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You better work: The Middle East’s coolest careers

Published January 14th, 2017 - 08:49 GMT

Feeling fed up with your boss? Tired of the same old nine to five routine?
The recession has been felt worldwide and across all sectors of society. We are often told that in this economic climate, we should be happy to have a job at all. But maybe this is not the right outlook one should have. Increasingly, people are choosing to follow their hearts and look for their dream jobs. It's fair to say that in many countries of Middle East, we are often confronted with jobs we're pretty thankful we don't have to do. But what about those other jobs? What Middle East business cards have we all encountered that inspired job-envy?
Which are the coolest jobs in the region that you can't find anywhere else?
If you're in need of inspiration, fancy a new vocation or just require a career boost, look no further.
From happiness minister to professional mourner, here are the Middle East’s coolest jobs - only in the Middle East!

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UAE Minister of Happiness and Tolerance: This government post was set up last year in a major shake-up aiming to "to create social good and satisfaction" and make the government more flexible to change. The UAE has since launched several initiatives intended to boost happiness in society.

UAE Minister of Happiness and Tolerance: This government post was set up last year in a major shake-up aiming to "to create social good and satisfaction" and make the government more flexible to change. The UAE has since launched several initiatives intended to boost happiness in society.

Resident Marine Biologist at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island: Nature walks with kids, advising the hotel on how to be more environmentally conscious, keeping golfers from hitting endangered turtles - it’s all in a day’s work!

Resident Marine Biologist at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island: Nature walks with kids, advising the hotel on how to be more environmentally conscious, keeping golfers from hitting endangered turtles - it’s all in a day’s work!

Who cleans the windows of Burj Khalifa? The mere thought of squeegeeing the windows of the world’s tallest building is vertigo-inducing, but most manual laborers in the Gulf - cleaners, maintenance workers, and the like - are low paid migrant workers from south Asia.

Who cleans the windows of Burj Khalifa? The mere thought of squeegeeing the windows of the world’s tallest building is vertigo-inducing, but most manual laborers in the Gulf - cleaners, maintenance workers, and the like - are low paid migrant workers from south Asia.

Being the official patriotic singer for a royal family. In Jordan, turn on the local radio and you’re likely to hear Omar al-Abdallat, known for popularizing Bedouin music, praising King Abdullah and the Jordanian army.

Being the official patriotic singer for a royal family. In Jordan, turn on the local radio and you’re likely to hear Omar al-Abdallat, known for popularizing Bedouin music, praising King Abdullah and the Jordanian army.

Hares - these apartment gatekeepers can either make your rental experience smooth sailing or total hell. The best ones can help you with getting new cooking gas, building maintenance, paying bills - while the worst will pass on gossip to your neighbors and landlord.

Hares - these apartment gatekeepers can either make your rental experience smooth sailing or total hell. The best ones can help you with getting new cooking gas, building maintenance, paying bills - while the worst will pass on gossip to your neighbors and landlord.

Falconry is an important part of Arab heritage and kind of a big deal in the Gulf! Training falcons is not only a rite of passage for some men, it is a symbol of status too. Some falcons can cost over $ 1 million.

Falconry is an important part of Arab heritage and kind of a big deal in the Gulf! Training falcons is not only a rite of passage for some men, it is a symbol of status too. Some falcons can cost over $ 1 million.

The resident Men in Chairs. Usually hired as “security” or parking lot attendants, these guys can usually be seen sitting in a chair - often missing a leg - on the sidewalk, scowling and muttering at passersby. Sometimes their chair is strategically placed in the street to keep people from parking in front of a store.

The resident Men in Chairs. Usually hired as “security” or parking lot attendants, these guys can usually be seen sitting in a chair - often missing a leg - on the sidewalk, scowling and muttering at passersby. Sometimes their chair is strategically placed in the street to keep people from parking in front of a store.

Especially in Egypt, you’ll find "Nadabat" if you ever go to a funeral. These professional mourners are paid to cry in funerals and say nice things about the deceased. They even use eyedrops to fake tears and make $10-15 an hour! The UK has even gotten in on the action with Rent-A-Mourner.

