salary trends in the gulf 2014
TRANSCRIPT
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Introduction
1
Em
plo
ym
en
t and
jo
b c
rea
tio
n r
em
ain
the h
ott
est
issues in t
he M
idd
le E
ast,
inclu
din
g t
he s
ix c
ountr
ies o
f th
e G
ulf C
oo
pera
tio
n
Co
uncil
(GC
C)
This
researc
h r
ep
ort
, p
rod
uced
by o
nlin
e r
ecru
itin
g f
irm
, G
ulfT
ale
nt,
sum
marises t
he s
tatu
s o
f th
e e
mp
loym
en
t m
ark
et
and
fore
casts
ke
y t
ren
ds t
o b
e e
xp
ecte
d d
uring
2014
Pub
lished
annually
, “E
mp
loym
en
t a
nd
Sa
lary
Tre
nd
s in
th
e G
ulf
” is
the p
rem
ier
pub
licatio
n o
n e
mp
loym
ent
trend
s in
the G
ulf
reg
ion
© G
ulfT
ale
nt
2014. A
ll rig
hts
reserv
ed
.
Research M
ethodology
2
34,0
00 P
rofe
ssio
nals
800 E
xecutives &
HR
Manag
ers
60 S
enio
r E
xecutives
Em
plo
yed
by larg
e a
nd
med
ium
-siz
ed
firm
s in t
he G
CC
Ag
ed
22-6
0 y
ears
Annual i n
co
me in t
he r
ang
e
US
D 1
2,0
00 -
US
D 2
00,0
00
Em
plo
yin
g 5
0 t
o 2
0,0
00 s
taff
Acro
ss a
ll m
ajo
r in
dustr
ies
Mix
of
private
secto
r lo
cal and
i nte
rnatio
nal co
mp
anie
s
Acro
ss a
ll m
ajo
r in
dustr
ies
Based
in t
he 6
GC
C c
ountr
ies
( Saud
i A
rab
ia,
Qata
r, K
uw
ait,
Bahra
in, O
man a
nd
the U
AE
)
Rele
vant
rep
ort
s f
rom
the p
ress
and
new
s s
ourc
es a
cro
ss t
he
reg
ion
Macro
-eco
no
mic
so
urc
es
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200+
Art
icle
s
Executive Summary
3
Ec
on
om
ic &
Po
liti
ca
l B
ac
kg
rou
nd
: T
he e
co
no
mie
s o
f th
e G
ulf c
ontinue t
o g
row
at
a h
ealthy p
ace, sup
po
rted
by c
ontinued
hig
h o
il p
rices a
nd
go
vern
ment
investm
ents
in infr
astr
uctu
re. T
he r
eg
ion is a
lso
gain
ing
inte
rnatio
nal p
rom
inence a
s Q
ata
r and
UA
E a
re p
rep
aring
to
ho
st
majo
r
inte
rnatio
nal events
in t
he n
ext
decad
e. P
olit
ical te
nsio
ns a
cro
ss t
he b
road
er
Mid
dle
East
co
ntinue t
o h
ave a
n im
pact
on t
he G
ulf,
with m
ore
peo
ple
and
cap
ital flo
win
g t
o t
he r
ela
tive s
tab
ility
of
the G
ulf.
Re
cru
itm
en
t: T
he r
eg
ion c
ontinues t
o c
reate
jo
bs w
ith S
aud
i A
rab
ia in t
he lead
, w
here
62%
of
co
mp
anie
s r
ep
ort
ed
incre
ased
head
co
unt
in
2013, fo
llow
ed
by t
he U
AE
. O
n a
secto
r b
asis
, healthcare
, te
leco
m a
nd
reta
il le
d jo
b g
row
th. M
eanw
hile
acro
ss t
he r
eg
ion, em
plo
yers
are
incre
asin
gly
und
er
pre
ssure
to
red
uce t
heir r
elia
nce o
n e
xp
atr
iate
tale
nt,
part
icula
rly in S
aud
i A
rab
ia. A
s g
row
th in A
sia
rem
ain
s s
tro
ng
,
exp
atr
iate
recru
itm
ent
fro
m t
ho
se m
ark
ets
, p
art
icula
rly Ind
ia,
co
ntinues t
o b
e c
halle
ng
ing
, b
ut
has b
enefite
d f
rom
recent
falls
in t
heir c
urr
ency
valu
es. T
he s
up
ply
of
Ara
b e
xp
atr
iate
tale
nt
has incre
ased
dra
stically
due t
o t
ensio
ns in E
gyp
t and
Syria.
