Posted by UAE offers a plethora of job opportunities to locals as well as international residents wishing to relocate to the UAE. The charm of the city plus high paying jobs are more than enough to attract people from all over the world making UAE a multi-cultural locality.
What are the Most Demanded Careers in the UAE?
When it comes to job hunting, some professions are quite well-paid in the UAE. So, if you are planning to move to Dubai, switch careers, or simply want to know the careers that can land you a well-paying job, read on!
1) Doctors
Being a doctor is not an easy feat. However, if you are a doctor in the UAE, you are quite well-rewarded.
In the UAE, there has been a lot of investment in medical facilities like medical centers and hospitals. This is all because the investments are aimed at meeting the global excellence standards. Therefore, doctors are always in demand in the UAE.
However, the pay also depends on the specialization of the doctor. For example, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, and surgeons are the highest paid category amongst doctors.
When we talk about the salary range, the cost of living in Dubai in 2021 was AED 3,403 without rental costs. General practitioners are paid from AED 22,500 to AED 89,000 per month! This shows that a general practitioner can easily afford a lavish lifestyle in the UAE.
Top Medical Centers in the UAE
- MedCare Hospitals and Medical Centers
- Zia Medical Center
- Clinic for Health and Medical Care
- Allied Medical Center
Salary Range
- General Physician: AED 22,500 – AED 89,000 per month
- Surgeons: AED 29,200 – AED 95,500 per month
- Cardiologists: AED 57,000 – AED 114,000 per month
- Neurosurgeons/ Neurologists: AED 44,000 – AED 95,000 per month
- Psychologists: AED 25,000 – AED 33,000 per month
2) Bank Manager
Consider yourself lucky if you are in the banking field. This is one of the highest paying jobs in the Emirates.
The Middle East is home of the largest banks from around the world. This is because of the tremendous investments coming to the UAE from all over the world. With UAE being the hub of many events held throughout Asia and attracting many tourists, the financial system is very well-established in the UAE. And banks are one of the most critical elements of the financial system.
Bank managers in this regard are crucial to the banking industry because they handle the operations of the bank. The authority of the bank manager also includes making important decisions that impact the overall image of the bank.
Top Banks in the UAE
- Dubai Islamic Bank
- First Abu Dhabi Bank
- Emirates Islamic
- Dubai Finance Bank
Salary Range
From AED 17,000 – AED 57,000 per month according to Payscale
3) Engineers
Because of the COVID-19, the construction and business boom in Dubai slowed down. However, resumption of activities like the Dubai Expo 2021 and the world returning back to normal after the COVID-19, the construction industry will gain momentum again.
UAE is therefore, a business hub. Thus, engineers from all top fields like mechanical, civil, petroleum, and AI as well are in demand along with other engineering fields. Because of the demand, these jobs are well-paying too.
Whether you are a fresh engineering graduate or experienced, UAE offers a plethora of opportunities for all career levels.
Top Engineering Companies in the UAE
- Emaar
- Petroleum Middle East
- Penta Global Engineering Company
- GISCO
- ARACO
- RMK Engineering consultancy
Salary Range
- AI Engineer: AED 20,000 – AED 36,000 per month
- Petroleum Engineer: AED 25,000 – AED 43,000 per month
- Civil Engineer: AED 16,500 – AED 28,000 per month
- Mechanical Engineer: AED 17,500 – AED 29,500 per month
4) IT Manager
With business ready to return to the boom from the pre-COVID era, supporting functions like IT have an increased demand in the UAE.
As mentioned earlier, UAE is brimming with opportunities. The Dubai Expo 2021 is expected to bring much more business to the UAE increasing the opportunities available.
When businesses boom, so do careers associated with them. In this regard, the IT manager position is in great demand. It is also highly paid which is why it is attracting a lot of individuals from all over the world.
Even if you don’t have a degree related to IT, but are interested in pursuing a career in the IT field, you can take up courses which can allow you to develop skills and work in a high-paying role in the UAE.
There are a lot of companies dealing with IT solutions for businesses as well as consultancy companies which can pay well. Following are the top IT companies in the UAE:
Top IT Companies in the UAE
- Pixel Digital System LLC.
- IBM Middle East LLC.
- Annet Technologies
- Alpha Byte Computers LLC.
- Cantaloupe Consulting
Salary Range
According to Payscale, the salary range of an IT manager in Dubai is from AED 17,000 – AED 53,000 monthly.
5) Data Scientist
Data analytics is the future of the world. With the dawn of the era of Big Data because of the internet, data scientists and analysts are in demand not just in the UAE, but in the entire world.
Soon enough, data analysis will become a critical function in many businesses. With the boom of data analysis, it is predicted that in the UAE, data scientists and analysts will soon be paid much more than they are now. This is because data scientists and analysts will provide the competitive edge to organizations.