Especially in Egypt, you’ll find "Nadabat" if you ever go to a funeral. These professional mourners are paid to cry in funerals and say nice things about the deceased. They even use eyedrops to fake tears and make $10-15 an hour! The UK has even gotten in on the action with Rent-A-Mourner.

In Tehran, local authorities restrict the number of cars allowed on the road according to their license plates (even numbers are allowed one day, odd the next). Drivers have found a quirky solution: hire people to sit and walk behind their cars to cover the plate. Why not just tape over the numbers like they do in China?

In Tehran, local authorities restrict the number of cars allowed on the road according to their license plates (even numbers are allowed one day, odd the next). Drivers have found a quirky solution: hire people to sit and walk behind their cars to cover the plate. Why not just tape over the numbers like they do in China?

Jordanian matchmaker Um Sultan has been instrumental in 2000 marriages over 18 years. She considers her work part of a larger effort to maintain a strong social and family fabric that allows Arab families to wither the storms of war and uncertainty.

Jordanian matchmaker Um Sultan has been instrumental in 2000 marriages over 18 years. She considers her work part of a larger effort to maintain a strong social and family fabric that allows Arab families to wither the storms of war and uncertainty.

UAE Minister of Happiness and Tolerance: This government post was set up last year in a major shake-up aiming to "to create social good and satisfaction" and make the government more flexible to change. The UAE has since launched several initiatives intended to boost happiness in society.
Resident Marine Biologist at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island: Nature walks with kids, advising the hotel on how to be more environmentally conscious, keeping golfers from hitting endangered turtles - it’s all in a day’s work!
Who cleans the windows of Burj Khalifa? The mere thought of squeegeeing the windows of the world’s tallest building is vertigo-inducing, but most manual laborers in the Gulf - cleaners, maintenance workers, and the like - are low paid migrant workers from south Asia.
Being the official patriotic singer for a royal family. In Jordan, turn on the local radio and you’re likely to hear Omar al-Abdallat, known for popularizing Bedouin music, praising King Abdullah and the Jordanian army.
Hares - these apartment gatekeepers can either make your rental experience smooth sailing or total hell. The best ones can help you with getting new cooking gas, building maintenance, paying bills - while the worst will pass on gossip to your neighbors and landlord.
Falconry is an important part of Arab heritage and kind of a big deal in the Gulf! Training falcons is not only a rite of passage for some men, it is a symbol of status too. Some falcons can cost over $ 1 million.
The resident Men in Chairs. Usually hired as “security” or parking lot attendants, these guys can usually be seen sitting in a chair - often missing a leg - on the sidewalk, scowling and muttering at passersby. Sometimes their chair is strategically placed in the street to keep people from parking in front of a store.
Especially in Egypt, you’ll find "Nadabat" if you ever go to a funeral. These professional mourners are paid to cry in funerals and say nice things about the deceased. They even use eyedrops to fake tears and make $10-15 an hour! The UK has even gotten in on the action with Rent-A-Mourner.
In Tehran, local authorities restrict the number of cars allowed on the road according to their license plates (even numbers are allowed one day, odd the next). Drivers have found a quirky solution: hire people to sit and walk behind their cars to cover the plate. Why not just tape over the numbers like they do in China?
Jordanian matchmaker Um Sultan has been instrumental in 2000 marriages over 18 years. She considers her work part of a larger effort to maintain a strong social and family fabric that allows Arab families to wither the storms of war and uncertainty.
UAE Minister of Happiness and Tolerance: This government post was set up last year in a major shake-up aiming to "to create social good and satisfaction" and make the government more flexible to change. The UAE has since launched several initiatives intended to boost happiness in society.
UAE Minister of Happiness and Tolerance: This government post was set up last year in a major shake-up aiming to "to create social good and satisfaction" and make the government more flexible to change. The UAE has since launched several initiatives intended to boost happiness in society.