Ho
wever,
incre
ased
vis
a r
estr
ictio
ns
on n
atio
nals
of
these c
ountr
ies in p
art
s o
f th
e G
CC
is p
reventing
em
plo
yers
fro
m h
irin
g t
hem
.
Mo
bilit
y:
The U
AE
has f
urt
her
str
eng
thened
its
po
sitio
n a
s t
he p
rim
e d
estinatio
n f
or
exp
atr
iate
s in t
he G
CC
, re
turn
ing
to
its
pre
-crisis
level o
f
po
pula
rity
. O
ptim
ism
ab
out
the c
ountr
y’s
futu
re h
as incre
ased
fo
llow
ing
Dub
ai’s e
co
no
mic
reco
very
and
its
successfu
l bid
fo
r th
e E
xp
o 2
020.
Dub
ai and
Ab
u D
hab
i are
the r
eg
ion’s
mo
st
att
ractive c
itie
s f
or
exp
atr
iate
s, fo
llow
ed
by D
oha.
Sa
lari
es &
Co
st
of
Liv
ing
: S
ala
ry r
ises in t
he p
rivate
secto
r are
sta
ble
at
aro
und
6%
but
rem
ain
well
belo
w p
re-r
ecessio
n levels
. O
man
co
ntinued
to
witness t
he r
eg
ion’s
hig
hest
avera
ge p
ay incre
ase in 2
013, fo
llow
ed
by S
aud
i A
rab
ia. S
ala
ry incre
ase w
as h
ighest
am
ong
acco
unting
and
fin
ance p
rofe
ssio
nals
. C
onstr
uctio
n s
aw
the larg
est
incre
ase a
mo
ng
secto
rs.
20
14
Fo
rec
ast:
Sala
ries a
re f
ore
cast
to r
ise a
t a h
igher
rate
in 2
014 in m
ost
of
the G
CC
, w
ith O
man a
nd
Saud
i A
rab
ia in t
he lead
. A
ll co
untr
ies
exp
ect
to s
ee a
net
incre
ase in jo
bs -
led
by Q
ata
r and
Saud
i A
rab
ia. F
acto
rs t
hat
can im
pact
the e
xp
ecte
d r
ate
of
gro
wth
inclu
de t
he o
il p
rice,
pace o
f d
evelo
pm
ent
of
infr
astr
uctu
re f
or
the W
orld
Cup
and
Exp
o 2
020, g
lob
al eco
no
mic
reco
very
, d
ete
rio
rating
co
nd
itio
n o
f em
erg
ing
mark
ets
and
reg
ional p
olit
ical d
evelo
pm
ents
.
