The UAE has confirmed one of the strongest post-pandemic hiring recoveries among leading global markets, according to the newly released UAE Economic Graph Report 2026, prepared by LinkedIn in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
The report, titled "Labour Market Features and the Digital Economy in the UAE," shows that hiring activity stayed above 2019 levels throughout 2025, placing the UAE among a small group of countries to sustain such momentum. Early figures from June 2026 point to renewed positive momentum after a period of regional volatility earlier in the year.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Attracting and Retaining Talent, said the results reflect the success of national economic policies in building a business environment that draws top talent and investment. He added that the government continues to develop an integrated strategy to attract and retain skilled professionals as a driver of sustainable growth.
Real estate led sectoral hiring growth compared with 2019 levels, while education, construction, healthcare, administrative services and logistics all outperformed the national average. Professional services remained the largest sector by LinkedIn membership, followed by manufacturing and hospitality.
The UAE also ranked among the top global markets for net talent migration in 2025, supported by long-term visa programmes and a competitive business climate. On skills, the country ranked first globally in FinTech expertise and second in attracting AI talent relative to population size.
Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn MENA and EMEA Emerging Markets, said the latest data reflects a strong recovery following regional volatility earlier this year, reinforcing the UAE's standing as a leading destination for global talent.
Female representation in leadership also rose, from 18.8 percent in 2015 to 21.9 percent in 2025, with education recording the highest share of women in senior roles.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
