UAE Skills Index Analyses LinkedIn Job Postings Published Between August 1 and September 29, Revealing the Most In-Demand Skills.
UAE employers are prioritising some traditional workplace skills when hiring, despite the growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The ability to communicate effectively, work in teams and lead others remains high on their list of requirements.
A new study analysing 4,706 job advertisements in the UAE found that communication was the most frequently requested skill, appearing in 59.1 per cent of listings. Teamwork and leadership followed, while AI ranked 13th.
The UAE Skills Index, released by professional training provider Informa Connect Academy, examined LinkedIn job advertisements posted between August 1 and September 29 to identify the skills employers are seeking.
The study found that AI was mentioned in 15.2 per cent of advertisements, just behind Excel, which featured in 15.8 per cent.
What are the top 10 skills UAE employers want?
According to the study, these were the skills most frequently mentioned in UAE job advertisements:
- Communication – 59.1%
- Teamwork – 41.7%
- Leadership – 32.7%
- English – 26.3%
- Budgeting – 24.4%
- Problem-solving – 20.7%
- Arabic – 16.5%
- Attention to detail – 16.5%
- Stakeholder management – 15.8%
- Excel – 15.8%
What skills are needed for entry-level jobs?
For those entering the UAE job market, communication skills could be particularly important. The study found that 67.6 per cent of entry-level job advertisements mentioned communication, the highest proportion across all seniority levels.
Communication was also the most frequently mentioned skill across all 11 industries examined, including real estate, hospitality, banking and technology.
In real estate, 72.2 per cent of job advertisements listed communication as a requirement.
English was another important skill, appearing in 35.3 per cent of entry-level listings.
For applicants seeking senior positions, leadership became more important. It appeared in 70.4 per cent of advertisements for senior manager and director-level roles, compared with 43.9 per cent at manager level.
Which UAE jobs require AI skills?
Although AI did not feature among the overall top 10 skills, the study found that demand varied significantly by profession.
More than half (56.6 per cent) of job advertisements in data and analytics required at least one AI-related skill.
This was followed by IT and technology at 29.4 per cent, marketing at 18.4 per cent, and sales and business development at 15.7 per cent.
Demand was lower in finance and accounting, where 5.7 per cent of advertisements requested AI skills, and project management, at 8.3 per cent.
Across all professions, 15.9 per cent of job advertisements required at least one AI-related skill, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning or generative AI.
Interestingly, ChatGPT was specifically mentioned in just 27 advertisements, accounting for 0.6 per cent of the total.
What do the findings mean for UAE jobseekers?
The findings suggest that UAE residents seeking employment should look beyond technology skills when preparing for the job market.
Communication, teamwork, problem-solving and language abilities remain among the most frequently listed requirements across job advertisements in the country.
However, the study also highlights the importance of technical expertise for candidates pursuing careers in data, analytics and technology.
The research examined 57 skills across four categories, counting each skill only once per advertisement. Duplicate job listings were removed before the analysis.
The rankings reflect how frequently employers mentioned individual skills in job advertisements, rather than the importance they assigned to those skills when evaluating candidates.