Contents
4
Eco
no
mic
& P
olit
ical B
ackg
rou
nd
5
Recru
itm
en
t
10
Mo
bili
ty
18
Sala
ries &
Co
st
of
Liv
ing
2
3
20
14
Fo
recast
29
Ap
pen
dix
– U
sefu
l In
form
atio
n
35
5
Economic & Political Background
0.3
%
5.9
%
7.5
%
5.5
%
3.9
%
4.4
%
-2.3
%
4.1
%
2.7
%
2.1
%
2.0
%
2.7
%
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Fo
recast
GC
C E
co
no
mic
Gro
wth
Wo
rld
Eco
no
mic
Gro
wth
6
Gulf Economic Growth
Gulf countries continue to enjoy higher economic growth
than the global average, thanks to high oil prices
Cru
de O
il P
rice
US
D p
er
Barr
el (B
rent)
So
urc
e: W
orld
Bank
GD
P G
row
th R
ate
2009-2
014
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
So
urc
e: E
co
no
mis
t In
telli
gence U
nit
7
In 2013, Qatar led economic growth in the region,
while Kuwait saw the lo
west growth
GC
C E
co
no
mic
Overv
iew
, 2013
Siz
e o
f E
co
no
my (U
SD
bn)
GD
P G
row
th E
stim
ate
K
ey F
acto
rs A
ffecting
Gro
wth
Gro
wth
in
no
n-o
il &
gas s
ecto
rs,
inclu
din
g c
on
str
uctio
n a
nd
ban
kin
g
20
6
Gro
wth
in
th
e t
ou
rism
& h
osp
italit
y s
ecto
r; r
eco
very
of
the r
eal esta
te s
ecto
r 4
04
Hig
h g
overn
men
t sp
en
din
g o
n in
frastr
uctu
re a
nd
welfare
8
2
Reco
very
of
oil
ou
tpu
t aft
er
tech
nic
al ch
alle
ng
es in
20
12
; u
nre
so
lved
po
litic
al te
nsio
ns
31
Go
vern
men
t in
vestm
en
t in
in
frastr
uctu
re;
gro
wth
in
th
e c
on
str
uctio
n, re
tail
an
d
tran
sp
ort
secto
rs;
slig
ht
dip
in
oil
ou
tpu
t
73
3
Weak g
row
th in
oil
pro
du
ctio
n
18
1
Economic Growth by Country
5.5
%
4.3
%
4.2
%
3.9
%
3.7
%
2.3
%
Qata
r
UA
E
Om
an
Bah
rain
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Ku
wait
So
urc
e: E
co
no
mis
t In
telli
gence U
nit,
Inte
rnatio
nal M
oneta
ry F
und
, G
ulfT
ale
nt
Inte
rvie
ws
8
Economic growth and employment are being affected by tensions in parts of the Arab world
Overt
hro
w o
f G
overn
ment
Pub
lic D
em
onstr
atio
ns
Arm
ed
Co
nflic
t
Str
ikes /
Ind
ustr
ial D
isp
ute
UA
E
Qata
r B
ahra
in
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Syria
Eg
yp
t
Yem
en
Om
an
Iraq
Kuw
ait
Jo
rdan
Leb
ano
n
Political D
evelopments
aq
Mid
dle
East
– K
ey H
ots
po
ts 2
013
9
Major Events
The region is gaining greater international prominence as Qatar and Dubai are preparing to
host m
ajor international events, likely to boost investment and employment
Wo
rld
Cup
2022
Qata
r
Exp
o 2
020
UA
E
Aw
ard
ed
to
Qata
r in
20
10
, aft
er
bid
din
g
by f
ive c
ou
ntr
ies (in
c.
Au
str
alia
, Jap
an
,
So
uth
Ko
rea a
nd
US
)
Th
e f
irst
tim
e t
hat
the t
ou
rnam
en
t w
ill b
e
ho
ste
d in
th
e M
idd
le E
ast
Exp
ecte
d t
o d
rive in
vestm
en
t an
d g
row
th
in in
frastr
uctu
re a
nd
co
nstr
uctio
n
Aw
ard
ed
to
Du
bai in
No
vem
ber
20
13
,
aft
er
bid
din
g b
y f
ou
r citie
s (in
c.
