More than 60% of UAE employees plan to look for new job in next six months, survey finds

READ: UAE salary guide 2022: how much should you be earning?

About 65 per cent of employees in the UAE plan to look for a new job in the first six months of 2022 as businesses accelerate their hiring plans and the jobs market returns to pre-coronavirus levels, according to recruitment consultancy Robert Half.

In addition to the 31 per cent workers who were seeking new roles at the end of 2021, 15 per cent will start their search for a new job in the first quarter.

A further 19 per cent will look for a new role in the second quarter of this year, which for many will follow an annual bonus payment, according to the survey, which polled 500 employees in the UAE between December 15 to December 20.

“Offering your current and prospective employees competitive pay and benefits is important for both retention and attraction but offering flexibility through remote or hybrid working is becoming more and more important – especially when you are employing expats,” said Gareth El Mettouri, associate director at Robert Half Middle East.

Offering flexibility through remote or hybrid working is becoming more and more important – especially when you are employing expats

Gareth El Mettouri,
associate director at Robert Half Middle East

“Appetite to move to the UAE, especially from the UK, is on the rise, but in a competitive market offering flexible working arrangement is one way to improve your business attractiveness. Multinational companies tend to be more flexible but locally-owned companies really need to step up their game if they want to attract and retain staff.”

About 73 per cent of UAE employers expect salaries in their organisations to increase by up to 5 per cent this year, compared with 37 per cent in 2021, according to the Hays 2022 Salary Guide, which will be released at the end of January.

A flexible working policy was the most common model in the UAE, with many opting for two to three days at home and in the office alternately, according to a recent study by recruitment consultancy Hays.

About 19 per cent of private sector employers in the UAE said that Friday will become a day where staff are guaranteed the option of working from home, according to a survey last week by global advisory Willis Towers Watson, as the country shifts to a Saturday-Sunday weekend in line with global markets.

Thirty per cent of companies in the UAE said they are considering giving staff the work-from-home option on Friday, the survey revealed.

Forty-six per cent of UAE professionals looking for a new role this year cited increased confidence in the UAE economy as driving their ambition, according to Robert Half research.

Business activity in the UAE's non-oil private sector continued to improve in December as a sharp rise in new business and output, and a boost from Expo 2020 Dubai combined to round off a strong year.

The seasonally adjusted purchasing managers' index – a gauge designed to give a snapshot of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector economy – stood at 55.6 in December, down slightly from November's 29-month high of 55.9.

About 25 per cent of respondents said they had remained in their current role to maintain financial security due to the continued uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the survey revealed.

Eighteen per cent of job-seekers in the UAE said there was nothing their organisation could do to entice them to stay, Robert Half said.

About 36 per cent of those who will look for a new role this year feel that their current employer does not listen to their wants and needs, the research found. Also, 34 per cent of those thinking of moving on said they do not have a say in their working arrangements.

While 57 per cent of job-seekers are looking for a higher salary and 54 per cent want better benefits, 59 per cent said they would take a pay cut in exchange for more flexible working arrangements, according to Robert Half.

Flexible working models are not only sought-after by new employees but also by existing staff, the survey found, with 86 per cent of those polled saying that companies need to offer more flexibility to retain talent, the research said.

About 78 per cent of workers surveyed said that businesses would have a hard time finding replacement staff without flexible working on the table, the survey findings showed.

Kamala Harris: who is Joe Biden's running mate?

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus

While you're here...

Coronavirus: scores of Indian medics arrive in UAE to join fight against Covid-19

Indian nurses tell of emotional farewells after answering 'call to serve' in UAE

Indian medics allowed to enter UAE to tackle Covid-19

Look north

BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.

