RELATED: UAE salary guide 2022: how much should you be earning?
Niche roles in the UAE's support staff sector are attracting record-high salaries in 2022 as business confidence and hiring activity return to pre-coronavirus levels, with some employers offering wages up to 95 per cent higher compared with a year ago, according to Tiger Recruitment.
Demand is particularly strong for office managers, who are being offered up to 95 per cent more and can earn between Dh12,000 and Dh35,000 a month depending on the sector, the recruitment specialist said in a report on Wednesday.
“At the start of the pandemic, we saw large numbers of foreign workers return to their home countries. They are starting to come back again but not quickly enough to fill the growing number of roles available,” said Zahra Clark, head of the Mena division at Tiger Recruitment.
“Forward-thinking employers now recognise that if they want to attract and retain high-calibre candidates in such a competitive market, they need to be prepared to pay a premium.”
Forward-thinking employers now recognise that if they want to attract and retain high-calibre candidates in such a competitive market, they need to be prepared to pay a premium
Zahra Clark,
head of Mena for Tiger Recruitment
The jobs market in the UAE, the second-largest Arab economy, has made a strong recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown on the back of the government’s fiscal and monetary measures.
About 76 per cent of UAE employers plan to expand their workforce in 2022, according to a survey this week by jobs portal Bayt.com and market research company YouGov.
Experienced lifestyle managers, chiefs of staff and private chefs are among the most sought-after business support roles in the region, the Tiger Recruitment report found.
At the top end of the scale, some private households are paying up to 40 per cent more to secure lifestyle managers, while family offices have raised salaries by 80 per cent, it said.
About 43 per cent of businesses in the Emirates plan to raise salaries this year by an average of 3 per cent, Cooper Fitch said in its 2022 salary guide in December.
Salary remains the most important factor for companies to attract talent and is the number one priority for jobseekers searching for new roles, the Tiger Recruitment report said.
Flexible working is the second benefit of choice for UAE jobseekers, with many candidates turning down roles that require them to be in the office full-time, the report found.
“I expect the current talent shortage to ease over the next 12 months, allowing the market to stabilise. But for now, candidates have the upper hand,” according to Ms Clark.
Businesses need to rethink their benefit packages to attract the best talent, according to the report.
“There is a growing realisation that employers need to offer personalised benefits to attract the best talent,” Ms Clark said.
“We have seen employers step up and introduce benefits related to mental health and well-being but it is flexible working that is the most in demand.”
Some of the mental health benefits currently offered by UAE employers include access to counselling services and wellness initiatives. Other examples of innovative work benefits include paid childcare during lockdown and an annual work-from-home stipend, according to the report.
SPECS
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Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
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
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
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U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith
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'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
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Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
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'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
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
