Nearly half of firms plan to hire more staff in 2026, says survey

Companies in the UAE plan to hire amid expectations around stronger macro-economic growth in the country

- Waheed Abbas

The UAE's job market is becoming competitive as the population of the country has increased dramatically over the past five years.

Nearly half - 48 per cent - of companies in the UAE and Saudi Arabia plan to hire more people, but nearly one-in-three employers plan to cut jobs in 2026, according to anew survey released by Cooper Fitch.

According to the survey, the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s job markets are signalling positive hiring sentiment as employers respond to ongoing economic activity.

Companies in the UAE plan to hire amid expectations around stronger macroeconomic growth in the country.

The Central Bank of the UAE expects real GDP to expand by 4.9 per cent in 2025, followed by a further increase to 5.3 per cent in 2026, supported by the anticipated strong momentum in non-oil activities and a robust increase in the hydrocarbon sector following updated OPEC+ production plans.

Non-oil GDP is expected to grow by 4.5 per cent in 2025 and 4.8 per cent in 2026, while the hydrocarbon sector is projected to expand by 5.8 per cent in 2025 and 6.5 per cent in 2026.