67% of companies in the UAE are working to attract qualified individuals to enhance artificial intelligence and innovation within the country
The most in-demand AI jobs in the UAE include data scientists, project managers, and software engineers in the IT, finance, and energy sectors. This is according to a report by recruitment firm Halian, which showed a 142% increase in the number of contractors in the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa since 2022. This increase reflects the dynamic changes in the business environment in these countries with strong and independent economies, which has led to an unprecedented rise in demand for flexible workforce solutions.
By offering a high level of operational flexibility and the ability to rapidly expand, contractors have become a vital component of the region’s recruitment sector. For example, the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia has increased the demand for skilled workers. Another major factor is the increase in artificial intelligence applications and the demand for specialists in this field.
93% of companies worldwide are investing in AI and generative AI, and this demand is expected to grow significantly, especially at the local level. According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Middle East, which currently hosts more than 1,800 AI startups with funding exceeding AED 44 billion, is expected to account for 2% of the global AI market by 2030.
As the report notes, there is a significant increase in the region’s focus on contractors in AI-driven sectors, such as technology, healthcare, finance, and automotive. According to the data, 67% of UAE companies are currently focused on attracting qualified individuals to drive AI and innovation within their companies, highlighting the UAE’s strong interest in professionals in this field.
In addition, emerging megatrends such as environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), sustainability, data analytics, and procurement are driving demand for experts in the IT, banking, finance, real estate, construction, energy, and hospitality sectors. Highly sought-after positions include data scientists, project managers, software engineers, and specialists in areas such as data processing systems, applications, and products, and enterprise resource planning.
Based on an average experience of 10.1 years and an average daily rate of $544, skilled contractors not only provide cost-effectiveness, but also reduce the risk of hiring companies while giving them access to specialized expertise that may not have been previously available in-house.
