UAE Jobs: Tech and High-Skill Roles Lead Hiring as Market Recalibrates

The inaugural Naukrigulf Hiring Index shows AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity roles grew 20% year-on-year, even as the broader market adjusted during April-May 2026.

| Written by Tripti Mehta

The UAE job market showed clear signs of resilience in high-skill and technology roles during April and May 2026, according to the inaugural Naukrigulf Hiring Index released on Monday. While overall hiring activity moderated against a strong prior year, demand for specialised talent held firm, and in several categories, grew.

The index draws on data from more than 220,000 job postings annually across over 7,000 companies in the UAE, Qatar, and Oman.

Technology Roles Bucked The Trend

The standout finding for HR and talent leaders is the performance of technology hiring. IT and digital roles fell only 6% year-on-year, and pure technology roles dropped just 3%. More significantly, hiring for AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and data roles grew approximately 20%, demonstrating sustained and growing employer appetite for specialised digital talent regardless of broader market conditions. Engineering roles also proved comparatively resilient, down 16%.

Higher-Paying Roles Held Up Strongest

The index shows a clear pattern across salary bands. Higher-paying roles were considerably more insulated from the moderation in hiring activity. Jobs paying Dh41,000–80,000 dropped by just 11%, while the Dh80,000–150,000 bracket fell only 5%. Employers continued to actively search for candidates at the top end of the market throughout the period.

At the mid-market level, Dh21,000–40,000 roles fell 19% and Dh11,000–20,000 roles fell 22%. Entry-level positions under Dh10,000 saw a larger adjustment at 26%, consistent with the pattern seen when companies recalibrate hiring, mid and senior roles are protected first.

Qatar And Oman Added Positive Signals

Beyond the UAE, the index found pockets of genuine growth across the Gulf. Qatar recorded expansion across financial services, construction, and manufacturing. Oman continued to see strength in industrial and consumer-facing sectors.

Sharad Sindhwani, EVP and Business Head at Naukrigulf, noted that the numbers tell a nuanced story: "While overall activity softened compared to last year, several segments continued to attract employer demand. Technology roles held up better than the broader market in the UAE, Qatar recorded growth across financial services, construction and manufacturing, while Oman continued to see strength in industrial and consumer-facing sectors," he said. 

What Employers Are Looking For

The report also shows that most UAE companies, around 68%, do not specify a nationality preference when hiring, reflecting the market's openness and diversity. Among those that do express a preference, Arab candidates are most sought-after at 21% of postings, followed by European and South Asian candidates at roughly 6% each.

Employers seeking Arab candidates are primarily hiring for engineering, sales and marketing, and IT roles. Those preferring European candidates are focused mostly on IT and healthcare.

The Bigger Picture

The Naukrigulf data is consistent with the UAE's broader labour market trajectory. The UAE continues to benefit from sustained economic expansion across financial services, AI infrastructure, healthcare, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Government-led programmes and the continued growth of free zones and business clusters are supporting long-term employment demand, and the strength of technology hiring in the index reflects that structural momentum.

Source: Naukrigulf Hiring Index, June 2026; Khaleej Times; Cooper Fitch Gulf Hiring Survey, May 2026; Foundit Middle East Insights Tracker, April 2026