UAE Job Market 2025: Contract Hiring Surges as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure Projects Drive Talent Demand
What are the top hiring trends in the UAE in 2025?
The UAE job market is evolving quickly, with a strong focus on contract hiring, energy sector growth, and service-based workforce models. As the country rolls out major development projects and attracts new businesses, employers are shifting away from traditional full-time hiring models in favour of flexible, project-based recruitment.
“There’s been a decisive move toward contract roles and outsourced hiring,” says William Chan, Managing Director of Eagle Partners UAE. “Companies want skilled talent on-demand—especially for high-growth sectors like oil & gas, infrastructure, and business services.”
Key Hiring Trends in the UAE – 2025 Outlook
Contract Hiring Takes Centre Stage
Employers across sectors are reducing reliance on permanent headcount. Instead, they are recruiting experienced professionals on fixed-term or freelance contracts. These roles are particularly prominent in operations, finance, HR, administration, logistics, and project support.
“This model gives companies speed and flexibility, especially in uncertain market conditions,” says Chan. “It also opens the door for skilled professionals looking for work-life balance or remote work options.”
Oil & Gas Sector Leads the Hiring Charge
According to Arabian Business, the UAE’s oil and gas industry is experiencing a major hiring spree. Driven by ambitious expansion plans and global energy demand, employers are urgently seeking engineers, procurement officers, health and safety specialists, and skilled blue-collar labour. Eagle Partners has seen consistent hiring in this sector since Q4 2024, particularly from Abu Dhabi-based infrastructure contractors and regional EPC firms.
Massive Infrastructure Investments Create Job Opportunities
From transport networks and airports to clean energy projects, the UAE is investing heavily in public infrastructure. This is fuelling demand for project managers, compliance experts, surveyors, and technical consultants. Chan notes, “These are roles where cross-border expertise is critical—clients want talent with experience across the GCC or Asia.”
New Business Growth Fuels Demand for Services Talent
The UAE continues to attract new company registrations and foreign investment. As a result, there is growing demand for service roles in accounting, customer service, legal admin, payroll, and IT support. Many of these functions are being outsourced to agencies or handled by contractors to reduce onboarding time and cost.
Hiring Momentum Held Steady Through Ramadan
While some expected a hiring slowdown during Ramadan, Eagle Partners observed only a modest dip, with a sharp rebound in May 2025. “This year’s recruitment cycle has been more resilient than expected,” Chan notes. “Decision-makers were active, and job seekers remained engaged throughout.”
How Employers Can Respond to the 2025 Hiring Landscape
To remain competitive in this fast-moving market, employers in the UAE should:
Leverage contract hiring to fill skill gaps quickly
Use recruitment partners with strong local and cross-border sourcing capabilities
Invest in clear onboarding processes and digital collaboration tools
Prioritise multilingual and culturally agile candidates
“At Eagle Partners UAE, we specialise in helping companies build agile workforces,” says Chan. “Our multilingual recruiters and AI-enabled sourcing tools allow us to match the right candidates to the right roles—across borders, sectors, and timelines.”
About Eagle Partners UAE
Eagle Partners UAE is a Dubai-based recruitment agency located at One JLT. With award-winning operations in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the agency focuses on cross-border hiring, contract recruitment, and multilingual talent acquisition. The team speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, German, and Danish, supporting a wide range of industries including energy, infrastructure, professional services, and operations.
📍 Visit eaglepartnersint.ae for more hiring insights.