About six in 10 employers in the Gulf said their current headcount is either the same or greater than their pre-pandemic numbers and 74 per cent expect to hire more staff this year, according to a survey by recruiter Hays.
Sales and operations skillsets are most in demand among employers today, the survey found.
More than half of employers in the Gulf say they have now recovered from the negative effects of Covid-19 and were operating in "business as usual" or "growth mode", according to Hays’ Covid-19 business impacts one year on report.
It polled more than 1,000 professionals working in the Gulf, a quarter of whom reported having been made redundant since the start of the pandemic.
“Our experience of working with employers and job seekers confirm that business activity is on an upward trajectory,” said Kieran Fitzgerald, senior operations director of Hays Middle East.
“We saw job numbers decline across all sectors in the region from April through to late summer of 2020. However, opportunities have been increasing significantly since the end of last year and sentiment is generally positive.”
Among the companies that are still recovering, 28 per cent said they expect operations to be back to pre-pandemic levels or beyond in the next 12 months, while the remaining 20 per cent expect recovery to take longer than one year, the survey found.
These are companies operating in hard-hit industries such as travel and tourism, energy and construction, according to Hays.
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the jobs market globally in 2020, with many companies laying off or furloughing employees to reduce operating costs. However, with economies gradually opening up around the world, job prospects are brighter in 2021.
This is also being reflected in pay, with 71 per cent of working professionals in the Gulf saying they are earning the same or more than before the pandemic, and only 29 per cent of professionals reporting lower salaries than 12 to 18 months ago.
However, 39 per cent of employers expect remuneration within their organisation to increase before the end of the year, the survey found.
“While there remains a proportion of the population who are battling the negative repercussions of the pandemic, the outlook is largely optimistic … we expect salary trends to be much the same as they have been regionally for a number of years, whereby more than half of all professionals' salaries will remain the same year-on-year and up to 40 per cent will increase on [the] prior year,” said Mr Fitzgerald.
The survey also found that 69 per cent of organisations now offer remote working, compared to 43 per cent at the start of 2020. The most common option is complete flexibility to work from home, offered by 38 per cent of employers.
This is followed by hybrid options, where people work remotely for two or three days a week, which is offered by 18 per cent of employers.
Remote working is now key to attracting and retaining talent, with 42 per cent of working professionals citing this as an important factor when considering an employer, the survey found.
Employers are also hiring and onboarding talent remotely, thanks to the use of technology. More than half of all employers said they had brought in new employees remotely from other geographic regions and 41 per cent said they would do so in future, regardless of Covid-19.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, employers typically sought to relocate all employees to the region, the report said.
However, the popularity of remote work has had an effect on office space in the region. Of those employers polled, 2 per cent said they closed their offices altogether in the past year, 11 per cent downsized and a further 13 per cent intend to do so by the end of the year, the survey said.
Meanwhile, six in 10 employers said they had no preference on vaccine status when hiring new staff while 48 per cent said that being vaccinated would be a requirement going forward.
Also, 69 per cent of working professionals said it is reasonable for companies to request they are vaccinated, according to the Hays survey.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Read more about the coronavirus
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
UK%20record%20temperature
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Brief scores:
Liverpool 3
Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'
Manchester United 1
Lingard 33'
Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)
Notable groups (UAE time)
Jordan Spieth, Si Woo Kim, Henrik Stenson (12.47pm)
Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Louis Oosthuizen (12.58pm)
Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood (1.09pm)
Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Zach Johnson (4.04pm)
Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey, Adam Scott (4.26pm)
Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy (5.48pm)
