More than a quarter of the survey’s respondents said there was not enough available talent in the Emirates to meet their hiring requirements during the next year, said Cooper Fitch in a statement.

In Cooper Fitch’s Salary Guide UAE 2024,  ‘Management’ and ‘leadership’ were the most significant talent gaps identified by those questioned this year, accounting for 16% and 14% of responses respectively.

The company said that ‘Sales’ represented the third-highest deficit at 10%.

“The fact that more than a quarter of respondents (27%) anticipate a shortfall in available talent in 2024 is a concern for employers, as it suggests that demand is likely to significantly outstrip supply in the UAE,” wrote Cooper Fitch in a statement.

“That ‘management’, ‘leadership’ and ‘sales’ occupy the top three spots on this list is equally worrying, as it suggests a dearth of qualified individuals with senior and revenue-generating experience,” they said.

Every year, Cooper Fitch surveys business leaders responsible for key decision-making at more than 1,000 organisations across the Gulf region.

The  survey posed a selection of 11 confidential questions, which were focused on recruitment activity, organisational headcounts and salary trends across 2023 and into 2024.

“We expect to see significant investment, as well as a range of innovative approaches, as UAE-based organisations compete to attract the best candidates next year,” they added.

Salary Guide into 2024

Cooper Fitch said that the UAE salaries will grow by 4.5% in 2024 due to the strong performance in the country’s non-oil sectors.

According to the Salary Guide survey, 81 of those who were surveyed had either an increase or made no changes to their salaries in 2023.

The majority of those companies that have been surveyed this year said they expect to increase the employee’s salaries this year. However, more than one-fift od f the respondents said they expect to lower their salaries in 2024.