Resident Marine Biologist at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island: Nature walks with kids, advising the hotel on how to be more environmentally conscious, keeping golfers from hitting endangered turtles - it’s all in a day’s work!
Resident Marine Biologist at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island: Nature walks with kids, advising the hotel on how to be more environmentally conscious, keeping golfers from hitting endangered turtles - it’s all in a day’s work!
Who cleans the windows of Burj Khalifa? The mere thought of squeegeeing the windows of the world’s tallest building is vertigo-inducing, but most manual laborers in the Gulf - cleaners, maintenance workers, and the like - are low paid migrant workers from south Asia.
Who cleans the windows of Burj Khalifa? The mere thought of squeegeeing the windows of the world’s tallest building is vertigo-inducing, but most manual laborers in the Gulf - cleaners, maintenance workers, and the like - are low paid migrant workers from south Asia.
Being the official patriotic singer for a royal family. In Jordan, turn on the local radio and you’re likely to hear Omar al-Abdallat, known for popularizing Bedouin music, praising King Abdullah and the Jordanian army.
Being the official patriotic singer for a royal family. In Jordan, turn on the local radio and you’re likely to hear Omar al-Abdallat, known for popularizing Bedouin music, praising King Abdullah and the Jordanian army.
Hares - these apartment gatekeepers can either make your rental experience smooth sailing or total hell. The best ones can help you with getting new cooking gas, building maintenance, paying bills - while the worst will pass on gossip to your neighbors and landlord.
Hares - these apartment gatekeepers can either make your rental experience smooth sailing or total hell. The best ones can help you with getting new cooking gas, building maintenance, paying bills - while the worst will pass on gossip to your neighbors and landlord.
Falconry is an important part of Arab heritage and kind of a big deal in the Gulf! Training falcons is not only a rite of passage for some men, it is a symbol of status too. Some falcons can cost over $ 1 million.
Falconry is an important part of Arab heritage and kind of a big deal in the Gulf! Training falcons is not only a rite of passage for some men, it is a symbol of status too. Some falcons can cost over $ 1 million.
The resident Men in Chairs. Usually hired as “security” or parking lot attendants, these guys can usually be seen sitting in a chair - often missing a leg - on the sidewalk, scowling and muttering at passersby. Sometimes their chair is strategically placed in the street to keep people from parking in front of a store.
The resident Men in Chairs. Usually hired as “security” or parking lot attendants, these guys can usually be seen sitting in a chair - often missing a leg - on the sidewalk, scowling and muttering at passersby. Sometimes their chair is strategically placed in the street to keep people from parking in front of a store.
Especially in Egypt, you’ll find "Nadabat" if you ever go to a funeral. These professional mourners are paid to cry in funerals and say nice things about the deceased. They even use eyedrops to fake tears and make $10-15 an hour! The UK has even gotten in on the action with Rent-A-Mourner.
Especially in Egypt, you’ll find "Nadabat" if you ever go to a funeral. These professional mourners are paid to cry in funerals and say nice things about the deceased. They even use eyedrops to fake tears and make $10-15 an hour! The UK has even gotten in on the action with Rent-A-Mourner.
In Tehran, local authorities restrict the number of cars allowed on the road according to their license plates (even numbers are allowed one day, odd the next). Drivers have found a quirky solution: hire people to sit and walk behind their cars to cover the plate. Why not just tape over the numbers like they do in China?
In Tehran, local authorities restrict the number of cars allowed on the road according to their license plates (even numbers are allowed one day, odd the next). Drivers have found a quirky solution: hire people to sit and walk behind their cars to cover the plate. Why not just tape over the numbers like they do in China?
Jordanian matchmaker Um Sultan has been instrumental in 2000 marriages over 18 years. She considers her work part of a larger effort to maintain a strong social and family fabric that allows Arab families to wither the storms of war and uncertainty.
Jordanian matchmaker Um Sultan has been instrumental in 2000 marriages over 18 years. She considers her work part of a larger effort to maintain a strong social and family fabric that allows Arab families to wither the storms of war and uncertainty.

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