Gulf hiring and pay signals, September 2026
Demand is concentrated in aviation, construction, healthcare and technology, while candidates are negotiating harder on allowances than on base pay.
Photo: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Across our live mandates this month, hiring demand in the Gulf is strongest in aviation and travel, infrastructure and construction, healthcare, and technology and data roles.
Base salary movement is modest in most categories, but candidates are pressing harder on housing allowance, schooling support, flight entitlements and notice-period flexibility.
- Aviation, construction, healthcare and technology lead demand
- Allowances are moving faster than base pay
- Counter-offers are frequent in single-incumbent technical roles
Counter-offers remain common in technical roles. Where a candidate is the only person doing a job, expect the current employer to respond, and plan your offer timeline with that in mind.
What it means for employers
- Present total package, not just base, in every offer.
- Keep the offer-to-start window as short as documentation allows.
- Line up a second-choice candidate before resignation day.
Related pages
Summarised by the Horizon GCC team. Original reporting: Horizon GCC
This briefing is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before acting.
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