2019 UAE Salary Guide

Your definitive guide to remuneration and recruitment trends for the UAE

The Robert Half 2019 Salary Guide is your comprehensive guide to competitive, confident hiring for the year ahead. Based on real-world insights, direct from professionals and hiring managers, it provides a definitive overview of the future of hiring.

Download the guide for your area of specialisation to get in-depth salary data and see:

Salary ranges for 185 jobs
Most in-demand positions & skills
Hiring market trends per sector
Trends in remuneration packages and starting salaries

Hiring strategies become more competitive

Accelerated economic growth has left 52% of UAE organisations struggling to find qualified professionals. New hiring strategies will focus on reducing hiring times, the promotion of company culture and raising base-level salaries. Download the guide to find out more.

The rise of automation and the future of work

The implementation of automation has become a concern for 29% of business leaders. Organisations are expected to adopt aggressive tactics to attract professionals with the digital skills needed to successfully implement, launch and maintain automation or AI initiatives. Start planning your new approach with insights from the latest Salary Guide.

Training is a key element in retention

Employee training is the second most popular retention tactic and is used by 44% of employers to help improve skill sets and workplace satisfaction. The majority (86%) of employers said they felt candidates were more likely to leave an organisation that couldn’t provide the requested training. How will you factor training into your 2019 retention strategy?

Leveraging streamlined remuneration packages

According to 90% of UAE hiring managers, candidates have higher expectations than salary alone, they are also looking for flexible working and a higher bonus. Consult the 2019 Salary Guide for insights into salary ranges and benefit trends to ensure your employment offer is competitive enough.

Digitisation, automation and AI are set to make a significant impact on roles, skills and processes.

Gareth El Mettouri - Associate Director, Robert Half UAE

Salaries by sector

Download the guide to access 2019 salary projections and the key recruitment trends affecting your sectors:

Accounting & finance

VAT implementation and new tax compliance requirements have pushed up demand for accounting and finance professionals. It is predicted that roles within this sector will be heavily impacted by the introduction of AI and automation, which has affected hiring strategies. Although salaries don’t appear to be going up, remuneration packages are becoming more competitive.

Financial services

A complete overhaul of processes has seen the UAE financial services market completely transform in recent months. To compensate, organisations are looking for professionals with compliance experience, business acumen and specific technical knowledge. Vacancies in financial services are steadily rising, pushing up salaries and prompting faster hiring.

Technology

UAE economic evolution is underpinned by its tech industry. Digital transformation roles are expected to take precedence in hiring plans for the coming year, with focus on IT security, CRM experience and project management. To secure the level of technical skill needed, organisations will need to rethink remuneration packages for technology roles.

Human resources & administration

Future business success hinges on staff retention and acquisition strategies, positioning HR teams as a key factor in businesses growth. Because they’re so crucial to future initiatives, qualified HR and admin professionals are in short supply. The highest salaries are being offered to bilingual candidates (English and Arabic), and those with very specific skill sets.

Legal

Demand for qualified professionals is beginning to outstrip supply in the UAE legal sector. Government and semi-government sectors are seeking legal counsel, as are organisations in financial services and private equity. An influx of top expat talent has pushed salaries up in the last year, especially for bilingual professionals (English and Arabic) or those with M&A expertise.

Download the guide now