Specialist professionals are in high demand and supply is failing to keep pace.

Starting salaries for professional roles in finance and accounting, financial services, technology and administration in the UAE will grow by 2.5 per cent over the next year, according to the Robert Half 2017 Salary Guide.

The guide is the most comprehensive and authoritative resource on starting salaries and recruitment trends in finance and accounting, financial services, IT, legal, and HR and administration. The Salary Guide enables employers and employees to benchmark salaries for over 185 different permanent professional roles in the UAE.



According to the survey, competition for the best candidates is heating up in the UAE with 68 per cent of employers planning to attract new employees in 2017 and on an average, pay scales could increase by up to 5.8 per cent in comparison to 2016.

Accountancy and finance

Starting salaries for accounting and finance roles within SMEs.

Financial services

It has become increasingly difficult to attract expatriate financial services professionals to the region. This combined with increases to DFSA regulation has resulted in firms turning to local talent to fill positions within the sector. As productivity and commercial gains are being closely measured, the demand is high for associate to vice-president level professionals who can add value from day one. Average salary increases for financial services professionals are predicted to rise by 1.2 per cent.

Technology

The adoption of emerging technologies, ERP platforms and mobile solutions is driving a strong demand for talented technology professionals to the region on both local and international basis. With IT enhancements required to ensure UAE firms remain competitive, project managers continue to be a position of high-demand. Overall, technology roles are set to receive a starting salary average increase of 2.4 per cent.

Human resources and administration

The need to attract and retain key professionals within the region has become a strategic priority for HR departments within organisations of all sizes. As such, HR management is having to align with their Western counterparts and companies are investing in human management programmes to source efficiencies. Roles across HR and administrations are expected to see an average rise of 3.8 per cent.

Legal

Western-educated legal professionals with international experience combined with local compliance and regulation knowledge are highly valued, and are in high demand. Roles within the legal function, both in-house and within private practice, are predicted to receive an average starting salary increase of 3 per cent.