VAT, tech to drive UAE job recruitment in 2018

The demand for accounting and finance professions will remain high in the UAE in 2018.

The widespread implementation of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and a need to reshape businesses to cope with the latest technological advances will shape the staffing landscape in 2018, according to a new report from recruitment consultancy Robert Half.

The report - the Robert Half 2018 Salary Guide - found that the demand for accounting and finance professions will remain high in the UAE in 2018, particularly in the real estate, construction, professional services and healthcare industries.

The top three in-demand roles, according to Robert Half, are tax managers at large companies (with a predicted starting salary of between $92,000 and $141,000), as well as financial planning and analysis directors ($164,500 to $238,200) and credit controllers at small companies ($52,200 to $65,500).

The report also found a sharp increase in demand for technology jobs on the market, with the top three most-demand roles being project and programme managers (with a predicated 2018 starting salary of between $98,100 and $163,500), business system analysts ($55,600 to $100,900) and application developers ($52,300 to $121,000).

Additionally, the financial services industry is experiencing a dramatic shift, with 80 percent of banks saying they plan to implement blockchain projects by the end of 2017, which, coupled with the need to prevent and respond to cybercrime and economic instability, are driving a need for professionals with analytical skills and a surplus of qualifications.

According to the report, the most in-demand jobs in the financial industry sector are compliance officers (with a starting salary of between $58,900 and $91,600), anti-money laundering specialists ($68,700 to $122,600) and M&A associates ($114,600 to $192,100).

Lastly, HR and administrative jobs were found to be the backbone of UAE businesses, as they move to hire more people to staff companies as they move to begin digital transformation projects.

The most in-demand HR and administration roles were found to be HR heads ($114,400 to $128,500), HR business partners ($78,700 to $81,700) and executive assistants ($53,000 to $58,900).

"In the coming year, businesses will be seeking to retain a competitive advantage while preparing for the challenges which lie ahead. Digital transformation, diversification from the reliance on the oil industry and a new VAT regime have solidified the importance of finding the right candidate," said Gareth El Mettouri, associate director at Robert Half UAE.

"An industry-wide focus on retention, transformation and growth have seen the highest salaries awarded to professionals with the right mix of skills and cultural relevance to meet ever-increasing growth targets," he added.