At Dubai AI Week 2025, Ameca, a humanoid robot, charmed attendees with its smile and blinks, highlighting the event’s focus on technology. Key announcements included the establishment of a $545 million hyperscale data center to support Microsoft and the launch of Dubai’s inaugural PhD program in artificial intelligence.
Nair, a 29-year-old AI engineer, expressed her motivation after relocating to the UAE from Kerala, India, in October. Despite applying for numerous entry-level positions and encountering rejections, scams, and subpar offers, she felt reinspired at the event. To maintain her privacy, her full name has not been disclosed.
“Dubai is becoming a significant AI hub globally,” she stated. “Witnessing companies push the limits of innovation here is truly captivating.”
Many tech professionals, like Nair, are drawn to the UAE due to the Golden Visa program, offering a decade-long residency to skilled individuals, alongside benefits such as no income tax, competitive salaries, and simplified processes for starting businesses, according to insights from industry recruiters and tech experts.
“The UAE is the second-most attractive destination for top AI talent globally, with a significant number of experts now residing in the region,” commented Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE’s Minister of Economy, last year.
The UAE has positioned itself as a tech ally of the U.S., recently securing access to 500,000 cutting-edge Nvidia chips, essential for AI advancement during President Donald Trump’s visit. Furthermore, plans were unveiled to establish the largest AI campus outside the U.S. in partnership with American tech firms. Last year, Microsoft collaborated with the Emirati AI company G42 to develop a skilled and diverse AI workforce.
The UAE’s dedicated focus on artificial intelligence makes it an enticing location for tech professionals, especially as opportunities dwindle in Western countries. This year, over 50,000 tech employees, particularly mid-level managers and developers, have been let go from approximately 100 companies across the U.S., according to Layoffs.fyi. Additionally, job openings for positions like software developers are declining, and many tech workers are apprehensive about strict immigration policies under the Trump administration. Venture capital funding for startups has also cooled significantly in the West.
However, the job landscape in the UAE can present challenges for tech workers, particularly based on their backgrounds, as shared by professionals and recruiters. Senior executives from Western countries frequently secure top roles with lucrative salaries, while experienced data and AI specialists from South Asia and Ukraine occupy lower-paying positions.
Nair, a recent graduate with a Master’s in electronics engineering and a focus in AI hardware from an Indian institution, has faced significant hurdles in her job search despite being qualified.
“Automatic rejections are common,” she noted. “Hiring companies prefer candidates to have four to five years of experience for entry-level positions or they rely on referrals.”
Despite the large number of job vacancies—over 800 AI firms in Dubai alone, most being startups as per the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence—there is an oversupply of candidates, as indicated by a 2024 talent report from the UAE’s Ministry of Economy and immigration law firm Fragomen. The majority of applicants lack the qualifications for specialized AI roles.
Approximately 95% of the 50,000 companies surveyed in the report hire tech professionals from outside the region.
“We rely on talent from India and Ukraine due to insufficient local university graduates,” stated Vahid Haghzare, director of SVA Recruitment in Dubai.
The synergy between data and AI in this region is prominent. Financial backing enables rapid execution.
The UAE serves as a “global migration hub,” according to Froilan Malit Jr., a visiting scholar and expert on migration patterns into the Middle East. The region acts as a stepping stone for professionals from developing countries gaining experience before transitioning to Western markets, while Western specialists can enjoy higher salaries and long-term residency opportunities in the UAE.
Dubai’s lifestyle appeals to Western professionals, while Asian and Muslim tech employees appreciate the blend of Eastern and Western cultures, as noted by Malit Jr. “It’s mutually beneficial: tax-free earnings, quality education, security, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere.”
Compensation varies widely based on experience and origin, with individuals from developing countries facing a “citizenship penalty” that yields lower salaries compared to their Western peers, according to Malit Jr.
“This often drives tech workers from the Global South to migrate to the West, with intentions of returning to the UAE on a more favorable visa,” he explained.
Jarkko Moilanen, head of data products at the Abu Dhabi Department for Government Enablement, relocated from Finland in 2022 as part of a global team to enhance the city’s digital transformation. “I sought a change,” he recounted. After a year, he decided to settle in the UAE and applied for a Golden Visa.
Moilanen now finds himself incentivized to remain in the UAE rather than return to Europe, which he views as experiencing economic downturns. In contrast, Abu Dhabi is heavily investing in AI, with ambitions to become the world’s first AI-native government, driving the complete automation of its operations.
He has received multiple job proposals from Saudi Arabia but prefers to develop an AI and data venture within the UAE.
“The data and AI landscape here is vibrant. There’s substantial financial support for swift execution,” he affirmed.
AI startups are flourishing in the UAE with backing from organizations like Hub71, an incubator based in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, initiatives like Sandbox, financed by Oraseya Capital, assist existing startups, while the Dubai Future Accelerators program encourages collaborations between businesses and government entities.
Automatic rejections are the norm. Companies mostly seek candidates with four to five years experience for entry-level positions.
Nidhima Kohli, an entrepreneur from Luxembourg, recently initiated her venture, The AI Accelerator, which aims to support entrepreneurs and executives in utilizing AI tools for enhanced productivity. She immigrated to Dubai in 2022 and obtained a Golden Visa the following year.
“Having resided in London, Paris, and the U.S., I’ve never felt as secure as I do in Dubai. The environment is international, and people are open and warm to connecting,” she stated.
She values the straightforward nature of networking and establishing a business in the UAE. “The UAE is taking significant steps to foster innovation,” she added.
Nevertheless, challenges persist for less experienced workers from South Asia, as noted by Nair. She has encountered numerous fraudulent job listings on LinkedIn, including one recruiter requesting $1,000 for a certification course, and has seen unreasonably low salary offers. One potential employer suggested 3,000 dirhams ($816) monthly, which is significantly below industry standards, while another position demanded a week of work without paid leave or sick days.
In spite of these difficulties, Nair retains optimism for her future. “I am excited about the prospects for growth, learning, and making a significant contribution here.”