Since Dubai garners investment from all over the world helping it develop world-class businesses, data scientists will be the new rage.
Even now data scientists are quite in demand. The average salary ranges from AED 18,000 to AED 50,000 per month according to the Salary Explorer and is expected to increase.
Top Companies in UAE that Hire Data Scientists
- Oracle
- IBM
- PwC
- Sigma Data Systems
Salary Range
From AED 18,000 – AED 50,000 per month
6) Lawyer
As mentioned earlier, Dubai is a hub of business. It also hosts many sports and entertainment events from all over Asia which is why lawyers are in demand for handling legal matters like contracts, copyright laws, and protecting from any illegal business.
Apart from these events, lawyers are also a critical function for every business. Since Dubai and Abu Dhabi have a plethora of local as well as international organizations, lawyers are in demand all round the year.
Lawyers specializing in copyright or other areas of law are also in demand as specialists.
When we talk about the average salary, those reported on the internet are based on the salaries of lawyers hired in firms. Those who want to open up their own law consultancies or handle legal matters of different clients earn more than this average.
A lawyer in the UAE earns from AED 19,000 – AED 63,000 according to Payscale while those running their own consultancy firms and individual clients can earn up to AED 89,000 per month!
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring Lawyers
- Dubai Copyright Office
- Hikmat Fayad and Associates
- Al Balooshi Law Firm
Salary Range
From AED 19,000 – AED 63,000 per month
7) Actuaries
With the vast number of businesses in the UAE and UAE hosting a plethora of sports and entertainment events from all over Asia, insurance companies are the backbone of these activities.
This is because insurance companies allow these businesses and investors to stay protected. In this regard, actuaries are quite in demand and are well-paid too. They conduct a vast data search and analyze thoroughly before developing insurance policies. This is done so that the insurance firm can lower the risk of the insurance policies as much as they can.
Individuals in the UAE are also inclined towards purchasing insurance policies. This includes local residents as well as expatriates. Some insurance types include health insurance, life insurance, and business insurance.
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring Actuaries
- PwC
- Earnest and Young (EY)
- Milliman
- AIG
- Mercer
Salary Range
From AED 21,500 to AED 39,000 per month according to Payscale.
8) Judges
Just as we talked about how lawyers are in demand because of the plethora of opportunities for handling legal matters in the business world in the UAE, judges are also in demand.
While the judge profession might be very hard because it requires deep knowledge about the laws and the legal matters, it is quite rewarding as well. The judges are also responsible for paying attention to all details of the case and deciding the right sentence for those who are sentenced.
Since the job role is critical and the person holds a lot of responsibility, this job is highly paid.
Salary Range
The salary range of judges in the UAE is from AED 35,000 – AED 107,000 per month.
9) Chief Marketing Officer
UAE is home to many local as well as international brands. Multinational companies have set up regional offices in the UAE which then head the offices of countries under the region. For example, Mondelez International, one of the largest FMCGs and MNCs in the world, has set up its AMEA office in the UAE.
Apart from MNCs and FMCGs, local companies are also the powerhouse of the businesses in Dubai. In this regard, those working in the marketing department are quite highly paid. When talking about the top paid jobs, the Chief Marketing Officer is the highest paid among all since they manage all of the other employees in the marketing department, are responsible for developing marketing strategies, and implementing them which helps in developing the brand and increasing the business value.
The CMO is also responsible for organizing events for the region if working in a regional office of an MNC. This includes conferences, award shows, and annual company events which is very interesting and attractive for someone who is fond of organizing and hosting events.
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring CMOs
- Modelez AMEA
- Etihad Airways
- Emirates
- Allianz International Holdings
Salary Range
From AED 39,500 – AED 47,000 per month according to Payscale.
10) Chief Financial Officer
Since UAE is brimming with opportunities and is home to many regional offices of MNCs, CFOs are one of the most well-paying jobs in the UAE. Not just MNCs, but also local companies are looking for CFOs since they are the backbone of the financial operations of the company.
Every organization whether large or an SME has a financial function. The CFO has the responsibility of making financial decisions for the company, reporting profits or losses, and making investment strategies for the company to become more profitable in the future. The CFO is also responsible for managing the financial function of the company including audits, accounting, and risk taking. All the other functions including marketing and sales are dependent on the financial function of the company, therefore the CFO, to implement their strategies.
Even though this role has a lot of responsibility, it pays quite well and is very rewarding.
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring CFOs
- Modelez AMEA
- Rebel Foods
- Puma
- Honeywell
Salary Range
From AED 29,500 – AED 58,000 per month according to Payscale.
11) Chief Executive Officer
Since we are talking about the top level positions in the firms, the CEO is the top most executive in any firm. The CEO is responsible for setting a strategic direction for the company, approving strategic recommendations from heads of marketing and finance, and making the critical decisions.
