Hiring is expected to pick in the UAE in 2022, according to a study by Mercer. Getty
Hiring is expected to pick in the UAE in 2022, according to a study by Mercer. Getty
Hiring is expected to pick in the UAE in 2022, according to a study by Mercer. Getty
Hiring is expected to pick in the UAE in 2022, according to a study by Mercer. Getty

UAE salaries and hiring to increase in 2022, Mercer says


Felicity Glover
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Employers in the UAE are set to go on a hiring spree in 2022 and raise salaries by an average 4 per cent as demand for jobs pick up amid the UAE's post-coronavirus economic recovery, a report by Mercer found.

Attracting and retaining employees will also require an increased focus on flexible working policies such as hybrid or remote working, Mercer said in its 2021 Total Remuneration Survey on Tuesday.

Mercer polled 599 UAE companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing, retail and wholesale, technology, chemicals, consumer goods, life sciences and energy.

“Signs of growth abound and are evident in the increased hiring activity that we have seen in 2021 and the positive forecast for 2022,” said Andrew El Zein, a career department associate for the Mena region at Mercer.

“Employers are prioritising hires for in-demand skill sets that will support future business growth. However, the talent pool is still developing, causing somewhat of a talent war.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in March last year, the UAE has spent billions of dirhams in economic stimulus measures to support businesses.

Business activity in the non-oil private sectors of the Arab world’s second-biggest economy continued to improve in October, boosted by the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, a rise in tourism and increased spending amid the economic recovery.

The UAE's headline PMI reading climbed to 55.7 in October, from 53.3 in September, underpinning a marked increase in new business during the month, driven by rising spending amid the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai.

A reading above 50 indicates economic expansion while anything below points to a contraction.

The findings from the Mercer survey suggest an overall salary increase of 4 per cent in 2022.

In 2020, 14 per cent of companies froze salaries, while this dropped to 10 per cent in 2021, the Mercer study found. For 2022, Mercer expects only 5 per cent of companies in the UAE to freeze salaries.

“To attract and retain top talent, employers must look to maintain pace with marketwide salary growth and benefits,” Mr El Zein said.

To attract and retain top talent, employers must look to maintain pace with market-wide salary growth and benefits
Andrew El Zein,
career department associate for the Mena region at Mercer

“Optimism is strong when looking at 2022, with many UAE companies forecasting a higher wage increase in order to attract and retain top talent, particularly in competitive fields.”

The technology and energy sectors are lagging behind slightly on salary increases of 3.5 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively, the survey found.

However, industries expected to outpace growth include life sciences and consumer goods, at 4 per cent, as a result of the “robust performance of the sectors during the pandemic”, Mercer said.

“This year’s Total Remuneration Survey shows positive sentiment towards hiring trends and salary increases, although not quite at pre-pandemic levels,” said Ted Raffoul, career products leader for the Mena region at Mercer.

“Companies must focus on continuing to provide flexible working models to employees in order maintain a strong proposition as an employer.”

However, the increased competition for employees with in-demand skills has forced employers to readdress their compensation and benefits strategies to attract and retain staff, the survey said.

“Companies are increasing their focus on long-term incentive plans, particularly for executives and those with experience in specialised fields. A key benefit that employees are seeking is that of flexible working, which has been in demand globally,” it said.

On Monday, a survey by professional network service LinkedIn found that remote job postings have more than doubled in the UAE as companies adapt to changing preferences in the workforce caused by the pandemic.

The biggest concern for business leaders is that employees working from home may feel it is harder to climb the career ladder, the LinkedIn survey found.

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UAE salary guide 2021

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Most match wins on clay

Guillermo Vilas - 659

Manuel Orantes - 501

Thomas Muster - 422

Rafael Nadal - 399 *

Jose Higueras - 378

Eddie Dibbs - 370

Ilie Nastase - 338

Carlos Moya - 337

Ivan Lendl - 329

Andres Gomez - 322

The biog

Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents

Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University

As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families

Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too

If you go...

Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.

Reputation

Taylor Swift

(Big Machine Records)

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

MATCH INFO

Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)

United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)

RESULTS

6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock

9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

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Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

Updated: November 23, 2021, 11:59 AM