UAE employers struggle to fill AI, cybersecurity and senior leadership jobs

UAE employers are struggling to fill AI, cybersecurity, sales and senior leadership jobs, recruitment experts told Gulf News. Hundreds of qualified candidates apply, yet many firms still cannot find the right person.

Which jobs are hardest to fill in the UAE?

AI and highly specialized tech roles top the list, followed by cybersecurity, cloud technology, specialist engineering, sales and senior leadership posts. Recruiters say the gap is not applicants but candidates who combine proven experience, technical skill and business sense.

Mollie Powell, managing director of Pink Camel Recruitment, said the UAE has no shortage of people looking for work. Employers are struggling to find candidates with the experience they need.

Companies are less willing to hire on qualifications alone and train people from scratch, she said. They want proven experience, strong commercial understanding and quick impact.

Powell said there is often not enough local talent for very specific technical needs. Her firm often has to search overseas and then bring candidates into the UAE.

The hardest combination to find is someone who is technically strong and commercially minded, she said. That applies across many functions.

Why do hundreds of applications still not fill UAE vacancies?

Nevin Lewis, CEO and principal consultant at Black & Grey HR, said vacancies can draw hundreds of applications and still take weeks to fill. Candidates can now use AI to tailor a CV to a job description and apply within minutes.

Many applications look relevant on paper. The real screening begins when recruiters speak to people.

Recruiters must look beyond qualifications, Lewis said. They assess motivation, salary expectations, career ambitions and cultural fit.

The difficulty is most apparent in AI, cybersecurity, cloud technology, specialist engineering, and project and design director roles. It also affects senior posts such as chief financial officers, chief operating officers and chief executives.

At senior level, companies want leaders who have handled uncertainty and made hard decisions. They also want proof they can protect or grow a business.

How long do UAE job vacancies stay open?

Lewis cited typical timelines, which are not fixed industry-wide averages:

• Standard professional roles: 3 to 4 weeks
• Niche technical and senior roles: 6 to 8 weeks
• Executive appointments: longer searches

Delays are increasingly happening at the final decision stage, he said, rather than during the initial search.

Geopolitical and economic uncertainty is making employers rethink major hiring decisions. Candidates are also weighing the risk of leaving stable jobs. Lewis said nobody wants to be "the last one in and the first one out."

Senior executives may also have to relocate families or give up years of tenure. That makes both sides more cautious.

Why are good salespeople hard to find in the UAE?

Nicki Wilson, managing director at Genie Recruitment, said good salespeople are also becoming harder to find. She urged young people entering the workforce to get good at sales.

Communication, influence and relationship building are valuable skills, she said. The shortage is likely to worsen.

Communication is shifting toward social media, messaging and AI, Wilson said. As a result, strong face-to-face persuasion and relationship skills are becoming less common.

She also warned that creative candidates often leave out portfolios. Content creators should show their work, she said, and a portfolio should be one of the strongest parts of an application.

How can jobseekers stand out in the UAE job market?

Powell advised candidates to focus on demonstrable expertise rather than trying to appeal to every employer. Specialist expertise, commercial awareness and measurable results give candidates a big advantage, she said.

A CV that says "grew revenue by 35 per cent" is far stronger than one that says "responsible for managing sales," she said. Adaptability and independent decision-making also help.

An understanding of the UAE and wider Middle East business environment can add to that edge.

Powell said jobseekers should rethink their approach. Instead of asking which jobs are hiring, they should ask what problems employers are struggling to solve, and whether they have the skills to solve them.