Izm
ir,
Sao
Pau
lo a
nd
Yekate
rin
bu
rg)
Th
e f
irst
tim
e t
hat
the E
xp
o is t
akin
g p
lace
in t
he M
idd
le E
ast
Exp
ecte
d t
o a
ttra
ct
mill
ion
s o
f vis
ito
rs t
o
Du
bai an
d b
oo
st
bu
sin
ess t
hro
ug
h
investm
en
t an
d t
ou
rism
10
Recruitment
11
Saudi Arabia leads job creation in the Gulf, while Bahrain has the lo
west rate of job growth
Ob
serv
atio
ns
Em
plo
ym
ent
Gro
wth
by C
ountr
y:
Net
perc
enta
ge o
f firm
s w
hic
h incre
ased
head
co
unt
2012
2013
Sa
ud
i A
rab
ia h
ad
the h
ighest
rate
of
job
cre
atio
n a
mo
ng
all
GC
C
co
untr
ies w
ith 6
2%
of
co
mp
anie
s incre
asin
g h
ead
co
unt
Qa
tar
had
a s
ignific
antly lo
wer
rate
of
job
cre
atio
n c
om
pare
d t
o
2012 a
s p
roje
cts
ente
red
the e
xecutio
n p
hase late
r th
an
exp
ecte
d, p
ossib
ly r
esultin
g f
rom
uncert
ain
ty o
ver
the W
orld
Cup
and
the c
ountr
y’s
recent
lead
ers
hip
successio
n
Ba
hra
in’s
em
plo
yers
were
relu
cta
nt
to e
xp
and
their h
ead
co
unt
in
the f
ace o
f lo
w g
row
th a
nd
po
tential fu
rther
po
litic
al in
sta
bili
ty
57%
50%
31%
61%
44%
27%
Job Creation by Country 62%
51%
47%
41%
38%
9%
Saud
i A
rab
ia
UA
E
Ku
wait
Qata
r
Om
an
Bah
rain
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey o
f H
R M
anag
ers
31%
37%
34%
40%
22%
18%
15%
17%
20%
18%
20%
19%
16%
17%
20%
16%
4%
4%
5%
3%
3%
3%
4%
3%
4%
3%
2%
2%
2010
2011
2012
2013
12
The UAE, and particularly Dubai, have seen an increase in their share of
regional recruitment activity, while Qatar’s share declined in 2013
Recru
itm
ent
Vo
lum
e b
y L
ocatio
n:
Perc
enta
ge o
f vacancie
s a
dvert
ised
on G
ulfT
ale
nt
*
Dub
ai
UA
E
(Exclu
din
g D
ub
ai)
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Qata
r
Kuw
ait
Om
an
Bahra
in
Recruitment Volumes
* B
ased
on 1
00,0
00 v
acancie
s a
dvert
ised
by e
mp
loyers
and
recru
itm
ent
ag
encie
s o
n G
ulfT
ale
nt.
co
m o
ver
the s
pecifie
d p
erio
d
No
te: In
tern
et
penetr
atio
n a
nd
pre
vale
nce o
f o
nlin
e r
ecru
itm
ent
varies a
cro
ss t
he c
ountr
ies
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
13
Job Creation by Sector
The Healthcare sector witnesses the highest increase in headcount and Banking the lo
west
80%
67%
62%
60%
57%
50%
40%
33%
32%
Healthcare
Tele
co
ms &
IT
Reta
il
Ho
sp
italit
y
Oil
& G
as
Lo
gis
tics
Co
nstr
uctio
n
Real E
sta
te
Ban
kin
g
Ob
serv
atio
ns
Em
plo
ym
ent
Gro
wth
by S
ecto
r:
Net
perc
enta
ge o
f firm
s w
hic
h incre
ased
head
co
unt
in 2
013
He
alt
hc
are
enjo
yed
the h
ighest
incre
ase, as g
overn
ments
invest
heavily
in t
he s
ecto
r, w
hile
mo
re c
ountr
ies m
ake h
ealth insura
nce
mand
ato
ry f
or
em
plo
yers
Te
lec
om
s &
IT
’s h
igh incre
ase in h
ead
co
unt
was d
ue t
o
accele
rating
dem
and
, in
lin
e w
ith g
lob
al tr
end
s
Re
tail s
aw
hig
h g
row
th, d
riven b
y r
ap
id p
op
ula
tio
n g
row
th a
s
well
as incre
asin
g r
eta
il p
enetr
atio
n
Ba
nkin
g,
desp
ite a
healthy r
eco
very
fro
m t
he c
