The UAE recorded the highest demand for office support professionals in the region as the economy rallies on the back of high market confidence, strong foreign direct investment and companies accelerating hiring plans to attract the best talent, recruitment specialists say.
Employers in the financial services, professional services, legal and industrial sectors continue to expand their office support teams across roles including administration, secretarial, personal assistants and executive assistants, the Hays 2023 GCC Salary Guide says.
In contrast, employers in the education and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors are recruiting less as they have already built and developed in-house teams, the research shows.
“There’s a high demand for executive assistants in the UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi, where the market has been growing rapidly but the candidate pool remains limited,” says Jarren Smith, consultant for office support jobs at Hays.
“As such, employers in the region find it challenging to secure experienced talent, and competition between organisations is high.”
The job market in the UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy, has recovered well from the pandemic thanks largely to fiscal and social measures taken by the government.
Most companies in the Emirates plan to hire more employees during the remainder of the year, and wages are expected to increase by just under 2 per cent in 2023, according to the Cooper Fitch Salary Guide 2023.
More than half of companies (57 per cent) expect to increase salaries this year, according to Cooper Fitch, which polled leaders at 300 companies in the GCC.
Office support professionals changed roles at the highest rate in any sector in the UAE last year, Hays reports.
Thirty-seven per cent of office support employees changed roles in 2022 compared with 23 per cent that started a new job the previous year.
When asked about hiring intentions for 2023, 56 per cent of employers in the office support sector say that they plan to recruit permanent employees, Hays says.
Within the UAE, contracting and outsourcing are popular, and 22 per cent of employers plan to recruit office support freelancers and/or contractors this year, it adds.
With hiring rates increasing in the UAE’s office support sector, what are the most sought-after jobs and how much do they pay?
Read on to find out – and check out our comprehensive UAE salary guide 2023 slide show below for a snapshot of your sector.
Which jobs are in demand?
Michael Page says in its 2023 UAE Salary Guide that the jobs most in demand in the UAE’s office support industry include executive assistant (C-level), office manager, receptionist, office administrator/team assistant, and personal assistant.
Sixty per cent of the UAE’s office support employers say that intermediate and management level positions are the hardest to fill, according to Hays.
Professionals with regional knowledge and experience in multinational organisations will be sought-after. Moreover, multitasking and strong communication skills remain essential, the recruiter says.
What job skills are employers looking for?
The role of a business executive assistant/personal assistant has evolved over the past few years, the Michael Page report says.
“Beyond the universally understood duties, the modern-day EA/PA is often required to now facilitate corporate duties involving, but not limited to, client onboarding, compliance and even project management depending on the nature of the company.
“Businesses are now looking for support candidates that are eager to learn and assist with the core business expectations, instead of just providing administrative support. This is a step forward in providing support candidates with the opportunity for growth and progression. Companies consider this as a cost benefit.”
The market now recognises support candidates as a necessity as opposed to a luxury, according to the Michael Page report.
Support/secretarial candidates are expected to provide solutions to complex requests and lighten personal responsibilities of their senior stakeholders so they can focus on core activities, the consultancy says.
Requests can vary from managing a complex travel itinerary to collating information from key stakeholders for reports/projects.
“In previous years, work experience and transferable skills were enough to be selected as the successful candidate for an office support role,” Michael Page says.
“However, in this competitive market, the decision of who to hire and why has needed to be more rigorous for employers to make a decision between a strong shortlist.
“Diplomas and university degrees can help a candidate to demonstrate a competitive edge and help convince an employer of the long-term time investment as well as growth potential.”
Are salaries expected to rise in the sector?
Office support professionals in the UAE are optimistic about their rate of pay, with 69 per cent expecting to receive a salary increase in 2023, the Hays Salary Guide shows.
Conversely, 56 per cent of employers in the Emirates expect salaries within their organisation to increase.
In 2022, only 37 per cent of those polled by Hays received a salary increase. However, those that received a wage rise experienced a significant improvement, most commonly by 15 per cent or more.
The main reason cited for a salary increase was a new job with a new organisation, according to Hays.
Intermediate-level professionals experienced the highest salary increases, with 48 per cent of this cohort being awarded a pay rise, it says.
“The No 1 factor employers take into account when considering an employee’s pay rise request is individual performance, followed by length of service,” Ms Smith of Hays says.
There’s a high demand for executive assistants in the UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi where the market has been growing rapidly but the candidate pool remains limited
Jarren Smith,
consultant for office support jobs, Hays
What other benefits can employees expect?
When office support professionals moved jobs last year, the main reason for their change was salary. Aside from salary, professionals in the sector value air ticket allowances, flexible working, and child education allowances, Hays reports.
While air ticket allowances and flexible working are common benefits employees currently receive, only 13 per cent of employees in this sector receive child education allowances.
