Over 60 percent of UAE business leaders anticipate an increase in employee headcount over the next year, according to a recent survey.
However, research from recruitment consultancy Robert Half indicates that the global economic climate—with several upcoming elections and fluctuating inflation—is seen as a major challenge for business performance by 39 percent of organizations, leading many to postpone hiring activities. The report notes that some UAE companies have imposed hiring freezes, waiting for the outcomes of elections in the UK and the US, as well as for interest rates to stabilize, before resuming recruitment. These global issues are contributing to rising costs in the UAE.
The report, which surveyed 100 senior business decision-makers in the UAE, also reveals that two-thirds (67 percent) of business leaders are very confident about their organizations' growth prospects for the rest of 2024 and into 2025, but uncertainty is slowing the hiring market.