For those looking for a stint in the Middle East, there are several other options if Dubai isn't your cup of tea. Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain have all traditionally provided opportunities for Australian lawyers.

However, with the current unrest sweeping the Arab world, Australians are currently being advised not to travel to Bahrain due to violent clashes, and to reconsider travelling to Saudi Arabia due to the very high threat of terrorism throughout the country.

The other centres remain, at this stage, relatively stable.

Like Dubai, the primary skills in demand are energy & resources and finance, and you'll likely need at least four years of top-tier experience under your belt before you'll even be considered.

However, if you're female (or a man who loves a cold beer) working in Saudi Arabia is not an option.

While Arabic language skills are rarely required in Dubai, you may be required to have them elsewhere in the Middle East. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to land English-speaking positions and Arabic is seen more as an advantage than a necessity.

The good: Tax-free income and the chance to explore a culture which is vastly different to our own, as well as high living standards and fantastic weather.

The bad: If you're a woman, you cannot work in Saudi Arabia. Summer temperatures across the Middle East can verge on unbearable and the current political unrest is making things uncertain.

Realistic option? Yes, if you have several years of top-tier experience in the required field and are ready for an adventure.

Click on the images below to discover the 2011 legal job hotspots for Australian lawyers: