UAE Skills Platform Unveils Top 4 Job Sectors and 5 Emerging Professions Shaping the Future of Employment

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Skills Platform, initiated by the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Human Resources and Emiratisation, has unveiled a comprehensive overview of the nation’s labour market. This report outlines the most sought-after specialisations, emerging job roles, declining professions, and the highest-paying positions within the UAE.

The findings indicate a significant rise in demand for careers associated with digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the non-oil economy. This trend contrasts sharply with the decline of traditional professions, which are increasingly affected by automation and technological advancements.

Highest-Paying Jobs in UAE

The Emirates Skills Platform has identified four primary sectors with substantial employment opportunities. Business administration leads the way, comprising 20% of job advertisements. Following this are finance, banking, and insurance, each representing 8% of the job market, alongside marketing and advertising, which also accounts for 8%. The hospitality and food service sector contributes 6% to job postings.

The report highlights that the highest-paying roles in the UAE include positions such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), airport CEO, Chief Operating Officer (COO), venture capitalist, and heads of higher education institutions.

Jobs in Demand

Currently, the most in-demand roles in the UAE labour market include accountants, sales managers, restaurant managers, administrative assistants, and civil engineers.

The increasing need for regulatory compliance and financial reporting has driven up demand for accountants. This growth is further supported by business expansion and cross-border trade, alongside a swift transition towards digital accounting and financial technology.

Sales managers are sought after to enhance revenue streams, expand digital sales channels, and support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups that depend on modern sales strategies.

The tourism and hospitality sector’s expansion, coupled with the diversification of the non-oil economy, has led to a heightened demand for restaurant managers. Additionally, the rise in administrative assistant roles is linked to the growth of digital government services and the tourism and logistics sectors, which require enhanced administrative support.

Civil engineers are also in high demand, driven by infrastructure expansion, tourism projects, and the push towards sustainable development.

Emerging Jobs

The platform has identified five key emerging roles: data analyst, user experience analyst, operations manager, project manager, and artificial intelligence engineer.

These positions are witnessing rapid growth due to ongoing digital transformation, the expansion of smart services, economic diversification, and an increased reliance on data and artificial intelligence.

The demand for data analysts is rising alongside the growth of digital services and data-driven business models. User experience analysts are increasingly needed due to digital government initiatives and the development of smart services.

The growth in operations and project management roles is propelled by infrastructure expansion and large-scale projects in tourism and logistics, alongside digital transformation initiatives. Artificial intelligence engineers are among the fastest-growing professionals, supported by the swift adoption of AI and cloud computing technologies across various sectors.

Jobs in Decline

The report also notes several professions facing declining demand due to automation and technological advancements. These include ambulance drivers, technicians in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pumps, debt collectors, oil and gas production managers, and legal administrative assistants.

The decline in these roles is primarily attributed to a growing reliance on smart technologies, automation, and digital systems, as well as the shift towards renewable energy and enhanced operational efficiency.

For instance, telemedicine and smart emergency systems have reduced the need for certain ambulance driver roles. Predictive maintenance technologies have also diminished the demand for traditional technical roles in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Automation and artificial intelligence are increasingly taking over routine tasks in debt collection and legal administration, leading to a reduced need for entry-level positions. In the oil and gas sector, the focus on renewable energy and sustainability, combined with automation, has resulted in decreased demand for specific operational and administrative jobs.

Highest-Paying Jobs

Leadership and executive roles dominate the list of the highest-paying positions, with some monthly salaries reaching AED 163,000 at senior levels.

CEO roles typically range from AED 60,000 to AED 91,000 for mid-level positions, escalating to AED 150,000 for senior executives. This reflects the responsibilities associated with strategic leadership and organisational vision.

Airport CEOs also command salaries up to AED 150,000 per month, given their oversight of operations, safety, commercial performance, and regulatory compliance.

Chief Operating Officers (COOs) earn between AED 60,000 and AED 150,000, depending on their experience, as they manage daily operations and the execution of company strategies.

Venture capitalists earn between AED 47,000 and AED 72,000 at mid-level, with senior roles reaching up to AED 105,000, reflecting their responsibilities in evaluating and investing in start-ups.

Heads of higher education institutions earn between AED 64,000 and AED 96,000 at mid-level, with senior positions reaching AED 163,000, due to their roles in academic, financial, and strategic leadership.

Required Qualifications

The platform underscores the importance of academic and technical qualifications in enhancing employability and career advancement.

A bachelor’s degree is the most sought-after qualification, required in 52% of job advertisements, particularly in fields such as IT, engineering, business administration, and finance.

Master’s degrees rank second, required for 21% of roles, especially in leadership and specialised areas like management, data science, AI, healthcare, and finance.

Diplomas and technical certificates account for 18% of job postings, particularly in construction, maintenance, aviation, logistics, hospitality, and technical support.

High school qualifications are necessary for 9% of jobs, mainly in retail, customer service, security, hospitality, and administrative support.

As reported by www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-05-25 09:11:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk