The most in-demand careers in Dubai’s job market
Dubai is one of the fastest-growing commercial hubs that attracts businesses from around the world. Besides established companies, new startups and SMEs continuously search for fresh talent in the emirate. Whether you’re a college student looking to forge your career path or a professional seeking a new challenge, understanding the various trending careers in the UAE represents essential knowledge. For those considering a job change or moving to the country, we’ve rounded up the most in-demand jobs in Dubai 2024.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IN-DEMAND JOBS IN DUBAI 2024?
Employment opportunities, especially in some industries, increase with every passing day. You’ll find many private and government jobs for expats in the UAE; some professions take precedence over others in demand.
So, let’s now check out the top jobs in demand in Dubai 2024.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IT SECTOR JOBS IN DUBAI
Belonging to the Artificial Intelligence or Digitalisation sectors can boost your chances of getting a job in Dubai by several folds.
Prompt Engineer
As we prepare to make impressive advances in AI along with the development of Large Language Models, the new role of Prompt Engineer is one of the high-demand jobs in Dubai. A prompt engineer will “talk” to an AI model in such a way that it retrieves outputs or performs a specific task. This job is for you if you have a background in AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and other languages.
Data Scientist
Did you know that data scientists is one of the most popular jobs in demand in Dubai? Fueled by the need across multiple industries, data scientists are sought-after by firms for their ability and skill to gather, analyse and interpret complex datasets that help organisations devise strategies and make informed decisions to gain a competitive edge.
- Expected Salary: AED 232,548 per year with 1 to 3 years of experience
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST
Employers’ increasing reliance on new technologies has led to a high demand for professionals in this sector. Today there is a healthy need for AI specialists for in-house technology teams in Dubai. Besides landing a high-paying job in Dubai, Artificial Intelligence specialists can apply for a long-term UAE residency visa.
- Expected Salary: AED 241,817 per year with 1 to 3 years experience
DIGITALISATION
If you have relevant experience in digital transformation or have led a company’s digitalisation, you qualify for one of Dubai’s top in-demand job roles for 2024. With Dubai at the forefront of digital prowess, business modernisation is inevitable.
As more and more companies, including startups and SMEs, switch to digital practices and remote work models in the country, the demand for software development professionals and people who can manage or implement digital transformation is rising.
Various technical jobs like developers (front-end, full-stack), cyber security expert, cloud engineer and IT project management are available.
- Expected Salary:
- Developer front-end: AED 212,736 per year with 1 to 3 years experience
Note: Estimated salaries are courtesy of Salary Expert
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE JOBS
With the corporate landscape rapidly evolving, businesses are looking for streamlined financial processes to achieve cost efficiency and set targets. There is good demand for professionals in the accounting and finance sector, from startups and SMEs to multinationals.
The most sought-after occupations in Dubai for accounting and finance include:
Management Accountants
Management Accountant is a high-demand job in Dubai. It’s a multi-faceted role that requires an analytical mind with business knowledge and accounting expertise. Employers constantly seek these professionals to manage their financial health while steering the future direction of their companies.
Chief Financial Officers
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is mainly responsible for crafting plans and strategies for the company’s financial health. It is one of the most in-demand jobs in Dubai as employers continue to look for individuals who can track cashflows, analyse financial reports, develop financial regulations and collaborate with other senior management to help the company maintain a stable financial position to meet its objectives.
Financial Analysts
As a financial analyst, you will assess financial data related to budget, reports and the latest market trends to evaluate the company’s performance. Financial analysts are preferred by leading brokerage firms and financial institutions. They help predict the accurate price action of stocks and assist with profitable investment decisions for the company and its stakeholders.
Head of Internal Audit
One of the high-demand Dubai jobs is the Head of the Internal Audit. This role is all about safeguarding a company’s health and effectiveness. One of the main responsibilities of this job is to assess risk, evaluate internal control and conduct independent audits.
Treasury Director
Treasury Director is another popular career in Dubai with promising growth. Employers seek a treasury director to ensure smooth operations. They must possess the ability to manage risk and aim towards maximising the company’s financial resources.
JOBS IN RISK AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT
Also included in the list of most in-demand jobs in Dubai for 2024 are positions for risk managers and security analysts. With most companies going entirely digital and adopting new technologies, there is a greater threat to data and business security. Now companies want to hire in-house professionals to foresee, inspect and mitigate these risks.
The occupations in Dubai that are most in-demand in this context include:
Risk Managers
A risk manager is required to assess risks and mitigate them accordingly. This makes the role one of the most popular for those seeking a career in Dubai.
Security Analysts
To reduce risk to business, a security analyst is responsible for analysing data breaches, developing security plans, creating firewalls, installing and upgrading antivirus software and developing plans to keep a company’s classified information safe and secure.
Cyber Security Architects
A cybersecurity specialist is another in-demand career in Dubai. This job entails protecting the company’s operating systems and sensitive information. They also respond to security incidents and threats online, such as ransomware, adware, data theft, malware attacks and hacks.
