More companies in the Gulf are using long-term incentive plans to attract and retain top talent, a new report has found.
More than half – 56.5 per cent – of chief executives in Saudi Arabia now receive LTIPs, compared to 35.3 per cent in the UAE, according to recruitment consultancy Cooper Fitch’s 2025 CEO Report, which was released on Tuesday.
About 18 per cent of chief executives in the kingdom reported receiving nine to 12 months’ salary as LTIs, while their counterparts in the UAE rely on short-term incentives instead. Among those receiving LTIs in the Emirates, 14 per cent reported LTI exceeding one to six months’ salary, the report revealed.
UAE Salary Guide 2025
Check out our salary guide below for a snapshot of how much you can expect to be paid monthly in your sector in 2025.
Short-term incentives are annual bonuses while long-term incentives are commonly given over the span of three to five years, according to Jack Khabbaz, managing partner and head of CEO practice at Cooper Fitch.
“LTIs are additional to the annual bonus and fixed salary, and it could be designed as a cash bonus, shares, equities, options or profit sharing," he told The National.
“They are designed for many reasons: to retain leaders in their position for a period of time, to attract leaders, to drive the results and achieve the board’s objectives, to drive value creation, increase market share, profitability, expansion and share price.”
“It's one thing to bring in a chief executive for one or two years, that's not where the magic necessarily happens. It's a journey to transform and lead an organisation, so it's critical that LTIs are in place to reward chief executives for their stewardship of this journey.”
The formula to set LTIs can depend on how conservative fixed income and short-term incentives are, Mr Khabbaz said.
“Anything from six to 24 months’ worth of basic salary could be paid at that time – again depending on the size and scale of growth and value creation,” he said.
“In Saudi Arabia, over 50 per cent of chief executives would have well over six months’ worth of basic salary paid as LTI. In the UAE, it wouldn't be as high at private sector entities, but publicly listed companies offer between 12 to 24 months’ basic salary as LTIs.
“A lot of entities in Saudi Arabia are either restructuring, transforming, or in greenfield or brownfield, start-up or scale-up mode, so the size, scale and the opportunity of the business life cycle they're in, tend to be the reason for that, versus many organisations in the UAE private sector.”
He added that long-term compensation structures are not sector specific. Globally, more than 90 per cent of publicly listed chief executives will have a LTIP programme, and over 60 per cent in the private sector would also have this remuneration. It's common practice, regardless of whether you're in real estate, energy, consumer goods or financial services, Mr Khabbaz said.
It is important that leaders are incentivised to stay through the journey and lead the growth and meet the objectives set out by the board, he added.
Common benefits offered to chief executives in the Gulf are school allowances, family flight tickets twice annually to go home, VIP medical insurance, life insurance and perhaps some other allowances, according to the Cooper Fitch executive.
Bonuses, both short term and long term, depend on the performance of the employee and the organisation. The better you're performing and meeting objectives, you're going to be rewarded better, said Mr Khabbaz.
About 83 per cent of chief executives in the Gulf are receiving or expecting a performance-related payout this year, the Cooper Fitch report found.
Saudi Arabia Salary Guide 2025
Check out our salary guide below for a snapshot of how much you can expect to be paid monthly in your sector in 2025, based on Michael Page data.
However, fewer executives are seeing year-on-year increases, with 46 per cent reporting a higher payout – down from 56 per cent in 2024 – while 41 per cent will receive the same bonus as last year. Meanwhile, 13 per cent of chief executives have experienced a reduction, up from 8 per cent in 2024.
Higher-value bonuses – nine to 12 months’ salary – are more common in Saudi Arabia, according to the study.
In the kingdom, 34.8 per cent of chief executives received bonuses equivalent to four to six months’ salary, while in the UAE, the most common bonus bracket – 43.3 per cent – was lower, at one to three months’ salary, according to the survey.
Recruitment and retention of skilled professionals are key concerns for chief executives in the Gulf, alongside geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic pressures, the Cooper Fitch research found.
Almost all chief executives polled – 93 per cent – expect revenue to increase this year.
Many companies continue to rely on external hiring to fill chief executive roles, particularly in the UAE, indicating a shift towards getting leadership with broader regional or global expertise, the report showed.
Chief operating officers remain the most likely internal successors, especially in Saudi Arabia, where companies are more inclined to promote from within, it added.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
F1 The Movie
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Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
'Nope'
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