Tech boom in the Middle East – UAE and Saudi Arabia speed up hiring tech professionals

One industry is on a recruiting binge across the Gulf markets, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and others: technology. During the summer, it is still going strong. The candidate won't need to wait too long for a confirmation letter from a potential employer if they have a track record of projects done and the necessary skills. Additionally, a new wave of active hiring of qualified workers across industries is being fuelled by AI skillsets.

“We are seeing large spikes in hiring across all sectors at the moment,” said Tom Clarke, Partner, Technology and Services Practice, Middle East at Heidrick & Struggles.

“There is a specific large demand in professional and IT services firms, as well as software organizations specialized in areas such as AI. There is also ongoing interest from firms outside of the region looking to enter the market. We are seeing new system integrators, software vendors, and boutique consultancies closely examining their market entry strategy.”, he added.

It's undoubtedly a good moment to work in technology in the Gulf and the UAE. From late 2018 to early 2023, all ideas of significant layoffs in the US and global tech industries have long since faded from memory. The demand for tech workers has skyrocketed as a result of all the hype about AI, namely Generative AI. As companies try to automate and streamline their operations by utilising generative and advanced AI modules, businesses are looking for AI expertise. To assist organisations in implementing significant system modifications and re-architect exercises in today's digital-first business environment, specialists with strong technical expertise, experience in strategy, and a willingness to get their hands dirty are essential.

A trend analysis on what Chief Technology Officers in the Middle East might anticipate has just been released by Heidrick & Struggles. Interestingly, the report discovers that even if the allowances given have decreased, they are still being included in higher wage offers. These allowances have either been deleted, drastically reduced, or combined with the fixed component of remuneration as the markets have matured.

However, further research is needed in several areas, including the more widespread application of long-term incentive plans (LTIPs). In important technology markets, LTIPs are frequent; nevertheless, in the Middle East, they are sporadic. As organisations in the region work to keep their key functional leaders, they will occur considerably more frequently in the years to come. With every financial agreement that takes place in the technology industry, some of that is already taking place. The goal is to retain as much of the original tech talent as possible, whether that entails a takeover or a private equity fundraising round.

The desire for people who have previously established a reputation locally grows increasingly strong as businesses and their offers seek abilities and project experience. A CIO can now want anything and receive it if they can provide evidence that their requests have been fulfilled at their current firm. Nearly all significant businesses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are revising their AI requirements. This technological employment surge is here to stay. The metaverse may have taken longer to take off, but AI is not.