Three in four UAE and Saudi professionals plan to seek new jobs in 2025 — yet more than half say finding work has grown harder over the past year, according to new LinkedIn research. The survey covers both nations and paints a picture of an active but increasingly competitive UAE job market in 2025.
Job Seekers Face a Tougher Search
LinkedIn data shows 75% of UAE and Saudi professionals intend to look for a new role this year. Despite that intent, 51% report the job search process has become more difficult compared to the previous year. Many find it draining: 57% describe the process as tiresome and 43% as frustrating.
A key disconnect is driving much of the frustration. Nearly 44% of candidates say they are submitting more applications than before — yet hearing back less. At the same time, 69% of HR professionals in the region say fewer than half of the applications they receive actually meet the job criteria.
HR Teams Also Struggling to Fill Roles
Recruitment difficulty is not limited to candidates. Some 46% of HR professionals report increased difficulty attracting qualified talent for open positions. The mismatch between the volume of applications and candidate quality points to a structural skills gap rather than a simple supply-and-demand imbalance.
LinkedIn recommends that job seekers move beyond mass-applying and instead use targeted job-matching tools that align their skills with specific recruiter requirements. AI-powered profile enhancements can also help candidates highlight key competencies — communication, problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork — that help clear automated screening stages.
Growth Sectors and Economic Optimism
Despite the challenges, optimism remains: 58% of professionals believe the job market will improve, buoyed by strong non-oil economic growth. The UAE projects 4–5% non-oil GDP expansion, while Saudi Arabia targets 4.9% growth through its ongoing diversification drive.
LinkedIn's Jobs on the Rise report identifies artificial intelligence, cybersecurity engineering, and travel services as sectors with the most promising openings. Candidates targeting these fields stand to benefit from lighter competition and stronger demand for specialist skills.