In the UAE, the Dubai Expo 2021 is expected to boost business in the UAE up to 150%. This will not only increase the investment and the number of companies, but also increase the demand for executive level positions. Since CEOs are supposed to have previous experience in managing and heading the firm and employees, if you are working in Dubai or outside of Dubai in an upper-level managerial position, you can apply for CEO positions in the new companies in the UAE.
Even though new companies pose risk, the exponential increase in investment in the UAE after the Dubai Expo 2021 and the ease of restrictions after the COVID-19 will offer a good external environment for businesses to flourish.
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring CEOs
- Oriental Pearls
- Edelman Middle East
- Frank Porter
Salary Range
From AED 39,000 – AED 77,000 per month according to Payscale.
12) College Professors
Even if you have not jumped into the academic field and are considering to, college professors are one of the top paying jobs in the UAE. If you are experienced in a field or hold a PhD in a field, you will be in demand in the UAE.
UAE universities are looking to hire college professors who hold either PhDs or have experience in the field for improving the level of education. Furthermore, since Dubai is facing a boom, there is a lot of investment in the education industry as well as many new private universities and colleges which means higher salaries for college professors.
You can be a college professor in the medical field, engineering, business, or law, all of these fields and much more are taught in the prestigious universities in the UAE.
Top Universities in the UAE
- Abu Dhabi University
- Canadian University Dubai
- Zayed University
- University of Sharjah
- New York University Abu Dhabi
Salary Range
From AED 19,000 – AED 62,000 per month according to Payscale.
13) Senior Human Resources
Human Resources department in the companies in the UAE offer tremendous opportunities. This is because many firms hire local as well as international talent. Recruiting them and onboarding them can be a tough process which is why the seniors in the HR department are paid quite well.
If you are working in the human resources field, you are lucky because in the UAE, you have a plethora of job openings and opportunities to advance your career and land a well-paying and prestigious job.
Not just this, because the Dubai Expo 2021 is expected to bring more investment and business in the UAE, seniors in the HR function will increase in demand since HR is one of the most critical functions for any business. Also, MNCs and FMCGs with regional offices in the UAE also pay seniors in the HR function quite well. Along with this comes a lot of prestige associated with the role.
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring in the HR
- Irish Consulting
- IBM
- Frank Porter
Salary Range
From AED 19,000 – AED 27,000 per month according to Payscale.
14) Pilots
UAE is home to many top international airlines like Emirates, Fly Dubai, and Air Arabia. These airlines not only function in Dubai and the Asian region, but also internationally. In this regard, pilots are quite well-paying and also relish many other advantages and facilities.
If you are a pilot, you can grab a position in one of the most recognizable airline firms in the UAE and get paid quite well. Apart from this, you get to travel the world which is one of the perks which pilots, especially in reputable airlines enjoy.
Also since the airline industry is recovering from the recession and the bans imposed in the COVID-19 era, it is high time for pilots to apply to airline companies in the UAE and grab the opportunity when these airlines start hiring because of the increase in demand.
Top Airlines in the UAE
- Air Arabia
- Emirates
- Fly Dubai
Salary Range
From AED 19,000 – AED 55,000 per month according to Payscale.
15) Supply Chain Manager
Since there are a lot of export companies in the UAE, supply chain managers are always in demand. Also, the COVID-19 recession is nearing an end and after the Dubai Expo 2021, businesses and exports will boom. Supply chain managers are one of the highest paying jobs in UAE since they are responsible for managing the supplies as well as the orders.
Supply chain, like finance, marketing, legal, and human resource functions are a critical component of any business, especially those dealing with physical goods. Supply chain managers are in demand in different businesses like airlines, FMCGs, food, apparel, and goods. If you have experience in the supply chain or want to start a career in supply chain after getting a business degree, you can get a lot of opportunities in the UAE.
Top Companies in the UAE Hiring Supply Chain Managers
- Chalhoub Group
- Emirates
- Frank Porter
Salary Range
From AED 19,500 – AED 48,000 per month according to Payscale.
These top jobs in the UAE are the highest paid. Some of them require experience in the field, while others are also accepting fresh graduates. Nonetheless experience always lands better paying jobs, even if you are a fresh graduate or have recently switched careers, you can land a well-paying job. Honestly, it all depends on talent and being in the right place at the right time.
If you want to experience the UAE life and earn a prestigious amount for a lavish lifestyle, we hope this article helps you in making a decision regarding your career choice or helping you in deciding which field to pursue and explore.
This article also suggests the best companies in the UAE in each field which offer high salaries. This also might help you in making a decision when taking up a job role in the UAE. The salary ranges can help you communicate your salary demands according to the market pay rate.
Best of Luck for your Job Hunting!