All points raised by AS are Very true.
Criminal record is required from almost all the work force going to come here but ur point is still very much valid as ppl with Arabic name and with specific nationalities do have to either wait for longer time to get things done or they may get rejection on some ridiculous basis.I know one of my friend here in Pakistan a qualified accountant who got a job offer from Behrain ,he signed the contract but they refused his visa.The cause of rejection was just shocking for me.You know what, they rejected it because his last name was Naqvi.Now this is something really rediculous and a piece of ignorance depicted by them.
So I agree with AS and believe that things gotta change atleast here in GCC countries.At last I thought and believed these are independent muslime countries and so should depict likewise.