The UAE is Becoming a Global Hub for Tech Talent: Report

The UAE Ministry of Economy, in partnership with consulting firm Integra Seven, has released the 2024 edition of the UAE Future Tech Talent Report.

The report, presented at Expand North Star 2024, highlights the nation's efforts to become a key destination for technology talent. 

The report outlines the challenges that the UAE faces, including shortages in niche fields and misconceptions about working in the country. It also stresses the importance of balancing local and international talent to build a sustainable workforce. 

One of the key findings is that the UAE’s reputation as a destination for skilled professionals is growing, with around 80 percent of employers noting that the country’s image is an asset in attracting talent. Less than 20 percent of stakeholders view the UAE only as a reseller, reinforcing its role as a technology player. 

According to Natalia Sycheva, managing director of Integra Seven, this growing reputation plays a vital role in supporting the UAE’s push to build a knowledge-based economy. "The UAE’s commitment to attracting top talent plays a pivotal role in its vision of evolving into a knowledge-based economy, as outlined in the UAE Centennial 2071 strategy," she explains. By recruiting global experts, the UAE is advancing localized solutions, while also positioning itself at the forefront of global transformative innovation, she adds.

The report also looks at the balance between local and international talent. While nearly half of employers acknowledge that the UAE has a strong local talent base, over 95 percent still recruit from outside the region. This highlights the importance of having a global talent pool, particularly in specialized fields like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, where many employers face challenges in securing senior-level professionals. 

Sycheva notes that the UAE has introduced strategic initiatives to address these shortages. “The UAE has rolled out programs like the Golden Visa and Green Visa, which are designed to attract top-tier professionals, scientists, and entrepreneurs. These programs have become especially popular among experts in high-demand fields such as AI and machine learning, aligning with the UAE’s long-term innovation goals,” she says.

Participation in international tech events such as VivaTech and GITEX also helps the UAE remain a top destination for skilled professionals while fostering its role as a global tech hub. 

The report also offers insights into the importance of incentives to attract talent. While government incentives are often seen as crucial, Sycheva highlights the value of offering targeted programs directly to top talent. “Nearly 30 percent of employers express support for a targeted program offering incentives directly to top talent, rather than to companies as a whole,” Sycheva notes. “Executives and engineers highlighted the need for pension or retirement savings plans for expats, with transferable benefits offering long-term financial security and encouraging longer stays.” 

Lastly, Sycheva suggests that creating a dedicated portal for tech professionals, along with initiatives like a "Digital Economy Reserve" program, could be effective ways to quickly deploy top talent to the UAE. Collaborating with academic institutions and offering research grants to individuals would further enhance the country’s innovation ecosystem and solidify its reputation as a hub for specialized expertise. 

Building on last year's State of Tech Talent in Dubai 2023 report, the latest edition provides an updated look at the tech talent landscape in the UAE. The UAE Future Tech Talent Report 2024 examines how companies across sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and logistics are adapting to changes in the market.

The report was created with support from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) and global immigration services firm Fragomen.