risis
, saw
the
low
est
em
plo
ym
ent
gro
wth
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey o
f H
R M
anag
ers
14
Nationalisation
Nationalisation of workforce remains a key challenge for companies,
especially in Saudi A
rabia and Oman
Natio
nalis
atio
n P
ressure
on E
mp
loyers
:
Perc
enta
ge o
f em
plo
yers
rep
ort
ing
natio
nalis
atio
n a
s a
key h
um
an
reso
urc
e c
halle
ng
e in 2
013
87%
81%
43%
38%
28%
21%
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Om
an
Bah
rain
Ku
wait
UA
E
Qata
r
Key G
overn
ment
Natio
nalis
atio
n M
easure
s in S
aud
i A
rab
ia
Str
ict
enfo
rcem
ent
of
Saud
isatio
n t
arg
ets
und
er
the ‘N
itaq
at’
syste
m D
ep
art
ure
of
1 m
illio
n e
xp
atr
iate
s d
uring
perio
d o
f am
nesty
C
rackd
ow
n o
n ille
gal m
igra
nt
wo
rkers
, re
sultin
g in d
ep
ort
atio
n
of
a f
urt
her
250,0
00 e
xp
atr
iate
s
Req
uirem
ent
for
dep
end
ents
of
exp
atr
iate
s t
o t
ransfe
r th
eir
sp
onso
rship
to
em
plo
yer
in o
rder
to b
e a
ble
to
wo
rk
Imp
ositio
n o
f a m
uch h
igher
annual fe
e o
n e
mp
loyers
fo
r
each e
xp
atr
iate
hire
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey o
f H
R M
anag
ers
15
Attracting W
estern nationals remains easier for Gulf employers, due to
high unemployment and wage stagnation in Europe
Private
Secto
r P
ay Incre
ase –
Glo
bal C
om
pariso
n
% 2
013
So
urc
e: A
on H
ew
itt,
Hay G
roup
, G
ulfT
ale
nt
Fra
nce
United
Kin
gd
om
Canad
a
Austr
alia
Global R
ecruitment Sources
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
9%
10%
11%
12%
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
10.2
%
6.7
%
5.9
%
3.8
%
3.0
%
2.9
%
2.9
%
Ind
ia
Phili
pp
ines
GC
C
Austr
alia UK
US
Canad
a
So
urc
e: E
co
no
mis
t In
telli
gence U
nit
Unem
plo
ym
ent
Rate
in W
este
rn C
ountr
ies
2008-2
013
16
Currency Movements
Recent currency movements have m
ade Gulf salaries more attractive for Asian professionals, while
reducing their value to Europeans
0.8
0.91
1.1 J
an
-13
Ap
r-1
3Ju
l-1
3O
ct-
13
Jan
-14
Ind
ian R
up
ee
British P
ound
Euro
Phili
pp
ine P
eso
* P
eg
ged
to
US
Do
llar
S
ourc
e: O
AN
DA
Fo
reig
n C
urr
encie
s vs. G
ulf C
urr
encie
s *
Chang
e in V
alu
e 2
013-2
014 (In
dexed
to
1 J
an.
2013)
17
“Eg
yp
tians a
re r
ead
y t
o w
ork
fo
r m
uch lo
wer
sala
ries
no
w, lo
okin
g f
or
peace o
f m
ind
and
security
.
HR
& A
dm
in M
anag
er,
Saud
i A
rab
ia
“The influx o
f cand
idate
s f
rom
Eg
yp
t and
Syria h
as
bro
ug
ht
the a
vera
ge s
ala
ry e
xp
ecta
tio
n d
ow
n a
s t
hey
are
read
y t
o w
ork
fo
r m
uch less.”
HR
Busin
ess P
art
ner,
UA
E
“Vis
as f
or
Eg
yp
tian, S
yrian, Jo
rdania
n a
nd
Leb
anese
cand
idate
s f
req
uently g
et
denie
d w
itho
ut
reaso
n,
part
icula
rly in t
he U
AE
, Q
ata
r and
Kuw
ait.”
HR
Busin
ess P
art
ner,
UA
E
“We h
ave f
ound
so
me r
eally
go
od
Syrian c
and
idate
s
keen t
o m
ove t
o G
CC
in t
he r
ecent
past,
but
gett
ing
vis
as f
or
them
pro
ved
to
be v
ery
difficult.”
