UAE hiring up 16%, led by jobs paying up to AED 10,000
UAE hiring rose 16 per cent since April, with jobs paying up to AED 10,000 growing fastest, according to the Naukrigulf Hiring Index. Manufacturing, healthcare and real estate led gains.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
UAE hiring up 16 per cent since April is the headline from the latest Naukrigulf Hiring Index, with jobs paying up to AED 10,000 a month growing the fastest. For workers and job seekers, that points to stronger demand in lower salary bands and more openings in engineering, manufacturing, healthcare and real estate, according to Khaleej Times' report on the index.
UAE hiring up 16%: what the latest index shows
The second edition of the Naukrigulf Hiring Index shows the UAE hiring index rising from 1,007 in April to 1,167 in September. The index tracks more than 200,000 hiring mandates a year from over 7,000 employers across the UAE, Qatar and Oman.
According to Khaleej Times, the index measures employer hiring intent through 2 signals:
- Outbound hiring, which includes new job postings and applicant review activity
- Inbound hiring, which includes employer searches of the candidate database
Sharad Sindhwani, EVP, business and product head at Naukrigulf, said Gulf hiring is "clearly picking up". He also said hiring is still below last year's level, although the gap is narrowing.
That rebound matters because the regional conflict that began on February 28 had created uncertainty across Gulf job markets. Khaleej Times said sectors such as tourism, hospitality, aviation, logistics and retail are especially exposed to disruption in travel, trade and consumer confidence.
Separate figures also point to recovery, though employers remain selective. Khaleej Times cited Cooper Fitch data showing UAE hiring rebounded by 4 per cent in the third quarter of 2026, while GCC hiring rose 2 per cent.
Which UAE jobs are growing fastest
The strongest growth was in jobs at the lower end of the pay scale.
| Salary band | Change since April |
|---|---|
| Up to AED 10,000 | 24 per cent |
| AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 | 7 per cent |
| AED 20,000 to AED 30,000 | 10 per cent |
| More than AED 30,000 | Lower than April |
Between April and September, hiring increased in 14 of 15 major industries.
Among the larger sectors, manufacturing and industrial recorded the highest growth at 32 per cent. That leaves it just 2 per cent below last year's level.
Healthcare and pharma each rose 26 per cent. Real estate and construction, which account for nearly a quarter of all UAE hiring, rose 20 per cent. Retail, FMCG and consumer increased 17 per cent.
Some sectors grew even faster, but from a low base in April. Hospitality, travel and entertainment rose 63 per cent, while automotive and transport climbed 65 per cent.
There were also softer spots. IT and digital hiring was broadly flat over the 6 months and remains 8 per cent below last year. Banking, financial services and insurance was the only major industry where hiring fell.
What UAE hiring up 16% means for job seekers
If you are job hunting now, the clearest signal is that employers are adding more roles below AED 10,000 than in higher salary bands. That does not mean better-paid jobs have disappeared, but the source data shows the recovery is stronger in lower and mid-range salaries.
Job function data also gives a useful guide. Core engineering, the biggest job function with about a third of all UAE hiring, rose 16 per cent since April and is now level with last year. Operations roles rose 28 per cent, and sales and marketing increased 21 per cent, although sales and marketing is still 21 per cent below last year.
There is also a wider talent pool in many vacancies. Jobs with no nationality preference rose 20 per cent since April and now account for about 56 per cent of all UAE hiring, up from 54 per cent a year ago. Jobs preferring South Asian candidates rose 27 per cent and are only 2 per cent below last year.
That fits with recent trends we have covered on temporary hiring and project work in the UAE and the growing importance of communication skills in hiring decisions.
How to use this UAE hiring trend in your job search
If you are applying now, focus your time where demand is rising fastest.
- Prioritise engineering, operations, manufacturing, healthcare, pharma, real estate and construction roles.
- If your target salary is up to AED 10,000, widen your search now. This band saw the fastest hiring growth in the index.
- Keep expectations realistic in IT and digital, where hiring was flat over the past 6 months.
- If you are looking at hospitality, travel, entertainment, automotive or transport, remember growth was strong but started from a low April base.
- Make your CV skills-led and easy to scan, because employers are still selective and are focusing on specialist and critical skills.
You can also browse current openings on JobXDubai Jobs.
Key takeaway
The latest data suggests the UAE jobs market improved between April and September, with the biggest momentum in roles paying up to AED 10,000 a month. For applicants, the best near-term chances appear to be in engineering, operations, manufacturing, healthcare and real estate, while high-paying roles and some office sectors remain softer.
FAQ
Is hiring in the UAE rising in 2026?
Yes. According to the Naukrigulf Hiring Index cited by Khaleej Times, hiring in the UAE rose 16 per cent since April, with the index moving from 1,007 to 1,167 by September.
Which salary range is growing fastest in the UAE job market?
Jobs paying up to AED 10,000 a month grew 24 per cent since April, the fastest of any salary band in the index. Roles paying more than AED 30,000 were lower than in April.
Which sectors are hiring most in the UAE right now?
Manufacturing and industrial was one of the strongest larger sectors, up 32 per cent. Healthcare and pharma each rose 26 per cent, and real estate and construction rose 20 per cent.
Is IT hiring growing in the UAE?
IT and digital hiring was broadly flat over the 6 months covered by the index. It is also 8 per cent lower than last year, according to the report.
Are more UAE jobs open without nationality preference?
Yes. Jobs with no nationality preference rose 20 per cent since April and now make up about 56 per cent of all UAE hiring, up from 54 per cent a year earlier.
Further reading
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