What it does: Auto sales and rental services, hospitality brands, luxury retail, and ventures in engineering, interiors contracting and real estate.
Best known for: Al Tayer Group is one of the biggest companies in the Middle East with almost 200 retail stores in six countries.
Staff stats: More than 9,000 employees.
The good bits: The group’s one-year Emirati Graduate Program aims to teach individuals about the business functions of five job roles (ie audit and risk, finance, HR, IT and marketing) in three industries.
The not so good bits: The same program requires a minimum GPA of 3.00. Al Tayer only prefers individuals with a university degree in any business specialisation.
Al Tayer Group started in 1979 as a diversified conglomerate of businesses in luxury retail, engineering, interiors contracting and real estate. They also engage in automobile sales, car rental service, perfume and cosmetic product distribution. The group established their automotive division in 1982 comprising the Al Tayer Motors, Premier Motors and National Car Rental.
The division’s brand portfolio includes well-known vehicle brands like Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln and Maserati. Al Tayer Group’s real estate business primarily involves building and security maintenance. They also claim to be the biggest luxury retailer in the Middle East with almost 200 stores in six countries. The conglomerate opened their first store in 1981 and subsequently expanded into Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
You’ll find it easier to track a job application by creating an account on the company’s career website, but the company also accepts candidates through employee referrals and recruiters. Al Tayer Group said that ‘things will move pretty quickly’ if they determine that you’re a good fit for the role.
An initial interview with an HR representative will take place either at one of the company’s offices or over the phone. You should prepare to answer questions not only about your credentials on paper but also your passion and strengths. Al Tayer normally provides a job offer after one to three days after a successful application. The actual time will vary based on the position’s seniority and the candidate’s location.
Applications through employee referrals can take up to more than five weeks. The company may process online applications and inform candidates about the results after two weeks. You may have to wait for more than five months if you apply through a recruiter. Be prepared to take aptitude tests or psychometric exams during the hiring process.
University students can apply for internships in six departments at Al Tayer Group: buying, digital design, digital merchandising, digital marketing, HR and planning. Aspiring digital commerce interns will stand out if they have previous experience in e-commerce, especially in the fashion industry.
Fresh graduates can join the Al Tayer Group’s one-year Emirati Graduate Program. The group requires a minimum GPA of 3.00 from an accredited university. You’ll also need a valid UAE passport and family book (Khulasat Al Qaid). The program will expose you to business operations in the automotive, real estate, retail and travel industries, and allow you to learn about audit and risk, finance, HR, IT and marketing tasks.
Al Tayer Group’s ‘Variable Reward Framework’ distinguishes an employee’s contribution from their performance depending on the role. Front-line employees such as retail staff become eligible for incentives after meeting or exceeding sales targets. Support roles earn incentives based on their contributions to the company’s budget and strategy goals. The group also rewards individuals who have been with them for a long time.
Interns earn around AED2,000 per month on average. Entry-level roles like sales advisors and consultants earn between AED6,000 and AED8,000 per month on average. The company provides employee discounts that can be used on different brands and businesses. Some employees said that a select few can enjoy certain benefits like clothing allowance and subsidised parking.
Some employees believe that while the company offers diverse learning opportunities, it can be difficult to advance in their careers. Those who are in sales also need to work long hours and more frequently, which affects work-life balance for them. You should also prepare for office politics if you decide to work at the company’s office in Dubai.
Al Tayer Group competes with Debenhams and Harvey Nichols. In 2017, the conglomerate opened a Bloomingdale’s store in Kuwait City to solidify their market dominance.
The group focuses on children as the primary beneficiaries of their corporate social responsibility programs. Al Tayer Group partners with different organisations including Al Noor, Dubai Autism Center, Dubai Cares, Future Centre for Special Needs, and the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre.
Graduates in the UAE with valid passports and family books will have more opportunities to join the Al Tayer Group, unlike degree holders from in countries. The conglomerate doesn’t seem to recruit as frequently as they do in the UAE, so there’s a sense of pride when graduates from other countries are hired at any of the company’s regional offices in the Middle East.