RECRUITMENT AND HR JOBS IN DUBAI
Belonging to HR and talent acquisition is a plus if you’re looking for a career in Dubai. With the labour laws regularly updated to create a secure and healthy work environment for employees, there is a tremendous demand for HR professionals. Similarly, companies need to find exceptional talent that is also the right fit for the organisation – this is where talent acquisition specialists come into play.
Candidates with experience launching employee well-being and mental health support initiatives get the upper hand. Also, when reviewing candidates’ CVs, employers emphasise work-life balance, achievements related to employee engagement, workplace culture and performance management.
So, if you specialise in compensation and benefits or finding the right person for the right job – lookout for job vacancies in Dubai. You can find good-paying jobs in Dubai if you fall into one of the following categories:
- HR Managers
- HR Business Partners
- Talent Acquisition Specialists
JOBS IN DUBAI’S LEGAL SECTOR
The UAE has a comprehensive legal framework that efficiently regulates the corporate and social aspects of the lives of residents. As Dubai broadens its legal horizon to accommodate the rapidly evolving global business landscape, there is a need for efficient legal professionals, exceptionally fluent in dispute resolution, FinTech and financial regulations.
If you’re looking for high-demand jobs in Dubai’s legal sector, you can find employment in the following roles:
- Legal Counsel
- Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
ENGINEERS
Engineering is another career field that includes some of the top Dubai jobs in demand. Foreign engineers specialising in chemical or petroleum engineering can find good, high-paying jobs in Dubai, thanks to the region’s abundant oil rigs and refineries. Engineers in the mechanical, aerospace and electronics industries also have a great scope of finding well-paying job opportunities in Dubai.
Aerospace Engineer
If you are looking for a job in aerospace in Dubai, try applying for an aerospace engineer job. Aerospace engineers design and build aircraft, defence systems and spacecraft. They specialise in airflow, structures, guidance, robotics and propulsion, shaping the skies and reaching beyond. You can also seek a lucrative opportunity and join the UAE Space Program.
Chemical Engineer
These engineers use different equipment and principles of physics, chemistry, and math to develop processes that convert materials into various products. They design processes for fertilizers, chemicals, plastics, and other small to large-scale operations.
Electronics Engineer
From creating systems that transform how we work and live to developing circuits for various purposes, electronics engineering is another great job option in Dubai. They are responsible for designing circuits and sensors in smartphones to complex systems in aircraft. This role is perfect for those with a knack for circuits and transistors.
Mechanical Engineer
From repairing car engines to being responsible for maintaining sophisticated machinery in a manufacturing company, mechanical engineering is one of the best high-demand jobs in Dubai. With expertise in math, design and material sciences, mechanical engineers are responsible for various tasks, such as developing blueprints for machines that perform complex tasks, selecting the right materials and overseeing manufacturing processes.
Operations, project, logistics and cost managers are trending jobs in the country’s oil and gas sector. In line with the UAE’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many companies are now looking for individuals with prior experience dealing with technology, mainly cloud-based data and AI.
DATA-ENTRY SPECIALISTS OR ADMIN ASSISTANTS
Business support and administration are essential for companies to continue operating smoothly. Data entry specialists and administrative assistants ensure that businesses, both big and small, function efficiently, establish a stronger industry presence, build networking relationships, and maintain a proper information database and documentation.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING SPECIALISTS
Marketing is a core component of success for any business. Hence, jobs in this line are never going out of demand. However, with most companies striving to create a fabulous online presence, the job market has shifted towards more digital marketing-related jobs – opening up several other career avenues for job seekers in Dubai.
You have a good chance of landing a well-paying job in Dubai if you specialise in marketing, digital marketing or other related fields.
The job roles in Dubai garnering the highest demand for the marketing and digital industries include:
Marketing Managers and Specialists
As a marketing manager and specialist in Dubai, your role is to strategise, plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote a company’s products or services. This often includes conducting market research, determining product demand, identifying target audiences, developing pricing strategies and discussing promotional activities.
Digital Marketing Managers and Specialists
One of the in-demand jobs in Dubai 2024 is a Digital Marketing Manager and Specialist. Managers are required to craft and execute strategic marketing plans. Moreover, they leverage channels like SEO, SEM, social media ads and email marketing.
Content Marketing Managers, Executives and Specialists
Content Marketing Managers, Executives and Specialists deliver content across various platforms. The role requires the manager to collaborate on blogs, press releases, social media posts, email newsletters and more to drive brand awareness.
Apart from other responsibilities, the role requires regular auditing of content effectiveness and adjusting the strategy based on data insights is crucial. These professionals often partner with design teams for visually compelling content and with sales personnel to align messaging with product offerings.
SEO Managers and Specialists
They identify trends from performance reports to enhance metrics like web traffic and conversion rates. Collaborating with sales teams for better lead generation is key. The role also includes training team members on new tech and strategies in digital advertising and SEO.
