How is the expat workforce changing in the UAE?
New options to live in the UAE are coming into effect as of today, giving professionals planning to move to the country residency options that don't need a sponsor or a full-time job. How can job seekers make use of the new visas? And how will they impact the expat workforce in the country?
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Earlier this year, the UAE announced a series of new visas to retain talent and investment in the country. A lot of these new options come into effect today September 5. Among them are a remote work visa, which allows people to live in the UAE and work for a company in another country (The National has a guide on how to apply), a multiple-entry tourist visa that is valid for 5 years and allows visitors to stay in the country for 90 consecutive days, and a job exploration entry visa.
Another addition is a green visa, which gives its holders a residency in the UAE for five years, without the need for either an employer or a sponsor. Self-employed individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and earn at least 15,000 AED ($4,084) or more a month are eligible.
Here’s what LinkedIn members are saying about the changes:
HR director Vijay Gandhi points to the green visa as an option for freelancers and project-specific employees as a safety net to stay in the country. But with the need for a steady monthly income, how can job seekers utilize this visa without a full time employment? Would love to hear what you think below.
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Hiring is on the rise in the UAE
With comparatively lower inflation rates than other parts of the world, the non-oil private sector business activity in the UAE has picked up in July, and so has the demand on talent, according to Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data from S&P Global.
The UAE has seen a 9% increase in private sector employees between April and July of this year compared to last year. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, over half a million new work permits were issued during that quarter, a 27% increase from last year.
Check out the largest growing sectors based on the number of new work permits issued below:
How will new visas impact the UAE jobs market? Do you expect companies to change their recruiting strategies or employment offers? Will we be witnessing a new wave of expats joining the workforce? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Check out what LinkedIn members in MENA are talking about:
Engineer at Amcor
1yAny mechanical fitter jobs
The new visa options that has been introduced recently offers choice, which wasn't something expats could think of few years ago. People have the choice of living in the UAE and they don't have to think of packing up in less than a month. Government's efforts to attract and retain talent is a proof of how much they're invested in seeing the expat population flourish and even consider putting their roots here (which wasn't a thought few years ago). All the visa options available provides a platform to all class of people - whether you're here looking for a job or wanting to take sabbatical with short term engagements or if you're a professional with skills that'll help the country succeed (Golden Visa). The opportunity to attract talent globally, opening up the talent pool especially for Recruiters - we are no longer confined to hire locally, this is my personal fav...
Sports Café & Entertainment
2yA forward thinking initiative that breaks barrier, and is empowering. The visa categories entail higher standard will definitely change the landscape of workforce in the UAE. It actually calls for new breed of talents to come and share their new ideas and make UAE economy much more energetic and enthusiastic. After all, vibrancy and opportunity are imperative now post pandemic time. The world seems shuffling and environmental change is imminent. I'm hopeful that this new visa options will also attract new doors and more windows of opportunities not just for the incoming promising expatriates (physically and virtually), but also to those who still struggle to rise up from hardships caused by this pandemic and world economic decline. May this be a workforce to reckon with, for everyone.
An HR professional with diverse experience with HR Leadership, Organization Transformation & HR Tech / Product
2yThe experience has been really good and process pretty meticulously managed and defined. The opportunity opened up by the UAE to invite freelancers and professionals in a good way is a great way of acceptance to diversity and change as part of our now changing world and global footprint!!