Salary expectations of Emirati graduates is three times that of their expat peers at AED27,000 per month ($7,350), according to a new survey.

Latest research by online recruitment firm GulfTalent reveals that expat graduates seek first jobs paying at least AED9,000 per month, a significant difference.

The survey also showed that Dubai-based airline Emirates Group is the most popular employer for fresh university graduates in the UAE, followed by international consumer goods company Unilever.

The findings are based on GulfTalent’s survey of more than 300 recent graduates and final-year students at the American University of Sharjah.

Also among the top 10 employers were Chalhoub Group, General Electric, Nestlé, ADNOC, Petrofac, PwC, Procter & Gamble and Etihad.

According to the survey results, construction and finance are the most popular sectors for graduates, followed by consumer goods.

The survey also found a sharp divide in preferences by nationality. Among expatriate graduates, 91 percent favour working for multinationals while 63 percent of Emirati graduates opt for government-owned organisations.

Local UAE private sector firms appear to be the least desired option for both nationals and expatriates, the survey found.

ADNOC, Mubadala and Etisalat were voted the most popular employers among UAE national graduates.