Weekly UAE Jobs Update: New Salary Benchmarks and Hiring Surges in Banking, Real Estate, and AI

The UAE job market is buzzing this week with significant activity in the Tech, Finance, and Hospitality sectors. As of mid-February 2026, the trend is shifting toward "specialized" roles, with companies offering higher premiums for niche skills in AI, sustainability, and high-end retail.

 ✈️ 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

Hiring for Cabin Crew & First Officers
• Cabin Crew packages: 10,000 – 12,000 AED (incl. allowances)

🏫 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 (𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐒, 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥)
Hiring for the August 2026 intake
• Teachers: 𝟗,𝟎𝟎𝟎 – 𝟏𝟔,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐄𝐃 + 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

🛍️ 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 & 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫, 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧)
Over 200 new openings this week
• Guest Experience & Assistant roles: 4,000 – 7,000 AED + benefits

3️⃣ 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 & 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

• 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐞 (𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 – 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔):
Private companies must pay UAE Nationals minimum 6,000 AED.

• Salary Growth:
Average salary increase expected: 4.1%
Tech & specialized finance roles: up to 10%+ due to talent shortages.

Here is a breakdown of the latest job updates and salary trends across the Emirates.

## 1. High-Demand Roles (Weekly Update)

Recent postings from major portals like GulfTalent and Bayt show a surge in these categories:

Job Title	Industry	Typical Monthly Salary (AED)
AI / Machine Learning Engineer	Technology	25,000 – 55,000
Financial Accountant	Finance	12,000 – 22,000
Project Manager (Construction)	Infrastructure	20,000 – 35,000
Digital Marketing Manager	Retail/E-commerce	15,000 – 25,000
Personal Assistant (Executive)	Corporate	8,000 – 15,000
Nurse / Healthcare Specialist	Healthcare	10,000 – 18,000

## 2. New Specific Vacancies (Feb 2026)

• Emirates Airlines: Currently hiring for Cabin Crew and First Officers. Cabin crew starts at approx. 10,000 – 12,000 AED (including flying pay and allowances).
• Education Sector: Schools like GEMS Education and Safa Community School are actively hiring for the August 2026 term. Teachers can expect 9,000 – 16,000 AED plus housing.
• Retail & Hospitality: Luxury brands in Dubai Mall and major hotels (Accor, Hilton) have opened over 200 "Assistant" and "Guest Experience" roles this week, with salaries ranging from 4,000 – 7,000 AED plus benefits.

## 3. Salary & Policy Trends for 2026

• The "Emirati Minimum Wage": A new mandate effective Jan 1, 2026, requires private firms to pay a minimum of 6,000 AED to UAE Nationals.
• Annual Hikes: On average, salaries in the UAE are projected to rise by 4.1% this year. However, if you are in Tech or specialized Finance, "hard-to-replace" talent is seeing jumps of 10% or more.
• Benefits Return: Many companies are moving away from just "base salary" increases and are instead reinstating schooling allowances and enhanced medical insurance to stay competitive.

## 4. Where to Apply Right Now

If you are looking for immediate openings, these platforms have the most "Fresh" (posted within 48 hours) listings:

1. GulfTalent: Best for professional and engineering roles.
2. LinkedIn / Indeed UAE: Best for tech and multinational corporate jobs.

Bayt.com: Strong for regional companies and entry-to-mid-level 

⚠️ Disclaimer: This post is for general informational purposes only and not legal advice. For specific guidance, please consult a UAE legal professional.