Participants attend a recruitment event for real estate agents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Participants attend a recruitment event for real estate agents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Participants attend a recruitment event for real estate agents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Participants attend a recruitment event for real estate agents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Influx of foreign talent in the UAE pushes down starting salaries


Deepthi Nair
  • English
  • Arabic

The starting salaries for professional services roles in the UAE have decreased by an average of 0.7 per cent in 2024 as an influx of talent and more competition has created a surplus, according to recruitment consultancy Robert Half.

Finance and accounting roles took the biggest hit, with starting salaries down by an average of 2.1 per cent. Salaries for some accounting roles were down by 23 per cent, Robert Half said in its 2025 UAE Salary Guide.

The report analysed starting salaries across more than 100 professional services roles within the finance and accounting, financial services, technology, HR and legal sectors.

While those with accounting skills are still in demand – particularly those with financial planning and tax experience – the immediate availability of expats in the UAE is driving down their market value, the study found.

Starting salaries in admin, human resources and business support roles have decreased by 1.2 per cent, followed by IT and technology at 0.1 per cent.

In contrast, starting salaries for in-house legal roles have increased by 1.6 per cent as demand for mid-level legal counsel surges. Demand is being driven by many privately owned businesses considering an initial public offering and who require legal support, the research revealed.

Professionals in financial services experienced an average salary increase of 0.2 per cent this year.

“Although the influx of expats has made it easier and cheaper for businesses to hire, leaders should be mindful of the impact this could have on their existing employees,” Gareth El Mettouri, director – Middle East at Robert Half, said.

“Unable to secure pay rises in both their existing roles or new roles, many employees feel trapped, which impacts job satisfaction and productivity. If employers do not take steps to look after their best talent, they will move on as soon as the market shifts.”

Employers may struggle to find employees with the right skillsets, especially if they require Arabic speakers or those with previous UAE experience, he said. To attract those already living and working in the country, remuneration will need to be competitive, Mr El Mettouri added.

The UAE jobs market has recovered well from the Covid-19 pandemic thanks largely to fiscal and social measures taken by the government to attract skilled workers with new visas, and incentives for companies to set up or expand their operations. It has also introduced an unemployment insurance programme, which came into effect in 2023.

A February report by global HR platform Deel found that the UAE is the world's most popular country for international talent seeking employment visas.

According to the Robert Half report, following the introduction of corporate tax in June 2023, companies that were previously outsourcing their tax affairs are now looking to bring them in-house, which is driving demand for financial reporting and technical accounting roles, the data found.

In IT and technology, start-ups and artificial intelligence-focused companies that set up shop in the region during and after the pandemic are now reaching the next stage of maturity. These companies are seeking UX and UI specialists who can enhance the customer experience and accessibility, the report said.

“Organisations are looking for HR experts with transformation experience, particularly those who are planning to automate systems and procedures over the next few years,” the consultancy said.

In financial services, competition for compliance talent is increasing, especially for those with experience of Dubai’s jurisdiction.

“As one of the few global locations currently flourishing, there has been an influx of investment firms into the UAE, which are now seeking traders and general partners, bringing in talent from the UK, US, Netherlands and Singapore. Retail financial institutions are also growing in the area due to the prevalence of high net worth individuals," the report said.

However, the decline in salaries and oversupply of foreign talent is undermining in-role salary growth, with 75 per cent agreeing that it is harder to negotiate a pay rise than it was 12 months ago.

About 34 per cent of employees in the UAE said they need a higher salary to meet their obligations. Overall, 65 per cent will look for a new job before the end of 2025, with 30 per cent of those citing the rising cost of living as a major driver for their move.

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

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