HR
Manag
er,
UA
E
Impact of Arab Spring
The Arab Spring is driving m
ore Arab expats to the GCC, b
ut visa restrictions
have been increased against them
Incre
ased
vis
a r
estr
ictio
ns
Hig
h inte
rest
to r
elo
cate
to
GC
C
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Inte
rvie
ws
18
Mobility
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
19
The UAE extends its lead over the other GCC countries as the
most popular destination for expatriates
Ob
serv
atio
ns
Att
ractio
n o
f E
xp
atr
iate
s:
Perc
enta
ge o
f G
CC
-based
exp
ats
outs
ide e
ach c
ountr
y w
ho
wis
h t
o r
elo
cate
into
it
The U
AE
has s
treng
thened
its p
ositio
n a
s t
he p
rim
e d
estinatio
n
for
exp
atr
iate
s, as o
ptim
ism
ab
out
its f
utu
re incre
ases f
ollo
win
g
Dub
ai’s s
uccessfu
l eco
no
mic
reco
very
and
co
ntinued
sta
bili
ty
desp
ite t
urm
oil
in t
he w
ider
reg
ion
Qa
tar
has d
rop
ped
heavily
fro
m its
2010 p
eak in p
op
ula
rity
,
driven b
y D
ub
ai’s r
e-b
ound
as w
ell
as t
he s
low
pace o
f new
pro
jects
Sa
ud
i A
rab
ia’s
heig
hte
ned
natio
nalis
atio
n m
easure
s a
re
dis
co
ura
gin
g e
xp
atr
iate
s f
rom
seekin
g e
mp
loym
ent
in t
he
kin
gd
om
Ba
hra
in r
em
ain
s t
he least
att
ractive d
estinatio
n a
s e
xp
atr
iate
s
co
ntinue t
o p
erc
eiv
e t
he c
ountr
y a
s u
nsafe
UA
E
Qata
r
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Om
an
Kuw
ait
Bahra
in
Popular Countries
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
20
S
ourc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
40%
19%
20%
7%
4%
3%
3%
3%
3%
1%
2%
1%
Popular Cities
Dubai remains the region’s m
ost attractive city, followed by Abu Dhabi and Doha
Rankin
g o
f G
ulf C
itie
s –
By A
ttra
ctio
n f
or
Exp
atr
iate
s:
Perc
enta
ge o
f G
CC
-based
exp
atr
iate
s o
uts
ide t
he c
ity w
ho
wis
h t
o r
elo
cate
into
it
48%
20%
16%
5%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
Dub
ai
Ab
u D
hab
i
Do
ha
Jed
dah
Muscat
Ku
wait C
ity
Mad
ina
Riy
ad
h
Makkah
Sharjah
Dam
mam
Manam
a
2012
2013
21
43%
45%
47%
49%
60%
88%
Retention by Country
The UAE experiences a rise in retention rate, as the overw
helming m
ajority of
expatriates wish to stay in the country
Rete
ntio
n o
f E
xp
atr
iate
s:
Perc
enta
ge o
f exp
atr
iate
s w
ithin
the c
ountr
y w
ho
wis
h t
o r
em
ain
there
2012
2013
Ob
serv
atio
ns
The U
AE
’s a
pp
eal fo
r exp
atr
iate
s a
lread
y liv
ing
within
the
co
untr
y is d
ue t
o s
tab
ility
, in
frastr
uctu
re a
nd
op
tim
ism
ab
out
the
co
untr
y’s
eco
no
mic
develo
pm
ent
Qa
tar
co
ntinues t
o h
ave t
he lo
west
rete
ntio
n r
ate
within
the
GC
C,
main
ly a
s a
result o
f la
ws p
reventing
exp
atr
iate
s f
rom
chang
ing
jo
bs
Rete
ntio
n r
ate
s a
cro
ss m
ost
GC
C c
ountr
ies a
re f
alli
ng
, la
rgely
as a
result o
f th
e U
AE
’s a
ccele
rating
po
pula
rity
UA
E
Ku
wait
Bah
rain
Om
an
Sau
di A
rab
ia
Qata
r
83%
64%
50%
51%
49%
48%
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
