Over the past week, events in the region have naturally created a degree of uncertainty and concern for many people. Like everyone here, we are incredibly grateful for the calm leadership and stability the UAE continues to provide, and for the efforts that keep daily life, schools and businesses moving forward.
We had originally prepared this newsletter before the recent developments. However, the themes we explore, the resilience of the UAE economy and the changing dynamics of the talent market, remain highly relevant, so we wanted to share them with you.
For now, some of clients are going ahead with their hiring plans, while others have asked us to see what the next couple of weeks bring, and then reassess.
Market overview
We started 2026 by taking a data-led look at the UAE market, where growth is coming from, how the talent landscape is shiftingm and what this means for employers and professionals.
The UAE economy continues to set the pace globally, with GDP expanding by 5.1% in the first nine months of 2025. This was driven almost entirely by the non-oil sector, which grew 6.1% to exceed AED 1 trillion.
At the same time, the labour market is accelerating rather than stabilising. The workforce expanded by 12.4% in 2025 and the number of private-sector companies increased by 7.8%. Clear evidence of sustained inward investment and business confidence.
The latest PMI reading of 54.9 (well above the growth threshold) confirms that new orders, output and hiring activity all moved higher at the start of 2026, signalling strong pipelines rather than short-term growth.
This growth is being fuelled both by population inflows and large-scale company formation. The UAE added around 250,000 new businesses in 2025, taking the total to more than 1.4 million, while the population increased by roughly half a million people in the same period.
Trade, financial services, construction, real estate and professional services remain the biggest contributors to activity and employment, reinforcing the structural demand for experienced talent. In short, this is not a cyclical hiring spike; it is a long-term expansion story, one that continues to intensify competition for high-quality professionals across mid to senior level roles.
*Based on UAE Ministry of Economy and Central Bank data on non-oil GDP contribution and sector growth.
What this means for hiring
While business confidence and headcount growth remain strong, the talent market is telling a more complex story. The number of people moving to the UAE is changing salary expectations in a very real way. A decade ago, relocating to the UAE typically meant a significant uplift. Today we are increasingly meeting experienced professionals who are prepared to accept lower salaries in order to secure long-term stability in the region. The result is a growing pool of highly capable, senior-level candidates actively in the market at the same time.
Job Seekers Strategy Event
This was the focus of our recent Job Seeker Strategy Event for senior professionals, where we hosted a panel discussion centred on the realities of today’s market. Alongside an open and honest conversation about the challenges, we shared practical guidance on how senior candidates can position themselves more effectively, from strengthening their CV and LinkedIn presence to developing a targeted networking strategy and accessing opportunities in a more proactive way.
The session quickly evolved into a two-way discussion, with attendees contributing their own experiences and questions, creating a highly engaged and supportive environment.
It highlighted that success at this level comes from a combination of trusted advice, strong recruitment partnerships and a proactive approach to personal networks.
TESTIMONIAL
“Thank you for this inspiring meeting. It was truly enriching to hear from such accomplished professionals who generously shared so many useful insights and practical experiences. I found your commitment to helping others deeply inspiring. This exchange was both motivating and empowering, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from you all “
At this level, the role of a specialist recruitment partner becomes more important than ever. Many senior professionals are navigating a market where experience can, at times, be overlooked in favour of lower-cost or more junior hires. Yet we continue to meet an exceptional group of candidates who bring deep expertise, strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to adding value. They are not applying to online advertised roles; they are relying on us to represent them in the right way, open the right doors and provide honest, informed guidance. In a market that is growing but increasingly competitive at the top, it is this partnership, built on trust, transparency and sector knowledge, that turns a challenging search into a successful, long-term move.
We are proud to represent this community of senior professionals. It is a responsibility we take very seriously.
Whether you are looking to strengthen your leadership team or considering your own next move, our team is always available for a discreet, informed discussion.
Finally…
As a reminder, our recruiters are well-established with solid networks. We represent exclusive candidates that other agencies don’t even know about.
We have specialist recruiters in the following areas:
- Finance, Accounting, Banking, Fintech, Data Analytics
- IT, Tech
- Legal, Compliance, Risk
- Business Support, Admin
- Sales
- Marketing
- Events
- Supply Chain, Procurement, Shipping, Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Military & Defence
Whether you’re actively hiring or simply want a market update, benchmarking on your existing team’s salaries, we’re always happy to help.
Kind regards,
