Gulf Hiring Slows But Tech, BFSI And Industrial Jobs Keep Growing

Hiring across the UAE, Qatar and Oman cooled down in April and May 2026. Regional tensions have made employers more cautious this year. Yet certain sectors are still hiring at a fast pace.

This trend comes from the first Naukrigulf Hiring Index. Naukrigulf is a leading job site in the Gulf region. The Index tracks over 220,000 hiring mandates each year. It covers more than 7,000 employers across the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

The report gives a clear picture of hiring momentum. It shows which sectors are pulling back and which ones are pushing ahead.

UAE Hiring Drops But Tech Jobs Stay Resilient

The UAE saw the biggest hiring slowdown among the three markets. Hiring intent fell 23% year-on-year in April and May 2026.

Even so, technology hiring did not slow down as much. IT and Digital roles recorded the smallest decline of any major industry. Tech job postings dropped just 3% compared to last year.

Demand for specific tech skills stayed strong. Companies kept hiring for AI, machine learning and cybersecurity roles. Data-related positions also remained in high demand.

This shows employers still value tech talent, even during a slowdown. Businesses are cutting costs elsewhere but protecting their tech hiring budgets.

Qatar Hiring Stays Steady With Gains In Finance And Construction

Qatar showed more stability than the UAE. Hiring intent eased by only 10% year-on-year.

Some sectors actually grew during this period. Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) jumped 28%. Real Estate and Construction rose 11%. Manufacturing and Industrial climbed 9%.

Job functions in technology, engineering and finance stayed flat. This points to steady demand rather than a sharp drop.

Qatar's economy appears to be diversifying its hiring needs. Financial services and construction are becoming stronger pillars of job growth.

Oman Sees Industrial And Retail Hiring Surge

Oman recorded a 17% drop in hiring intent year-on-year. Real Estate, BFSI and Technology saw the steepest declines.

But other sectors bucked this trend completely. Manufacturing and Industrial hiring grew by 36%. Retail, FMCG and Consumer roles expanded by 23%.

Oil, Gas and Energy hiring remained stable throughout this period. This confirms continued strength in Oman's core industries.

The data suggests Oman's job market is shifting focus. Industrial and consumer sectors are now driving fresh hiring activity.

What Naukrigulf's Leadership Says About The Trends

Sharad Sindhwani, EVP and Business Head at Naukrigulf, shared his views on the findings.

He said hiring intent is moving at different speeds across the region. Overall activity has softened compared to last year. But several segments kept attracting strong employer demand.

He pointed out that tech roles held up better than the broader UAE market. Qatar saw growth across financial services, construction and manufacturing. Oman continued to show strength in industrial and consumer sectors.

Sindhwani also explained why the Index matters. Employer searches and job postings together give a fuller picture of demand. Over time, this data will help employers and professionals track hiring shifts.

How The Naukrigulf Hiring Index Works

The Index uses a consistent method to track hiring changes every month. It measures two types of employer activity.

The first is outbound hiring. This includes new job postings and how employers review applicants. The second is inbound hiring. This tracks how often employers search the candidate database.

Naukrigulf has calculated this Index monthly since January 2024. The findings will now be published every quarter, starting with this report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Naukrigulf Hiring Index?

It is a quarterly report tracking hiring demand across the UAE, Qatar and Oman. It uses job postings and employer searches as key signals.

Q: Which sector is hiring the most in the UAE right now?

Technology remains the strongest sector in the UAE. IT and Digital roles fell just 3% year-on-year, far less than other industries.

Q: Is Qatar's job market growing in 2026?

Qatar's overall hiring intent dipped 10% year-on-year. However, BFSI, Real Estate and Manufacturing all recorded solid growth.

Q: Which sectors are hiring in Oman despite the slowdown?

Manufacturing and Industrial grew 36% in Oman. Retail, FMCG and Consumer sectors also expanded 23% during the same period.

About Naukrigulf

Naukrigulf connects employers with skilled professionals across the Gulf region. The platform launched in 2006 and has grown steadily since then.

Today, it serves more than 10,000 employers and over 17 million professionals. Naukrigulf offers resume database access, job postings and employer branding tools. It also provides AI-powered recruitment solutions for modern hiring needs.

Source: AETOSWire

Contacts:

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