As we approach the end of the year, we’re seeing a welcome increase in market activity.

It’s fair to say 2025 has been a tough year for many job seekers. The sheer volume of new arrivals, an estimated 1,000 people moving to the UAE every day, means employers often feel there’s a ready supply of replacements.

Let’s look at the facts. There’s no shortage of people arriving in the UAE right now. It’s fuelling growth, bringing energy and creating opportunities for employers to expand. But it’s also having an unintended consequence: it’s quietly devaluing the workforce.

When there’s a constant inflow of new people willing to work for less, some employers become less focused on retaining the people they already have. We’re seeing more cases where experience and loyalty are overlooked in favour of lower salaries and short-term savings.

The data tells an important story. Around six in ten employees across the Middle East are either considering or actively looking for a new job. Nearly 40 % of people who leave cite a lack of engagement or connection with the culture as their main reason. Combined with the additional new available talent, this creates a destabilising cycle: people move more often, companies lose knowledge, and the overall cost of recruitment and onboarding rises.

Hiring and retaining the right person first time is an essential part of long-term business stability. When organisations invest in keeping their teams engaged, supported and fairly rewarded, they don’t just reduce turnover, they build stronger, more resilient businesses.

At a recent Inspire Selection event, we heard from Ramesh Cidambi (Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free) and Saim Yasin (Director, Marketing & Digital, Phillip Morris International), who shared their insights on retaining and motivating their own teams. Both spoke about role-modelling the behaviours they want to see, providing opportunities for career and location moves, keeping feedback regular and structured, and developing their people continuously.

We’ve also been delighted to take part in other recent events, including Louise Vine’s session at The American University of Dubai focused on networking and continuous professional development for Finance & Accounting students, and also at IMPACT for senior finance professionals, exploring how the region’s economic shifts and AI are shaping the future of finance careers.

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Networking: Why it Matters More Than Ever

At IMPACT last month, Louise spoke to a room of roughly 60 CFOs, all exceptionally experienced, all highly credible, yet many quietly admitted the same thing: they’d neglected their networks for years.

Brilliant careers. Always busy. Always head-hunted.

And then suddenly… facing redundancy and realising they had to start networking from scratch.

It’s a story we’re hearing more often across senior finance and leadership roles. You simply can’t build a network overnight, and you can’t rely on one you never invested in.

But, it’s never too late to start, and small, consistent steps make all the difference.

Where to begin?

• ‍Reconnect with people you’ve genuinely enjoyed working with. Invite them for a coffee. Not to ask for a job, just to stay on their radar and let them know your direction.
• ‍Be referable. Make it easy for people to talk about you with confidence. Your online presence, your reputation, how you show up, it all shapes how others describe you.
• ‍Show up at events. In a city like Dubai, physical presence still counts. Be visible. Read the room. Keep body language open and approachable.‍
• Keep it concise. Have a simple “elevator pitch” ready. Don’t hold people hostage in long conversations, networking is about making connections, not dominating them.‍
• Be memorable. Share a short story that anchors who you are and what you do. Something human, something distinct.‍
• Give, don’t just take. The most successful networkers are the ones who connect others, offer help, and contribute. People remember how you make them feel.
  

No matter how senior you are, your future opportunities will come from the relationships you invest in today. And in a market as fast-moving as the UAE, visibility, connection and reputation really are everything.

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

Whether you’re actively hiring or simply want a market update, benchmarking on your existing team’s salaries, we’re always happy to help.

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