22
1.1
%
1.1
%
3.4
%
5.4
%
5.4
%
4.8
%
3.7
%
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Domestic Relocations
Fewer Dubai residents are now working in Abu Dhabi, following regulatory changes
in Abu Dhabi as well as an im
proving Dubai economy
Recessio
n c
auses
massiv
e jo
b
losses in D
ub
ai
Ab
u D
hab
i sta
te f
irm
s
ord
ere
d t
o s
top
ho
usin
g
allo
wan
ce t
o e
mp
loyees
livin
g o
uts
ide A
bu
Dh
ab
i
Dub
ai R
esid
ents
Wo
rkin
g in A
bu D
hab
i
As p
erc
enta
ge o
f all
wo
rkin
g p
rofe
ssio
nals
liv
ing
in D
ub
ai
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
23
Salaries & Cost of Living
24
7.0
%
7.9
%
9.0
%
11.4
%
6.2
%
6.1
%
5.5
%
6.2
%
5.9
%
6.3
%
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Fo
recast
Salary Increases
Salary rises in the private sector are stable but remain below pre-recession levels
GC
C A
vera
ge S
ala
ry Incre
ase
2005 -
2014
Glo
bal financia
l crisis
hits t
he G
CC
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
25
8.6
%
6.8
%
6.5
%
5.8
%
5.2
%
5.2
%
Salaries by Country
Oman continues to witness the region’s highest average pay increase
in the private sector, followed by Saudi Arabia
7.4
%
6.7
%
5.6
%
5.4
%
5.3
%
4.0
%
Om
an
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Qata
r
Ku
wait
UA
E
Bah
rain
Private
Secto
r S
ala
ry Incre
ase b
y C
ountr
y
2012
2013
Ob
serv
atio
ns
The U
AE
was t
he o
nly
co
untr
y t
hat
saw
a h
igher
avera
ge p
ay
incre
ase in 2
013 t
han t
he p
revio
us y
ear,
with m
ost
co
untr
ies
seein
g a
slo
wer
incre
ase
Om
an
had
the h
ighest
avera
ge s
ala
ry r
ise, fo
llow
ing
a 6
2%
ris
e
in n
atio
nal m
inim
um
wag
e a
nd
a f
urt
her
mand
ato
ry in
cre
ase f
or
natio
nals
em
plo
yed
in t
he p
rivate
secto
r
Ba
hra
in’s
sala
ry r
ise r
em
ain
ed
co
nserv
ative a
s m
any
busin
esses s
trug
gle
d t
o g
row
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
26
5.3
%
5.6
%
7.4
%
6.7
%
5.4
%
4.0
%
3.2
%
3.7
%
2.8
%
1.3
%
1.1
%
3.1
%
Salaries and Inflation
Average pay rise adjusted for inflation was highest in Oman and the UAE
Real S
ala
ry Incre
ase b
y C
ountr
y, 2013 *
S
ala
ry R
ise
Inflatio
n
0.8
%
2.5
%
2.6
%
3.0
%
4.2
%
6.1
%
Bah
rain
Qata
r
Ku
wait
Saud
i A
rab
ia
UA
E
Om
an
Ob
serv
atio
ns
Om
an
and
the U
AE
enjo
yed
the h
ighest
real sala
ry incre
ase
with 6
.1%
and
4.2
% r
esp
ectively
due t
o lo
w inflatio
n r
ate
s
In S
au
di
Ara
bia
, K
uw
ait
and
Qa
tar,
hig
h inflatio
n led
to
co
mp
ara
tively
lo
w r
eal sala
ry r
ises
Ba
hra
in’s
alread
y lo
w a
vera
ge s
ala
ry incre
ase w
as a
lmo
st
entire
ly w
iped
out
by t
he h
igh r
ate
of
inflatio
n,
resultin
g in a
real
incre
ase c
lose t
o z
ero
* D
efined
as n
om
inal p
ay r
ise n
et
of
inflatio
n r
ate
S
ourc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey, E
co
no
mis
t In
telli
gence U
nit
27
Salaries by Segment
Salary increase was highest among Finance professionals. Among industry sectors, Construction saw
