Is Dubai the next multi-million dollar voice-over market?

Maxine Dunn · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 675

Hi guys ~ So, just a little food for thought.... I want to preface this post by stating that I have not exhaustively vetted the pictures, computer images, or facts below for total and utter validity. However when a friend sent me an email about this, I thought it would be interesting food for thought for my fellow voice-over buds....

If Dubai really is growing at the incredible rate that's suggested, (not just here but in almost everything you read about Dubai), does that not mean that there will be millions of English speaking, (and of course people speaking languages of the entire world), flocking to Dubai to partake of its new venues? And, if they are, then they will most surely need guidance from voice-over artists! For all-things-tourist...too numerous to mention here.

Check out the madness though....growth, even though we may benefit from it, can sometimes be very scary.

Max

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

Yes, it IS absolutely incredible. Lots o' money there... and so, from what I understand, it's terribly expensive.

I'd love to visit sometime.

Dan Nachtrab · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 7

About a month or so ago, I became the voice for the Palm Jumeirah monorail. So, to answer your question, yes!

Maxine Dunn · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 675

Dan ~ How completely, totally COOL!! How did you land such a gig? Not wanting to steal YOUR show of course, but wondering how one gets connected to Dubai in such a way?

Thanks for your post. And congratulations! 2 daumen hoch

Max

Dan Nachtrab · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 7

Honestly, I was hired from my demo provided to the client by a studio I work with often.

Yes, it is pretty cool. Smile

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

Max, you're right--Dubai is a fascinating new market. And congrats to Dan for getting a good gig.

I did the Sheraton Dubai's voice mail which had a reasonable budget. The job came via a contact in Australia. But two other phone projects for Dubai companies, offered by Dubai contacts, came up in the $25 range. Needless to say, I declined.

While the growth in Dubai is amazing, the country is also well known for it's poor treatment of foreign labor--and that's about 85% of the country's population. (Here's a typical story http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/world/middleeast/06dubai.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin.) There may certainly be more and more opportunity for English speaking talent, but that doesn't necessarily they won't be stingy.

Maxine Dunn · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 675

Hi Haneen ~

How nice to read your post! I love your voice and have always enjoyed reading your thoughtful posts here. And, congratulations on the Sheraton!

However, $25.00 for a phone prompt! That's insane! I'm truly amazed that companies would even offer such a rate. My voice-mail fees start at $350.00, maybe $250.00 for a small project and can vary widely from there, but $25.00 is almost....rude! I pay the cute young guy that mows my lawn more than $25.00! Or you can take three articles of clothing to the dry cleaners and pay more than $25.00. I'm baffled by clients that put such low value on the voice that will be representing their business.

I'm hoping that the voice-over community will realize that there are 100's of billions of dollars being bandied about in Dubai, and keep their rates at industry standards at least.....

xox
Max

Tom Pagnotti · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 220

I've done spots for two companies in Dubai - most recently for the store "The One" (their answer to Crate and Barrel I believe). They had little reservation in shelling out the $$. Media is exploding there...

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

Maxine,

First of all, thanks for your kind compliments! You always start fascinating conversations here, and I admire your work, too--especially your dual accents...lovely stuff.

Well, as Tom & Dan are getting good gigs, there's proof of respectable work in Dubai, but like any job anywhere, it's largely dependent on who's representing you or who's doing the casting.

One thing I do know about the Middle East, in general, is that there is a good business right now for English speaking Radio Imaging. I don't know about all accents, but Brits and Americans are in demand in Egypt, Jordan and Dubai. And I've seen a couple of posts here that suggest I'm not the only one on this board on the air there. It would be more likely that Lebanon, Tunis, and Morocco would be looking for French talent, but as I don't speak it...I'm only guessing...maybe Claire Dodin knows...

All of this said, keep in mind that salaries in this part of the world overseas are pittance. If you're getting a decent VO rate, it's a company that either isn't owned by or appealing to the locals. The average Jordanian salary is about $600 per month. (Disclosure: I have dual American-Jordanian citizenship.) I don't bring this up to make it political, but to suggest that $25 for a voicemail might not be meant as an insult from some of these people. Regarding the two $25 jobs I was offered, they came from Dubai companies who should have known better.

At the end of the day, VO folks have to be able to make a living wherever we are. Yes, Maxine--keep your standards high, and leave the rest behind.

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

A woman I used to work with in radio here in Connecticut, who later went on to BBC1, eventually migrated to an English speaking radio station in Dubai. They had quite a sizeable contingent of mostly British expats on staff.

Maxine Dunn · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 675

Hi Haneen,

Thanks so much for your post. I hadn't taken into account the normal wages in that part of the world and I should have been more open-minded about that aspect. I appreciate you pointing that out...

I think it's very exciting that there's a burgeoning world of voice-overs opening up for us all and I'm really looking forward to see where it all leads.

xox

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

I might post this in recommended reading as well when I'm finished with it, but I think it fits in this thread. Dubai is a wonderful example of the rise of the rest of the world as economic, political and cultural powers.

A beautifully written book by Fareed Zakaria called THE POST AMERICAN WORLD. Fascinating especially for those doing business globally,( and that's pretty much everyone nowadays), but also a great read for anyone wanting to understand the dynamics of international relations better.

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

Maxine,

It IS exciting, isn't it? Regardless of the pay scales or the projects, just the idea that we're able to send audio from our home studios to someone else's far corner of the developing world, fascinates me to no end. The trick is figuring out how to make ourselves known, of course, but yes, there really is a wealth of opportunity in these emerging markets. Thanks for bringing up the topic.

Diane, I'll look up that book. F. Zakaria is a smart guy.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Yes, Haneen --

I love Fareed Zakaria. Jon Stewart has him as a guest very often -- he's an intelligent, articulate and charming man. I also read THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM -- he's such an amazing writer. I learn so much about the world from him that you just don't hear anywhere else with the same perspective, and with such incredible objectivity.

I'm about done with this one -- an important, fascinating book -- I couldn't put it down. He also read this one for the audiobook -- I might just get that too! He's got a great voice as well.

Rajiv Hasan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 355

Hi all,

Interesting thread, Max. Here's my two Dirhams...

Just under a year ago - and still pretty wet-behind-the-ears in this business - I agreed to sign up with a Dubai-based AV production company at their bargain-basement rates (mainly on-hold stuff), on the understanding that they would provide... wait for it... 'projects in bulk'. kopf gegen wand

Yes, Homer would have been proud as I swallowed hook, line and sinker... End result: a few small jobs at the kind of rates Haneen was talking about earlier. The funny (not 'ha, ha' funny) thing is that the companies I was promoting - property firms, hotels etc - were obviously squillionaire enterprises. Even allowing for Haneen's valid point about fairness of rates depending on where you live, these balls were low. Still, lesson learned, and I'll be off their books imminently (probably... Rolling Eyes

).

Mind you, from what Tom and Dan were saying, if you hit the right buttons (or someone hits your's), there's some great work out there.

May the oils of good fortune flow freely towards you...

Rajiv