The UAE remains one of the most attractive places in the world to build a leadership career. But the hiring market is changing fast, pulled by two forces at once: surging demand for AI skills and growing expectations on Emiratisation.
AI demand is accelerating
PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer for the UAE found that the share of job postings requiring AI skills more than tripled, from 1.0% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2025. In technology, media and telecoms, nearly one in ten postings now asks for AI skills. PwC places the UAE among the world’s fastest-growing AI talent markets.
That demand sits on top of an already tight market. ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey found that 76% of UAE employers struggle to find skilled talent, above the global average of 72%.
Emiratisation is a leadership responsibility
Private sector companies with 50 or more employees must grow the number of Emiratis in skilled roles by 2% a year, delivered in half-yearly steps, with 30 June 2026 the deadline for the first half of this year. Smaller companies of 20 to 49 employees in specified sectors must employ at least one UAE national. For senior hires, the ability to develop Emirati talent is now part of the job.
Five steps for employers hiring in the UAE
- 1Define the AI capability you actually need. Building, adopting and governing AI are different roles.
- 2Make talent development part of the brief. Ask leaders how they have grown national talent before.
- 3Compete on more than salary. Scope, stability and long-term residency matter to senior candidates.
- 4Look beyond the Emirates. The UK, Europe and Egypt hold experienced leaders interested in the UAE.
- 5Decide quickly. In a market this tight, slow processes lose the best people.
In the UAE, the leaders who stand out are the ones who can deliver today and develop the Emirati leaders of tomorrow.
Ameera Talent SolutionsKiller questions for your next UAE hire
| Is Emirati talent development part of this role? | Yes / No |
| Does the role require building, adopting or governing AI? | Build / Adopt / Govern |
| How many candidates on your shortlist are based outside the UAE? | Number |
| Is the package benchmarked against current UAE offers? | Yes / No |
| How many weeks from first interview to offer? | Number |
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Request a callContact usSources: PwC, 2026 AI Jobs Barometer: UAE analysis; MoHRE, Emiratisation targets; MoHRE on the June 2026 deadline; Computer Weekly, citing ManpowerGroup 2026.
