UAE & KSA Strategic Workforce Analysis - 2025
The financial services and investment banking sector in the Gulf is undergoing rapid change. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have become a three-hub system: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). Together, they form a connected ecosystem that attracts global firms, capital, and talent.
The challenge is no longer about attracting talent. Instead, firms are focused on retaining people, developing leaders, and building skills for the future. Areas like sustainability, digital finance, and advanced risk management are shaping the next generation of roles. For CEOs and CHROs, success will come from combining global sourcing with local talent development, offering career progression, and closing gender and leadership gaps.
The Gulf's financial hubs are now competing at a global level. Companies that manage talent as carefully as capital - by investing, growing, and retaining it - will be the long-term winners.
This multi-hub system has created new workforce patterns. Talent inflows are steady from London, Europe, South Asia, and the Levant, with returnee nationals adding strength. Intra-GCC mobility between Dubai and Riyadh is becoming normal, while Abu Dhabi is capturing specialized buy-side skills. Outbound flows are limited, with only a small share of professionals moving to sovereign funds or overseas headquarters.
The UAE and Saudi hubs are working together to form a strong regional system. Talent is moving across borders, but the focus now is on retention and building sustainable career paths.
Sponsorship (not just mentorship) for women in banking is proving more effective than traditional mentorship programs.
Clear career architecture for nationals provides transparent progression pathways and reduces uncertainty about advancement opportunities.
Return-to-work and flexible career paths are essential to keep mid-career professionals engaged, particularly women returning after career breaks.
Younger nationals, especially women, are looking for purposeful work, faster career growth, and flexibility. Without structured leadership pipelines, firms risk losing this generation to other industries that offer more progressive career models and work-life integration.
Diversity is improving at entry level but remains weak in leadership. Stronger career paths, sponsorship for women, and clear succession planning for nationals are key to long-term retention.
The skills of the future are sustainability, digital finance, and advanced regulation. Saudi Arabia is leading in IPO-driven hiring, while the UAE focuses on private markets and innovation.
Equity participation, carry structures, and clear promotion pathways are becoming as important as base compensation for senior retention.
Revenue-tied bonuses for directors and above, with P&L participation for managing directors becoming standard practice.
UAE and KSA compensation packages are converging, with international mobility premiums offsetting cost differentials.
Salaries are globally competitive in both UAE and KSA. However, long-term retention increasingly depends on progression clarity, equity participation, and international mobility opportunities rather than base compensation alone.
Global Banks: JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Rothschild, Moelis, BlackRock
Regional Champions: SNB Capital, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Tadawul Group
Sovereign-Linked Entities: Various government-backed financial institutions and investment vehicles
IPOs, fintech growth, and RHQ relocations will drive hiring for the next two years. Both global banks and local champions are competing for the same scarce talent.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are building financial hubs that matter on a global scale. Attraction of talent is no longer the key issue. The priorities are retention, leadership development, and preparing the workforce for the future.
To succeed, firms should:
The Gulf's financial hubs are now competing at a global level. Companies that manage talent as carefully as capital - by investing, growing, and retaining it - will be the long-term winners.