The labor market in Abu Dhabi
With a relatively small local population, Abu Dhabi has relied strongly on the expat workforce to build and develop its economy for the past few decades. Expats came to Abu Dhabi for an abundance of professional and business opportunities and have formed an active international community in the region.
Although Abu Dhabi had witnessed a decrease in the number of job options for expats in the past due to the slowdown in economic growth and Emiratisation laws, this has turned around significantly in 2023. The country as a whole has seen a massive change in favor of the expat workforce, from facilitating residency visas to providing incentives to foreign companies. Abu Dhabi specifically has also seen strong economic growth since 2022.
The most prominent industries in Abu Dhabi
The leading industries in Abu Dhabi are currently oil & gas, construction, and finance & banking.
Oil & gas sector
Abu Dhabi's oil and gas sector makes up a significant portion of the emirate's economy thanks to its reserves, which is why it is the leading sector in Abu Dhabi. This sector provides a number of different work opportunities, from fieldwork like drilling, refining, and engineering to more administrative roles.
Construction sector
Similarly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi continues to see vast growth in its development of infrastructure and real estate, naturally leading to a high demand for workers in the construction sector. The constant flow of new and emerging projects means that professionals such as engineers, architects, project managers, and laborers will have plenty of opportunities available.
Finance & banking sector
Over the past few years, Abu Dhabi has put a large focus on investment opportunities within the emirate, attracting numerous businesses and prospective investors. This naturally creates a growing demand for professionals in corporate banking, investment management, and other roles within the finance and banking sector.
Technology sector
Technology-related occupations in the UAE experienced the most growth in 2018, with a whopping 25% in the first three quarters of the year. This growth is fueled by the rapid digitalization of businesses and digital transformation in general, such as Sharjah's USD 6.5 billion Aljada Smart City.
Abu Dhabi's Hub71 is the emirate's global technology ecosystem, offering a community aimed at supporting and scaling tech start-ups across over 20 business sectors. Hub 71 guides these start-ups through different stages, starting at the ideation phase, and helps already established start-ups gather funding to scale up.
This focus on the technology sector has created increased job opportunities in fintech, AI, climate tech, and more.
Work conditions in Abu Dhabi
Employers usually offer expats attractive packages, in line with the high cost of living in Abu Dhabi. Despite this, it is important to keep in mind that salary increases do not grow at the same rate as the cost of living, which might make it more difficult for those trying to save money. In 2023, the cost of living increased by 7%, while salaries increased by an average of 2%.
Your package will usually include bonuses or commissions, which are dependent on your industry, position at work, and experience in the field. In addition to this, your employer will usually offer housing or a housing allowance, flight tickets once a year, an education allowance if you have children and more.
You will be entitled to at least 30 days of annual leave per year, as per the UAE labor law, in addition to public holidays. The law also states that employees are entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave (15 are full pay with a valid medical certificate, with the remaining 30 at half pay and 45 days with no pay). In terms of maternity leave, women who have worked with the company for at least 1 year are entitled to a minimum of 45 days of maternity, although you'll find that some companies offer more. In addition to this, women are entitled to two 30-minute breaks per day for nursing up to a year and a half after delivery.
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