More from Neighbourhood Watch:

A rare glimpse of Bedouin life in the humble border town of Qoa

The changing face of Mussaffah

Hatta, where present and past collide

How old Dubai moved with the times and kept its heart

Zayed Sustainability Prize

Clean water and solar homes: Zayed prize finalists present sustainability solutions

Youth take centre stage for this year's Zayed Sustainability Prize

THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 10am:

Lucrezia Stefanini v Elena Rybakina (6)

Aryna Sabalenka (4) v Polona Hercog

Sofia Kenin (1) v Zhaoxuan Yan

Kristina Mladenovic v Garbine Muguruza (5)

Sorana Cirstea v Karolina Pliskova (3)

Jessica Pegula v Elina Svitolina (2)

Court 1

Starting at 10am:

Sara Sorribes Tormo v Nadia Podoroska

Marketa Vondrousova v Su-Wei Hsieh

Elise Mertens (7) v Alize Cornet

Tamara Zidansek v Jennifer Brady (11)

Heather Watson v Jodie Burrage

Vera Zvonareva v Amandine Hesse

Court 2

Starting at 10am:

Arantxa Rus v Xiyu Wang

Maria Kostyuk v Lucie Hradecka

Karolina Muchova v Danka Kovinic

Cori Gauff v Ulrikke Eikeri

Mona Barthel v Anastasia Gasanova

Court 3

Starting at 10am:

Kateryna Bondarenko v Yafan Wang

Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Anna Bondar

Bianca Turati v Yaroslava Shvedova

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

How to wear a kandura

Dos

Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts

Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

SPECS

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

On racial profiling at airports

Razmig Bedirian: Author subject to three pat downs in one week

HA Hellyer: My airport experience shows racism is systemic

James Zogby: Racial profiling as ineffective as torture tactics

UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade

%3Cp%3ETotal%20trade%20in%20goods%20and%20services%20(exports%20plus%20imports)%20between%20the%20UK%20and%20the%20UAE%20in%202022%20was%20%C2%A321.6%20billion%20(Dh98%20billion).%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThis%20is%20an%20increase%20of%2063.0%20per%20cent%20or%20%C2%A38.3%20billion%20in%20current%20prices%20from%20the%20four%20quarters%20to%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20was%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%2019th%20largest%20trading%20partner%20in%20the%20four%20quarters%20to%20the%20end%20of%20Q4%202022%20accounting%20for%201.3%20per%20cent%20of%20total%20UK%20trade.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

World's first artificial intelligence university to open in Abu Dhabi

Is humanity on cusp of the next medical revolution?

Coronavirus: the student translators battling Middle East misinformation

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Mobile phone packages comparison

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

INDIA SQUADS

India squad for third Test against Sri Lanka
Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar

India squad for ODI series against Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul

UAE currency

The%20specs

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6.5-litre%20V12%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E725hp%20at%207%2C750rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E716Nm%20at%206%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ4%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C650%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Company Profile

Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

More than 60% of UAE employees plan to look for new job in next six months, survey finds

Forty-six per cent say their confidence in the UAE’s recovery is behind their reasons for seeking new roles, according to Robert Half

While you're here...

Look north

More from Neighbourhood Watch:

Zayed Sustainability Prize

THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Court 1

Starting at 10am:

Court 2

Court 3

Specs

Infiniti QX80 specs

How to wear a kandura

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

SPECS

Who's who in Yemen conflict

On racial profiling at airports

UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade

You might also like

Living in...

Mobile phone packages comparison

Desert Warrior

INDIA SQUADS

UAE currency

The%20specs

Company Profile

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

More than 60% of UAE employees plan to look for new job in next six months, survey finds

Forty-six per cent say their confidence in the UAE’s recovery is behind their reasons for seeking new roles, according to Robert Half

While you're here...

Look&nbsp;north

More from Neighbourhood Watch:

Zayed Sustainability Prize

THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Court 1

Starting at 10am:

Court 2

Court 3

Specs

Infiniti QX80 specs

How to wear a kandura

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

SPECS

Who's who in Yemen conflict

On racial profiling at airports

UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade

You might also like

Living in...

Mobile phone packages comparison

Desert Warrior

INDIA SQUADS

UAE currency

The%20specs

Company&nbsp;Profile

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Look north

Company Profile