The UAE job market has experienced significant growth due to changes in labour laws and recruitment trends. According to state news agency WAM, the number of work permits issued last year saw a substantial uptick, attributed in part to an 11% increase in private sector firms and more women joining the workforce. Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, credited legislative infrastructure for attracting both Emirati and international talents, improving the labour market’s flexibility, competitiveness, and productivity, and strengthening the private sector’s role in building a knowledge-based economy.
The private sector saw a 13% increase in employees, with 51% of work permits issued for professional levels (1-5). Notably, women’s participation in the private sector increased by 20% in 2022, demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The increase in Emirati workers in the private sector also saw a 70% rise in 2022 compared to the previous year, reflecting the strength and diversity of job opportunities in the sector.