78% of UAE professionals are ready to quit for a better role
Dubai: Just 23 per cent of UAE professionals view generative AI as a threat to their long-term job security, according to the Michael Page UAE Salary Guide 2027. The guide, launched on October 27, describes a workforce focused on productivity, innovation and career growth rather than fear of disruption. But confidence does not equal loyalty. The research finds that 78 per cent of professionals…
Dubai's workforce remains resilient despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, according to the Michael Page UAE Salary Guide 2027. While only 23% of professionals view generative AI as a threat to their job security, 78% are open to changing roles, with 51% more likely to leave employers that require more time in the office.
Salary expectations continue to outpace organizational review budgets, with career progression, flexibility, and learning opportunities now considered equally important alongside compensation.
The guide benchmarks salaries for over 500 roles and tracks hiring trends across 18 sectors, with Jon Ede, Managing Director of Michael Page Middle East, describing the UAE as "one of the most resilient and attractive talent markets globally." Employers are becoming more strategic in attracting and retaining talent, focusing on reviewing pay, investing in career development, and offering meaningful flexibility.
However, the guide also highlights a rising cost of replacing talent, with companies losing an average of $2.88 million or Dh10.58 million to insider-related incidents over the past 12 months. These incidents, caused by accidental or negligent employee actions, malicious human actions, or AI-driven tools, result in data loss, operational disruption, and reputational damage.
The research points to weak points in employee experience, with frontline teams facing information gaps that lower productivity, increase errors, and slow decision-making. Only 23% of frontline workers feel fully supported by the information and tools available to them, with over half receiving critical company news across six or more channels.
The use of AI-powered answers and guidance is limited, with only 47% of employees viewing them as top capabilities. This lack of trusted information and inadequate governance around AI tools places additional pressure on CISOs, who report a need for more visibility and a faster response time of 14 hours to prevent crises.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
