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GCC salary guide 2023: Salary, recruitment and bonus trends across the UAE, Saudi


Four in five employees are expecting a bonus from their companies in Saudi Arabia in 2023 while nine in ten businesses in the Kingdom are expecting to recruit new staff this year, according to a new report.

Recruitment specialists Hays Middle East has released its GCC Salary Guide 2023, which reveals insights into recruiting trends and salary data for over 400 roles across 13 industries in the Gulf.

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The guide is based on expert insights and the analysis of a survey of over 2,000 employers and professionals.

The guide reveals that despite global disruptions, the GCC remains stable with continuous investment and diversification leading to a buoyant labor market in 2023, creating new jobs across multiple sectors and geographies in the region.

The report found that countries in the GCC were largely successful in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Hays reported a stabilized pandemic situation and a return in business confidence.

Recruitment specialists across the GCC have told Al Arabiya English that monetary rewards are expected across a range of sectors, with employees also offering other incentives such as flexible working as benefits to employees. (Unsplash)

Recruitment specialists across the GCC have told Al Arabiya English that monetary rewards are expected across a range of sectors, with employees also offering other incentives such as flexible working as benefits to employees. (Unsplash)

This led to a boom in recruitment in 2022, with levels growing to the highest they have been for nearly three years – 67 percent of employers who took part in the survey say their headcount increased in 2022, compared to 40 percent in 2021, and just 19 percent in 2020.

Recruitment in 2023

Across the GCC, 85 percent of employers are planning to recruit new permanent employees in 2023.

However, with 45 percent of professionals looking to change organizations, greater competition for the best talent is to be expected.

Hays said employers can leverage flexible working options to counter competition, with the guide showing that only 49 percent of organizations in the GCC currently offer remote or hybrid working options.

Meanwhile, professionals place work-life balance and flexible working as a top priority when looking for a new job.

Trends in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia specifically, the report found 79 percent of employees expect a pay rise in 2023, and 70 percent felt optimistic about the economic outlook this year.

More than half (54 percent) of employers now offer flexible, remote or hybrid working to their staff.

Meanwhile the report showed business is booming in the Kingdom, with 89 percent of businesses planning to recruit in 2013.

The forecast for the UAE

Meanwhile, the picture looks equally as rosy for the UAE, where 74 percent of employees expect a pay hike and 65 percent felt optimistic about the economic outlook.

Half of those questioned said their employers offer flexible working, while the majority of firms (85 percent) also said they were looking to boost their staff quota in 2023.

Jobs for UAE and Saudi nationals

While the call for expat labor is growing, the ongoing updates in legislation for nationalization in the UAE and Saudi Arabia will also increase competition for local professionals.

Currently, 43 percent of organizations in the UAE employ Emiratis.

With the new Emiratization decree having come into effect in January 2023, 49 percent of UAE-based organizations plan to increase headcount of Emiratis in the next 12 months.

In Saudi Arabia, 91 percent currently employ Saudi national citizens and 87 percent plan on increasing their headcount this year.

Addressing the skills dissonance is vital for future success, said Hays, as employers and employees in the GCC have different perceptions of talent availability within their organizations.

While 82 percent of employees believe they have the necessary skills to fulfill their role in 2023, only 35 percent of employers strongly agree they have the talent needed for the coming year.

The guide highlights that technology remains the most active industry sector for hiring, with 77 percent of organizations increasing their headcount last year, thanks to consistent local and foreign direct investment in focus areas such as data, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions.

The top three most valued benefits include flexible working, child education allowance, and air ticket allowance, aside from salary.

Saving for the future

A separate survey released this week, conducted by YouGov, commissioned by Zurich International Life, has revealed that a majority of UAE residents are planning to invest their annual bonuses into their future.

The survey, which covered 1,200 residents across various income groups, nationalities, occupations, age groups, and gender, found that 82 percent of respondents plan to utilize their bonuses for investments such as property, children’s education, retirement savings, and life insurance.

The survey also found that 31 percent of respondents received a bonus of up to $5,450 while 12% received up to $13,600. Investing in property was the top priority for most respondents, with 24 percent of respondents indicating that it was their preferred investment choice.

Retirement savings and paying off debts were also high on the priority list, with 17.6 percent and 15 percent of respondents indicating that they planned to utilize their bonuses for these purposes, respectively. Saving for children's education and life insurance were also popular choices, with 14 percent and 11 percent of respondents indicating that they planned to invest in these areas, respectively.

Read more:

UAE, Saudi employees can expect pay rises, bonuses in 2023: Experts

Remote, flexible work to boost travel spending by UAE, Saudi travelers in 2023

UAE firms prove COVID-19 resilience with 4 percent pay hike in 2022

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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