Three in 10 (31 per cent) office support professionals in the UAE cited lack of career development opportunities as the main reason they plan to change organisation but stay within the same role or industry this year, the Hays report shows.
“Employers that want to retain staff should consider upskilling initiatives and create more comprehensive ways for people to continue their professional development,” the consultancy says.
Lengthy interview processes, counter-offers and selling your brand versus your competition are challenges employers need to adapt to in this current market in order to retain talent.
“Secretarial and office support staff are in high demand and it is crucial for employers to be aware of the variables that can contribute to your business being chosen over your competition,” it says.
“A well-planned, streamlined interview process is pivotal to keep candidates engaged and interested in your vacancy. Consistent, transparent communication throughout the process will help avoid awkward conversations at offer stage and strengthen your brand’s reputation.
“Creating a memorable experience from the very beginning is important to ensure the candidate experience is pleasant, boosting the chance of a great candidate accepting your job offer over others and reducing the chance of accepting a counter-offer.”
What are the highest-paying jobs in the office support sector?
Professional and financial services
- Executive assistant to C-level (five+ years’ experience): Dh25,000 ($6,807) to Dh35,000 a month
- Office manager (five+ years’ experience): Dh25,000 to Dh40,000
- Personal assistant (five+ years’ experience): Dh20,000 to Dh30,000
- Private personal assistant (five+ years’ experience): Dh20,000 to Dh30,000
- Legal secretary (private practice): Dh17,000 to Dh25,000
- Executive assistant – multi support (five+ years’ experience): Dh18,000 to Dh25,000
- Team assistant: Dh10,000 to Dh18,000
- Receptionist: Dh8,000 to Dh16,000
- Administrator: Dh8,000 to Dh15,000
Industrial
- Executive assistant to C-level (five+ years’ experience): Dh20,000 to Dh30,000
- Office manager (five+ years’ experience): Dh20,000 to Dh30,000
- Legal secretary (in-house): Dh14,000 to Dh25,000
- Executive assistant – multi support (five+ years’ experience): Dh15,000 to Dh23,000
- Administration manager: Dh12,000 to Dh20,000
- Receptionist: Dh8,000 to Dh15,000
- Administrator: Dh8,000 to Dh15,000
- Customer service: Dh8,000 to Dh15,000
Government/semi-government
- Receptionist: Dh11,000 to Dh16,000
- General administration: Dh13,000 to Dh16,000
- Senior administration: Dh18,000 to Dh25,000
- Legal secretary: Dh19,000 to Dh27,000
- Team assistant: Dh17,000 to Dh25,000
- Executive assistant: Dh18,000 to 35,000
- Office manager: Dh22,000 to Dh35,000
SME
- Receptionist: Dh8,000 to Dh12,000
- General administration: Dh7,000 to Dh13,000
- Personal assistant: Dh14,000 to Dh22,000
- Executive assistant: Dh15,000 to Dh22,000
- Office manager: Dh17,000 to Dh23,000
MNC
- Receptionist: Dh10,000 to Dh15,000
- General administration: Dh10,000 to Dh18,000
- Office manager: Dh22,000 to Dh30,000
- Executive assistant: Dh22,000 to Dh32,000
Source: Hays and Michael Page
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
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
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
The years Ramadan fell in May
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7%E2%80%9D%20LPTO%20Amoled%2C%202412%20x%201080%2C%20394ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20Corning%20Gorilla%20Glass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%2B%20Gen%202%2C%20octa-core%3B%20Adreno%20730%20GPU%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%2C%20Nothing%20OS%202%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%2050MP%20wide%2C%20f%2F1.9%20%2B%2050MP%20ultrawide%2C%20f%2F2.2%3B%20OIS%2C%20auto-focus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%20video%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%20%40%2030%2F60fps%2C%201080p%20%40%2030%2F60fps%3B%20live%20HDR%2C%20OIS%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2032MP%20wide%2C%20f%2F2.5%2C%20HDR%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%20video%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Full-HD%20%40%2030fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204700mAh%3B%20full%20charge%20in%2055m%20w%2F%2045w%20charger%3B%20Qi%20wireless%2C%20dual%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Google%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBiometrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fingerprint%2C%20face%20unlock%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP54%2C%20limited%20protection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual-nano%20SIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dark%20grey%2C%20white%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nothing%20Phone%20(2)%2C%20USB-C-to-USB-C%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%20(UAE)%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh2%2C499%20(12GB%2F256GB)%20%2F%20Dh2%2C799%20(12GB%2F512GB)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
%3Cp%3E1.%20Bhiwadi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ghaziabad%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Hotan%2C%20China%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Delhi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Jaunpur%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Faisalabad%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20Noida%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Bahawalpur%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Peshawar%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Bagpat%2C%20India%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20IQAir%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
if you go
