Human resources jobs in the UAE

About human resources jobs

Human resources jobs cover recruitment, people management and employee administration: recruiters and talent acquisition specialists, HR officers and generalists, HR business partners, payroll and compensation specialists, and learning and development professionals. In the UAE, HR teams also handle a significant amount of visa, work permit and compliance work for an internationally recruited workforce.

Large employers in hospitality, construction, healthcare, aviation, retail and government run sizeable HR departments, and recruitment agencies and executive search firms hire consultants. HR in the UAE requires a good understanding of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on labour relations, the Wage Protection System, MOHRE and free zone procedures, and Emiratisation requirements, which require private companies with 50 or more employees to increase the share of UAE nationals in skilled roles by 2% a year.

Employers value experience with HR information systems and payroll software, knowledge of local labour rules, and the ability to support a multicultural workforce. Arabic is an advantage, particularly for government relations and Emiratisation programmes.

Main roles

• Recruiter and talent acquisition specialist
• HR officer, HR generalist and HR business partner
• Payroll, compensation and benefits specialist
• Learning and development specialist
• Emiratisation and government relations officer

Sectors that are hiring in the UAE

• Recruitment agencies and executive search
• Hospitality and retail
• Construction and facilities management
• Healthcare and education
• Aviation and logistics
• Government and semi-government entities

Qualifications

A degree in human resources, business or psychology is common, and CIPD or SHRM certifications are widely recognised by UAE employers. Knowledge of the federal labour law, and of the DIFC or ADGM employment rules for employers based there, is a real advantage.