Social Media Managers and Specialists
To stay ahead of the game, companies require the services of Social Media Managers and Specialists. As one of the high-demand jobs in Dubai, the responsibilities include creating and maintaining a brand’s image on all social platforms.
The manager designs campaigns, generates engaging content, interacts with followers to foster community growth and monitors analytics to gauge success. Rapid response time to user queries and feedback is essential for online reputation management. They closely follow trends in social media tools, applications, channels, design and strategy; implementing these changes effectively can drive customer engagement significantly.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Software developers, too, can get some of the most in-demand jobs in Dubai. The business-friendly policies of the emirate have made starting a business in Dubai fairly easy, which has led to the launch of many new tech startups.
Consequently, there has been a perennial demand for software developers and programmers for these startups to thrive. Companies in Dubai’s prime business districts always seek talent specialising in software programming and development.
HEALTHCARE HIGH-DEMAND JOBS IN DUBAI
DOCTORS AND NURSES
Doctors and nurses in Dubai have always been in great demand to keep up with the emirate’s progressive healthcare system. Frontline nurses and doctors will become some of the highest in-demand jobs in Dubai in 2024.
Regardless of size, healthcare organisations want to streamline operations to address patients’ changing medical needs and keep pace with testing requirements.
Once foreign healthcare professionals obtain the DHA licence, they can practice the profession at any of the best private hospital in Dubai. Healthcare jobs, especially doctors, are among the highest-paying jobs in Dubai.
TEACHERS’ JOBS IN DUBAI
One of the major goals of the Ministry of Education is to ensure quality education that is inclusive and equitable for all. This has led to a healthy demand for teachers in Dubai and the UAE.
Foreign teachers must qualify for a teaching licence in Dubai to become a part of the emirate’s innovative education system. Salaries offered for teaching jobs in Dubai are usually based on the candidate’s experience level.
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONALS
Another set of in-demand jobs in Dubai is found in the tourism and hospitality industry. Dubai has a healthy tourism sector that caters to visitors from across the globe leading to tourism and hospitality becoming the most wanted jobs in Dubai. Hence there is a need for the following:
- Tour Guides
- Hotel and restaurant managers
- Restaurateurs
- Chefs
- Cleaning and Housekeeping staff
RETAIL MANAGEMENT
Dubai is home to some of the world’s most popular malls. Naturally, it is one of the more prominent employment sectors in the emirate. With more tourists expected to visit the city, the need for store managers, sales staff, trainers and other such roles will increase.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the different job sites that help you find the most in-demand jobs in Dubai?
Different job websites in the UAE also round up the most in-demand jobs in Dubai, such as dubizzle jobs portal, LinkedIn, GulfTalent.com and Indeed.com.
WHICH SKILLS CAN INCREASE MY CHANCES OF GETTING A JOB IN DUBAI?
Many UAE employers and recruitment companies prefer that candidates have good communication skills in English and Arabic. They also look at leadership skills and the ability to work under pressure. To enhance your chances of employment, don’t forget to make your CV stand out in Dubai.
WHAT JOBS PAY THE MOST IN DUBAI?
Salary packages may vary from company to company, but some careers earn better than others. Some of the highest paying jobs in Dubai include:
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineers
- Artificial Intelligence Specialists
- Doctors
- Financial Analysts and CFOs
IS AED 6,000 A GOOD SALARY IN DUBAI?
A good salary may vary based on your requirements, lifestyle and family status. A major chunk of the cost of living index Dubai is taken up by rent. For a salary of AED 6,000, you can find reasonable accommodation in Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Al Nahda without being cash strapped for other essentials.
What are some of the best recruitment agencies in Dubai?
Some of the best recruitment agencies in Dubai are Adecco Middle East, Robert Half and Hays UAE.
CAN I LIVE IN DUBAI WITHOUT A JOB?
Several types of visas in Dubai allow you to stay in the emirate legally. However, the most common type is the residency visa issued to you based on a valid work permit. You can live in Dubai without a job if you have the necessary visa. This can include but is not limited to, the Dubai residency visa for remote workers or the retirement visa in Dubai.
If you have been let go from a role, you can benefit from applying Unemployment Insurance UAE online and get some financial support.
DO I NEED A WORK PERMIT TO START A JOB IN DUBAI?
The minimum age of employment in Dubai is 18. Foreign job seekers above 18 who fulfil other criteria of working in Dubai are eligible for the Dubai work permit. Your work permit is applied for by your employer, who is also responsible for paying your UAE work permit fee and its renewal when due.
There you have it – the complete roundup of high demand jobs in Dubai. While the emirate remains a highly sought-after destination for people worldwide seeking better job opportunities and career growth, some strict regulations and protocols govern expats working in Dubai. You can work part-time in the UAE, even for some of the most in-demand jobs in Dubai, as long as you fit the requirements.