the largest average increase
Sala
ry Incre
ase b
y J
ob
Cate
go
ry
%, 2013
6.2
%
6.0
%
5.8
%
5.7
%
5.7
%
5.5
%
5.2
%
Fin
ance
Eng
ineering
HR
Ad
min
Mark
eting
Sale
s IT3.7
%
4.8
%
4.9
%
5.4
%
5.5
%
5.5
%
5.7
%
6.0
%
6.1
%
6.4
%
Ed
ucatio
n
Tele
co
ms &
IT
Lo
gis
tics
Real E
sta
te
Ho
sp
italit
y
Healthcare
Ban
kin
g
Reta
il
Oil
& G
as
Co
nstr
uctio
n
Sala
ry Incre
ase b
y Ind
ustr
y
%, 2013
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
28
* A
vera
ge f
igure
. W
ide v
ariatio
ns b
ased
on lo
catio
n a
nd
qualit
y
S
ourc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey
Cost of Living
Cost of living saw the fastest rise in Saudi Arabia. In absolute term
s, however,
the UAE and Q
atar remain the m
ost expensive
Inflatio
n
Rent
for
Tw
o-b
ed
roo
m A
part
ment
US
D p
er
mo
nth
, 2013*
3.7
%
3.2
%
3.1
%
2.8
%
1.3
%
1.1
%
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Bah
rain
Qata
r
Ku
wait
Om
an
UA
E
2012
2013
2.9
%
4.1
%
3.0
%
3.1
%
1.1
%
1.9
%
1,9
10
1,8
90
1,7
00
1,1
40
1,0
50
1,0
50
950
830
780
740
720
670
Dub
ai
Do
ha
Ab
u D
hab
i
Ku
wait
Muscat
Manam
a
Sharjah
Dam
mam
Riy
ad
h
Jed
dah
Kh
ob
ar
Jub
ail
So
urc
e: E
co
no
mis
t In
telli
gence U
nit
29
2014 Forecast
30
7.4
%
6.7
%
5.6
%
5.3
%
5.4
%
4.0
%
Salaries by Country 2014
Salaries in m
ost Gulf countries are expected to rise at a higher rate in 2014
Exp
ecte
d A
vera
ge P
ay R
ise
%, 2014 F
ore
cast
2013
2014
8.0
%
6.8
%
6.7
%
5.9
%
5.8
%
3.9
%
Om
an
Saud
i A
rab
ia
Qata
r
UA
E
Ku
wait
Bah
rain
Ob
serv
atio
ns
Om
an
is f
ore
cast
to o
nce a
gain
enjo
y t
he h
ighest
avera
ge p
ay
rise in 2
014
UA
E c
om
panie
s p
lan t
o o
ffer
hig
her
sala
ry incre
ases t
han last
year,
driven b
y h
igher
exp
ecte
d inflatio
n a
s w
ell
as f
aste
r p
ace
of
gro
wth
Ba
hra
in’s
co
mp
anie
s r
em
ain
co
nserv
ative in t
heir s
ala
ry
decis
ions, d
esp
ite ind
icato
rs o
f an im
pro
vin
g e
co
no
mic
clim
ate
in 2
014
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey o
f H
R M
anag
ers
31
41%
62%
51%
38%
47%
9%
Job Growth by Country 2014
An increasing percentage of GCC companies are planning to create jo
bs in 2014,
with firms in Qatar at the forefront, followed by Saudi Arabia
Em
plo
ym
ent
Gro
wth
by C
ountr
y
Net
perc
enta
ge o
f firm
s incre
asin
g h
ead
co
unt
2013
2014
75%
63%
57%
56%
51%
30%
Qata
r
Saud
i A
rab
ia
UA
E
Om
an
Ku
wait
Bah
rain
Ob
serv
atio
ns
Acro
ss t
he G
CC
, m
ore
co
mp
anie
s a
re p
lannin
g t
o c
reate
jo
bs
co
mp
are
d t
o 2
013
Qa
tar’
s c
om
panie
s w
ill b
e m
ost
inclin
ed
to
incre
ase t
heir
head
co
unt
as t
he e
xecutio
n o
f m
ajo
r p
roje
cts
gath
ers
mo
mentu
m, in
part
rela
ted
to
the W
orld
Cup
Ba
hra
in’s
em
plo
yers
pla
n t
o incre
ase e
mp
loym
ent
as t
he U
SD
10 b
illio
n G
CC
aid
packag
e s
tart
s t
o f
eed
into
the e
co
no
my
tho
roug
hly
and
the p
olit
ical situatio
n s
tab
ilises f
urt
her
So
urc
e: G
ulfT
ale
nt
Surv
ey o
f H
R M
anag
ers