UAE salary guide: How much can Emiratis earn in Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi?
Emirati professionals are increasingly turning to the private sector for career progression, driven by government efforts to further develop the UAE labour market for citizens, according to a report by recruitment consultancy Michael Page.
Initiatives such as the Emirati HR Development Council, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in July last year are helping to boost Emirati interest in the private sector, Michael Page's 2022 Emiratisation salary and hiring insights guide found.
Michael Page polled more than 1,400 Emirati professionals last year as it prepared the guide.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, “we saw a huge shift in the market with strong, qualified UAE national candidates receiving multiple offers — this is the busiest the Emiratisation job market has been”, said Samantha Wright, managing consultant for Emiratisation at Michael Page.
“Emiratis are not only looking for attractive salaries and financial benefits when joining a company; they are also looking for learning and career progression and how their work can directly impact business growth.”
The jobs market in the UAE, the second-largest Arab economy, has made a strong recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown on the back of the government’s fiscal and monetary measures.
About 76 per cent of UAE employers plan to expand their workforce in 2022, according to a survey in February by jobs portal Bayt.com and market research company YouGov.
