The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major upheavals around the world – not least in the jobs market.
The tumultuous events of 2020 have affected millions of workers worldwide, including in the UAE, where many companies made staff redundant and reduced salaries in an effort to trim costs and remain operational.
While uncertainty remains, a brighter picture has been forecast for the Emirates, with the Central Bank of the UAE projecting the economy will grow 2.5 per cent in 2021.
So, what is the salary outlook for jobseekers this year?
Pay levels in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other emirates
The data from HR and recruitment specialist Cooper Fitch (see slideshow above) is based on surveys with 200 companies in the UAE.
More than 70 per cent of the companies that participated in the Cooper Fitch survey were large firms rather than SMEs, according to Trefor Murphy, the company's founder and chief executive.
"We've been running the surveys for eight years in the UAE and with each year that we see an increase or decrease, we adjust them up or down accordingly," he tells The National.
"The numbers come from firms that choose to use recruitment firms, so the organisations that don't use us, we don't use their data and we don't know what is happening there.
"In my view, maybe the organisations that are in a position where they are doing well, and are in a position to pay, are those that are using recruitment partners – and so it is those that can pay their employees better."
While an emirate-by-emirate breakdown reflecting the local economic situation is not provided within the company's data, Mr Murphy says different pay levels between the different emirates has "always been the case".
"Jobs, salaries and compensation are as a result of pure supply and demand. If someone wants to work in Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah, it’s like comparing a job in London with the option of working somewhere outside of the hustle and bustle of the city – it won’t pay as much."
The numbers shown in the slideshow are for fixed salaries with no benefits, such as school allowance or bonuses, included.
Mr Murphy says he hasn't seen much change to allowances being offered to companies since the onset of the pandemic.
"Certainly among the 200 firms we surveyed, they are not reducing allowances," he says. "There has been an overall reduction during the past five or 10 years but whereas Dubai may have been a hardship posting a decade ago, that is certainly not the case any more."
Cooper Fitch's annual salary survey found that 65 per cent of respondents said there was no change to mid-level salaries, and 66 per cent said executive compensation also remained flat. Fourteen per cent said they decreased mid-level wages, and 12 per cent cut executive pay.
The company expects a slight correction to UAE salary ranges for new hires in 2021 at -2 per cent. Forty-one per cent of respondents were undecided on whether existing staff would receive a pay rise in 2021, while 27 per cent said they would implement a merit salary increase.
Sectors with biggest wage increases
Despite the Covid-19-induced economic challenges, global recruitment consultancy Robert Half also expects salaries in the UAE to remain stable this year.
Sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals, finance, government and human resources will offer the biggest wage increases, bonuses and benefits to retain top talent, according to its 2021 Salary Guide.
"Business leaders recognise that retention strategies need to evolve if they're to remain effective in the current climate. For this reason, salaries have remained stable, with some businesses even offering bonuses of up to 25 per cent for their top performers," it says in the report.
"However, remuneration packages have been stripped back to core benefits over recent months. Employees are primarily requesting incentives that support their development and performance while working from home. Typically, employers will only offer this to top talent."
Robert Half polled 1,500-plus business leaders across mainland Europe, the UK and Brazil during July 2020. "The results, we believe, are also indicative of current employer sentiment in the UAE," it says.
Robert Half did not comment further on its UAE data when contacted by The National.
Meanwhile, the Michael Page salary guide for 2021 does not indicate if workers can expect improved pay levels this year.
Companies that successfully navigated 2020 did so thanks to a strong company culture pre-Covid, fostered by in-person communication and interactions both internally and externally, Pierre-Emmanuel Dupil, senior managing director at Page Group for the Middle East and Africa, says.
The salary data is "indicative of the data for the region, but most accurately for the UAE", Jon Ede, regional director at Michael Page Middle East, adds.
"Each discipline/sector specialist looks at the data/reporting via our recruitment tech platform [salaries, job flow] and also the guide summaries [of] the insights from his/her interactions over the past 12 months with our client organisations and candidates," he tells The National.
The figures quoted in the Michael Page salary guide are inclusive of benefits for a range of private sector companies, such as multinational corporations, SMEs, family groups and government, Mr Ede adds.
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Highest paid jobs in UAE
- Banking - chief compliance officer Dh93,000-Dh115,000, chief operating officer Dh95,000-Dh113,000
- Legal - managing partner Dh84,100-Dh122,300, General Counsel Dh80,000-Dh130,000
- Oil and gas - LNG manager Dh38,000-Dh72,000, Petroleum engineering manager Dh38,000-Dh65,000
- Public sector - Undersecretary Dh125,000-Dh175,000, executive director Dh90,000-Dh130,000
- Strategy - chief information officer Dh85,500-Dh111,000, partner Dh110,000-Dh162,000
- Senior finance and tax - group chief financial officer Dh90,000-Dh130,000
- Sales and marketing - regional commercial director Dh55,000-Dh69,000, head of corporate communications Dh51,000-Dh65,000
- Manufacturing and supply chain - managing director Dh94,000-Dh130,000, chief operations officer Dh80,000-Dh120,000
- Investment management - chief investment officer Dh130,000-Dh170,000, head of investments Dh85,000-Dh140,000
- Technology - chief information officer Dh60,000-Dh105,000, chief technology officer Dh50,700-Dh97,900
- HR and office support - HR director Dh64,800-Dh109,500, head of HR Dh50,000-Dh90,200
- Financial services - chief risk officer Dh90,000-Dh150,000, finance and accounting CFO Dh85,000-Dh140,000
- Accounting and finance - CFO Dh70,000-Dh130,000
- Property and construction - general manager Dh60,000-Dh80,000, development director Dh65,000-Dh80,000
- Secretary and office support - executive assistant Dh24,000-Dh32,000, office manager Dh20,000-Dh32,000
- Digital - chief digital officer Dh50,000-Dh90,000, head of digital marketing Dh35,000-Dh60,000
A version of this article was first published on January 18
Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
the pledge
I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance
I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice
I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own
I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself
I pledge to live in harmony with my community
I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness
I pledge to do my part to create peace for all
I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community
I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity
AL%20BOOM
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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
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Play-off fixtures
Two-legged ties to be played November 9-11 and November 12-14
- Northern Ireland v Switzerland
- Croatia v Greece
- Denmark v Ireland
- Sweden v Italy
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 3
Sadio Man 28'
Andrew Robertson 34'
Diogo Jota 88'
Arsenal 1
Lacazette 25'
Man of the match
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
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.
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
If you go...
Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.
Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Scoreline
Swansea 2
Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'
Man City 3
Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
