It’s no coincidence that the UAE is so good at attracting the best talent from around the world. The presence of so much business talent is the result of government policies executed over several years. Today, the UAE is a major business hub that draws employees and entrepreneurs, HNWIs and digital nomads, all of whom are attracted to this which has carefully curated environment.
How did this all come about? The driving force is the UAE Talent Attraction & Retention Strategy 2031. This document states that ‘skilled human capital lies at the heart of economic growth and competitiveness’, underscoring how the UAE has always viewed talent. It’s about growth and competitive advantage. The document goes on to state that ‘talented individuals, with their capacity to acquire, create, apply and capitalise knowledge, will increasingly become the key contributor to the innovative, technological and economic edge of nations.’ Given the country’s broader initiatives, including UAE Centennial 2071 and We the UAE 2031, talent is central to ensuring the country’s ‘economic edge’.
The results are already coming through. The IMD World Talent Report 2024 ranked the UAE 17th globally, beating the UK and the US. The report centred on three key questions: How much is invested in home-grown talent? How appealing is the country to overseas professionals? How strong is the existing talent pool in terms of skills, education, and experience? This aligns with the UAE’s approach, which is to pull in the best talent from around the world while cultivating homegrown talent too.
Consequently, we are seeing some of the best and brightest working in the UAE – tech entrepreneurs, finance professionals, scientists, creatives, digital nomads, and many more.
So, let’s look at how the UAE has achieved this status as a talent hub and see exactly what it offers global professionals.
It all starts with government strategy
As we have already touched on, the UAE’s Ministry of Economy launched a national strategy focused on attracting and retaining global talent with the goal of building a knowledge-based economy. It’s not just about attracting talent but retaining it – which is as much about remuneration as it is about the enviable lifestyle the UAE offers.
The sectors targeted by the strategy make up a pretty comprehensive list: ICT, advanced technology and space, food and water security, science and education, energy, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, transportation and logistics, the cultural and creative industries, and entrepreneurship.
Let’s consider what this looks like ‘on the ground’ in terms of the actual incentives that are drawing in so much talent to the country.
Visas and ease of entry for businesses
It all starts with the visa system – how people enter the country in the first place. The UAE has done a lot of work here, tailoring the system to attract talent by offering flexibility and long-term stability.
While there are a number of sub-divisions within many visa groups, it breaks down broadly like this:
- Standard employment visas: The person is sponsored by their employer who secures their visa.
- Green visa: For skilled employees as well as freelancers who can self-sponsor for a period of five years – eliminating the need for a company sponsor. (For freelancers, there is also the option to get a free zone freelance permit with a residence visa sponsored by that free zone, or a remote work visa, which is a one-year visa for people working for companies that are based abroad.)
- Golden visa: This is a long-term residence visa that enables talented foreign individuals to live, work, or study in the UAE. This group might include investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, students, and graduates.
Focus on small businesses – entrepreneurs and startups
The UAE is a hotbed for entrepreneurship. Once again, the country has come out on top in the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, beating 55 other nations in the process. The government sees entrepreneurship as a key engine to the wider economy, and while there are many multinationals operating in the country, it’s remarkable that a high percentage of the non-oil GDP is, in fact, down to SMEs.
Increasingly startups across sectors like fintech, health tech, sustainability, and logistics are thriving, helped along by a regulatory environment that is careful to balance innovation with governance. There is also the benefit of the UAE housing a growing number of government-backed incubators and accelerators providing mentorship and funding opportunities.
Part of the attraction for entrepreneurs and startups is that once you have your visa you can set up incredibly quickly. The UAE ecosystem is made for this, with minimal bureaucracy, 100% foreign ownership of your company, as well as flexible licensing options. You are then ready to go, operating in a country that sits at the crossroads of three continents.
The world-famous lifestyle that attracts and retains
Talent attraction is also about quality of life. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates offer a very attractive lifestyle, excellent healthcare, and world-class education. Home to over 200 nationalities, it’s also one of the safest countries in the world.
For many expats, the UAE also offers a nice balance between professional ambition and personal well-being, boasting a mixture of beach resorts, top-end restaurants as well as desert escapes all of which come together to create a work-life balance that’s hard to beat.
Global hub for remote and flexible work
Post-Covid remote work has become, if not the norm, then certainly a lot more common and accepted. Dubai’s Virtual Working Programme has meant that professionals who are employed overseas can now live and work in the emirate while continuing their global roles. This has been further facilitated by advanced digital infrastructure, co-working hubs, and a time zone that’s globally well-placed.
With the UAE becoming a home base for remote workers, freelancers, and digital nomads, it also means the overall ecosystem flourishes and networking opportunities increase.
UAE: A place for talent
When we think about attracting talent, it’s not just down to the UAE offering high-quality jobs. It’s a complete ecosystem where talent can thrive and innovate, whether that’s working for a company or starting your own. Through strategic policies and building up world-class infrastructure, this inclusive culture has become a key destination for global professionals. It offers not only opportunity but also stability and a safe environment for families.
The government of the UAE knows that to stay ahead of the competition it must be first in line when it comes to attracting global talent. This has driven the policies of the past and look set to continue into the future as the country strengthens its position as a place for the world’s brightest minds.
