratis?

[Elphaba]

Emiratis do take their religion very seriously, but are generally tolerant. As simple research will tell you, most people are free to practice their own religion in the UAE. There are churches and temples. The only exception is that Judaism is not recognised.

Some people from the Indian sub-continent do stare, but their culture is different to that of Westerners and it is not meant to be offensive. Just because people are talking in their own language it does not have to be about you!

Stick to their own? What a strange concept. Why bother moving to another country if you don't want to mix at all?

[MoeJoe]

"Is it true that people tend to stick to their own in Dubai?"
How could you possible mistake the above questions as me saying i don not want to mix with different people? Through simple research i have heard that the most racist and arrogant people are actually white expats, especially those from South Africa, UK and Europe, is this true? Again, i am only asking, things like these you pick up on in blogs, there not really mentioned in Wiki or any or simple research sites, so i am just trying to find out about the intricacies of Dubai society and life.