The UAE recorded one of the strongest post-pandemic hiring recoveries among major global economies in 2025, remaining among a small number of countries to sustain hiring activity above 2019 levels throughout the year, according to the UAE Economic Graph Report 2026, produced by LinkedIn in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
The report, now in its sixth edition, draws on LinkedIn workforce data to inform policymakers on labour market trends and digital economy development. Its full title is Labour Market Features and the Digital Economy in the UAE.
Hiring dipped during a period of regional volatility in early 2026, but LinkedIn’s June data shows both hiring activity and inbound talent flows improving.
Real estate recorded the highest sectoral hiring growth relative to 2019, while education, construction, healthcare, administrative and support services, and transport and logistics all outperformed the national average.
Professional services was the largest sector by LinkedIn membership at 14.5 per cent, followed by manufacturing at 12 per cent and accommodation and hospitality at 9.2 per cent.
On skills, the UAE ranked first globally in FinTech competencies and second in attracting artificial intelligence talent relative to population size. It placed tenth in business skills and eleventh in personal and behavioural skills. Digital skills penetration was highest in technology and media, professional services, and manufacturing.
The country also ranked among the leading markets globally for net talent migration in 2025, a measure of skilled professionals arriving versus departing.
Female representation in leadership positions rose from 18.8 per cent in 2015 to 21.9 per cent in 2025, with education, healthcare and entertainment leading on that measure.
“Talent and competencies are a key pillar in enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy and consolidating the UAE’s position as a global hub for trade, investment and innovation. The results of this report confirm the success of the country’s economic policies in building a global business environment that attracts the brightest minds, talents and quality investments, in support of our national goal of building a more competitive and sustainable economy,” Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Attracting and Retaining Talent said in a statement.
“The UAE government has developed an integrated strategy to attract and retain the best international talent, based on its belief that human capital is the main driver of sustainable economic growth. We will continue to develop this ecosystem to strengthen our economy’s readiness for the future, support innovation, and position the UAE as a global hub for talent and the new economy,” Dr. Al Zeyoudi added.
“After a period of volatility in the region earlier this year, LinkedIn’s latest data points to impressive signs of recovery in the UAE across hiring and talent flows. This builds on the UAE’s exceptional performance in 2025, when it recorded one of the strongest post-pandemic hiring rates among top global markets and reinforced its position as a leading destination for global talent. We at LinkedIn are proud to partner with the Ministry of Foreign Trade to provide timely workforce insights that help policymakers and businesses respond to change, invest in priority skills, and support sustainable economic growth,” Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn MENA and EMEA Emerging Markets further explained.
The report also noted that Millennials and Generation Z make up the majority of workers in several sectors, particularly accommodation and hospitality, retail, and healthcare.
By job function, operations accounted for the largest share of UAE LinkedIn members at 21.4 per cent, followed by sales at 11 per cent and business development at 9.1 per cent.
