RELATED: Why the Emirates has one of the world's 'strongest hiring booms'
The GCC recorded a 7.7 per cent increase in job creation in the first quarter of 2022, up from 2 per cent in the previous quarter, driven by hiring in the public, legal, banking, advisory, real estate and cloud sectors, according to a new report.
The 2 per cent increase in job creation in the fourth quarter of 2021 was a reflection of the market during the holiday period, recruitment specialist Cooper Fitch said in its Gulf Employment Index report, which monitors new job activity and employment trends.
“The GCC looks set for a very positive employment year in 2022, with each country focused on delivering against their medium- and long-term strategies around job creation,” Trefor Murphy, founder and chief executive of Cooper Fitch, said in the report on Monday.
“We are forecasting high single-digit growth across each of the Gulf countries for the year ahead.”
The jobs market in the UAE, the second-largest Arab economy, has made a strong recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown as a result of the government’s fiscal and monetary measures.
About 76 per cent of employers in the UAE plan to expand their workforce in 2022, a February survey by jobs portal Bayt.com and market research company YouGov found.
About two thirds of professionals in the UAE will look for new jobs in the first half of this year as business confidence and hiring activity return to pre-pandemic levels, recruitment company Robert Walters said.
Industries in the GCC that recorded the biggest increase in hiring in the first quarter of 2022 included advisory, the public sector, real estate, legal, banking, software development, cyber security and digital marketing, the Cooper Fitch report found.
“Advisory firms were busier this quarter, with a 14 per cent increase in jobs on the last quarter due to it being the start of the year and a higher amount of spending coming from the public sector across advisory, consulting and strategy,” it said.
“The public sector increased its investment across multiple industries, which has led to an all-time high in hiring across government entities with a 9 per cent increase in jobs in the first quarter of 2022 compared with the fourth quarter of 2021.”
Meanwhile, the GCC also recorded growth in the number of jobs related to environment, social and governance (ESG), digital transformation and real estate in the three months to the end of March, the report found.
There was a 17 per cent increase in the number of cloud-related jobs across the Gulf region in the first quarter, the recruitment consultancy said.
The GCC also reported a 9 per cent increase in cyber security jobs in the first quarter, “which will continue due to the upcoming football World Cup in Qatar and the rapid development of smart cities in Saudi Arabia”, according to Cooper Fitch.
“There is a big push for software engineers for in-house teams as many businesses are reaching the next stage of their tech maturity model, where they are no longer relying on external companies for their development needs but instead on in-house teams,” Mr Murphy said.
The GCC banking sector recorded a 14 per cent increase in job activity in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, the report found.
“We expect this to continue this year as a number of banks in the region have made announcements regarding a huge increase in hiring,” Mr Murphy said.
The increase in mergers and acquisitions activity in the GCC is leading to an increase in demand for lawyers who specialise in those activities, Cooper Fitch said.
“Due to salary increases at the end of Q4 2021, newly qualified associates are now being paid higher than before. This will be the biggest cost increase for companies as they look to ensure they can retain the best junior talent.”
There is a big push for software engineers for in-house teams as many businesses are reaching the next stage of their tech maturity model
Trefor Murphy,
founder and chief executive of Cooper Fitch
Legal jobs in the private sector increased by 18 per cent in the first quarter, while in-house legal jobs were up by 13 per cent, Cooper Fitch said.
Meanwhile, a high number of initial public offerings in the region resulted in 3 per cent growth in job creation for investment managers in the first quarter.
High growth sectors in the GCC for jobs in 2022
- Advisory
- Public sector
- Real estate
- Legal
- Banking
- Software development
- Cyber security
- Digital marketing
- Cloud computing
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
- Or try to keep the word count down
- Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
- That's about it
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Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Company%20Profile
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort: