Top jobs shaping the future

As the UAE moves towards a greener future, traditional jobs that have built the country will adapt, requiring upskilling in energy efficiency and sustainability.

The country’s Advanced Skills Strategy sets a national framework focused on lifelong learning for citizens and residents. It emphasises categories such as Basic Skills, Competencies, Personality Traits, and Specialised Skills—aimed at equipping talent with the necessary skills for various professions and sectors.

Several ministers have already announced significant job creation in various sectors. In September 2023, HE Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, announced that the country aims to boost the economic contribution of food and agriculture by $10 billion (Dhs30.67 billion) and create 20,000 jobs in the next five years.

Here are the most in-demand jobs in the coming years across various economic sectors:

1 Finance

In line with its national development goals, the UAE has been introducing a number of financial and tax policies and implementing stringent regulations and systems. Efforts have been intensified to curb practices such as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)—TAX strategies used by multinationals to exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to avoid paying tax. Additionally, the country’s position as an innovation and start-up hub, along with its aim to develop non-oil industries, underscores why the financial and banking sectors are amongst the most active.

Last year, numerous accounting and auditing firms increased their hiring and are likely to continue this trend in 2024. Some top companies are relocating their finance managers to the UAE.

Skills in demand include Financial Modelling (the ability to analyse a company’s performance on a spreadsheet and calculate its future financial outcomes), Investor Relations, and Start-up Portfolio Management. Finance, according to several analysts, is also a stable sector with potential for professional growth in the coming years.

Portfolios:

Chief financial officer, Head of Finance, Financial Planner, Finance Investment Manager, Compliance Officer, Fund Accountant, Financial Analyst, Commercial Finance Manager, Head of Finance and Financial Planner, amongst others

2 Technology

Techies did not have a great time in 2023. Giants such as Amazon and Microsoft laid off staff, creating insecurity in the industry. However, the UAE has transformed technology into a thriving sector. According to the International Trade Administration of the US, “The UAE is one of the largest data centre hubs in the Middle East and more are planned. Up to $1 billion (Dhs3.67 bn) in additional investments are projected by 2026. The UAE data centre market is expected to grow at an average rate of 3.43 per cent between 2022 and 2027.”

Cybersecurity professionals are highly valued in the country, which blocked 71 million attempted cyber-attacks in the first three quarters of 2023.

Portfolios:

Data scientists, Data engineers, AI experts, Software Developer, IT Engineer, Devops engineer, Digital marketing expert, amongst others

4 Tourism and Hospitality

International travellers have returned to the UAE, spurring growth in travel and tourism which, in turn, is causing a boom in hospitality. The country now boasts one of the richest hospitality sectors in the world and is a rich source of recruitment.

In 2023, the travel and tourism industry in the UAE was responsible for 317,500 jobs, accounting for 5.4 per cent of the country’s total employment. By 2027, this share is estimated to increase by 2.4 per cent annually to 410,000 jobs, which would represent 5.9 per cent of total employment. In Abu Dhabi, hotel occupancy had reached 70 per cent by August 2023. Many new hotels are also coming up, amongst them the Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat, opening in Abu Dhabi in February.

The expansion in hospitality and travel indicates a demand for professionals, from hotel managers to housekeepers, and from head chefs to gardeners. There are also opportunities for upskilling and cross-functional roles that allow professionals to grow.

The skills required in the Tourism and Hospitality industries range from communication and customer service to teamwork, time management, business strategy, and courtesy. As the country becomes a magnet for both business and personal travel, these professionals will be the face of the UAE to the world; hence, standards are high, as are the salaries, perks, and prestige.

Portfolios:

The boom in the hospitality industry requires professionals at multiple levels

3 Legal

The UAE has been modernising its legal structure in recent years, with several new laws and reforms. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other cuttingedge technologies into the legal framework of the country has made legal procedures sharper and more modern, and this progress is set to continue into the new year.

“With the introduction of corporate tax in the UAE for the first time, businesses are seeking lawyers who can help them navigate the new status quo. Corporate lawyers are also in demand as the volume of IPOS, mergers and acquisitions soars on the back of the flourishing economy,” stated in the 2024 Salary Guide of Robert Half Talent Solutions, an organisation that connects companies with suitably skilled jobseekers.

The skills that could give a candidate an advantage include knowledge of Arabic in addition to English, as this saves a company the expense of having legal documents translated externally. Family businesses, as well as oil and gas firms, also prefer lawyers who are fluent in both Arabic and English to draft legal documents.

Portfolios:

Senior Legal Associate, Senior Legal Counsel, and Corporate Lawyer

5 HR and Administration

The UAE is pursuing long-term growth, with the National Entrepreneurship Agenda propelling the country towards becoming one of the top three countries in the Global Entrepreneurship Index. Dubai Chamber of Commerce alone has seen a 43 per cent increase in new member companies, rising to 30,146 in the first half of 2023 from 21,098 in the same period in 2022.

The rise in companies, startups, and multinational offices in the country has led to increased hiring of Human Resources and Administrative staff. There is a need for professionals who can assist in strategic planning aimed at retaining talent, especially high-performing assets, making appropriate offers, formulating remuneration and compensation policies to match industry standards, and creating a healthy work culture. The UAE has also introduced several labour laws and visa regulations in recent years, resulting in active hiring of HR professionals who are well-versed in the changes and can guide both local and foreign professionals. HR professionals, for their part, seek offices with a corporate culture that embraces fair practices, inclusion, and growth.

Portfolios:

HR Director, Talent Manager, Talent Acquisition Manager