Airbus to hire 13,000 new employees in 2023

Airbus is planning to hire 13,000 new workers this year, with technology roles a key focus of its recruitment drive.

The tech industry has recorded massive layoffs in recent weeks, as a host of major companies cut tens of thousands of jobs amid concerns about global economic growth.

However, Airbus remained resilient throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and is now well positioned for the next challenges, said Thierry Baril, Airbus chief human resources and workplace officer.

“Following the success of our recruitment last year, we will hire over 13,000 new employees again in 2023,” he said in a statement.

“We call on talented individuals from all over the world to join us in our journey to make sustainable aerospace a reality and to help us build a better, more diverse, and inclusive workplace for all our employees.”

Airbus currently employs more than 130,000 people across its businesses worldwide.

Of the 13,000 new roles, about 7,000 will be newly created posts, and 9,000 will be in Europe.

About one-quarter of the planned recruitment is focused on jobs in the fields of decarbonisation, digital transformation, software engineering and cyber technology, the company said.

It is also seeking candidates for roles in customer services.

A third of the total recruitment will also be allocated to young graduates, from which Airbus “plans to evolve future senior functional and business leaders through technical and leadership development, networking and exposure to top management”, the statement said.

The aerospace company added more than 13,000 new staff last year.

Airbus retained its crown as the world's biggest plane maker, ahead of Boeing, for the fourth consecutive year in 2022.

It won 1,078 jet orders, had a net total of 820 orders after cancellations, while its backlog stood at 7,239 aircraft at the end of December.

Airbus handed over 661 aircraft last year, an 8 per cent increase compared with 2021.

On Friday, Air France-KLM said it will order an additional seven Airbus A350 jets, including some freighters, as the carrier renews its wide-body fleet and retires Boeing 747 freighters.

Airbus is also aiming to ramp up production of its workhorse A320neo-series and develop technologies across commercial aviation, defence, space and helicopters.

The company has also been pushing into sustainable aviation, with a fuel-cell engine under development and plans for a hydrogen-powered aircraft — which is scheduled to enter service by 2035.

Airbus's hiring spree comes as major technology firms shrink their workforces, with Microsoft announcing the axing of 10,000 roles, Amazon shedding 18,000 jobs, Meta reducing its headcount by 11,000, and Twitter also reducing staff numbers by thousands, according to reports.

Earlier this month, in an interview with the US news channel CBS, the International Monetary Fund's managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that a third of the world's economies may slide into a recession in 2023.

The global economy faces “a tough year, tougher than the year we leave behind”, she said.

“Why? Because the three big economies — US, EU, China — are all slowing down simultaneously.”

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UAE salary guide 2023: How much should you be earning?

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
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