As per the media reports, Japanese firms are busy recruiting, in spite of the downturn in the UAE job market. Recently, a well renowned recruitment agency claimed to have witnessed a 22 per cent increase in business from Japanese firms in the first six months of 2009.

Ian Giulianotti, Associate Director at Nadia Middle East, said, "Japanese firms in the UAE believe that they've seen the bottom [of the crisis] and are now preparing for the upturn."

Though he did not name any of his clients, he did specify that their research has displayed an increase of 22 per cent in business from Japanese firms in the UAE.

The past few years have been god for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which is one of the largest Japanese firms operating in the region, as it experienced a growth in its business.

The Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines and the airport people mover are some the major projects on which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is working presently.

Apart from being the leader of a consortium of four Japanese companies, MHI also heads a Turkish corporation that planned and implemented the two-phase Dubai Metro project. Japanese Obayashi, Kajima Corporation and Yapi Merkesi of Turkey are among the members of the consortium.