To retain Emirati employees, employers must focus on offering competitive salaries, ensuring strong job security, and creating clear career development pathways. M A K I N G E M I R AT I S AT I O N A S U C C E S S 2 0 2 5 - G U I D E B O O K 5 0 What Skills Do You Believe Are Most Important For Your Desired Job? - Jobseekers *MULTIPLE SELECTION APPLY* Communication remains the most valued skill among UAE National job seekers who responded to the survey, with 70.69% emphasizing its importance. This marks a slight decrease from last year’s 77.8%, but it continues to be the most sought-after competency. IT skills (45.78%) have also maintained their relevance, though at a lower rate than last year’s 60.86%, reflecting potential shifts in industry demands. Leadership (51.73%) and analytics (27.65%) are emerging as key skills, indicating a growing interest in management and data-driven roles. Meanwhile, creative design (29.73%) and marketing (23.56%) have gained traction, suggesting that job seekers are recognizing the value of creative and strategic thinking in their career paths. Skills and Development 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 0 7 0 8 0 I T S K I L L S C O M M U N I C AT I O N AC C O U N T I N G & F I N A N C E A N A LY T I C S L E A D E R S H I P C R E AT I V E D E S I G N E N G I N E E R I N G M A R K E T I N G 4 5 . 7 8 % 2 3 . 5 6 % 1 4 . 9 1 % 2 7. 6 5 % 5 1 . 7 3 % 2 9 . 7 3 % 2 1 . 5 4 % 7 0 . 6 9 % What Skills Do You Find Most Valuable In Your Current Role? - Employees *MULTIPLE SELECTION APPLY* Communication remains the most valued skill among UAE National employees who responded to the survey, with 65.35% rating it as essential in their current roles. While this is slightly lower than last year’s 66.78%, it continues to be the most in-demand competency. IT skills (38.93%) have seen a decline from last year’s 45%, reflecting potential shifts in workplace requirements. Leadership skills (36.84%) have gained importance compared to last year’s 30.64%, indicating a growing focus on managerial and decision-making abilities. Additionally, analytics (24.08%) and project management (25.95%) are emerging as key skills, suggesting an increasing emphasis on data-driven insights and structured execution within organisations. 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 0 7 0 8 0 C O M M U N I C AT I O N AC C O U N T I N G & F I N A N C E A N A LY T I C S L E A D E R S H I P PROJECT MANAGEMENT CREATIVE DESIGN E N G I N E E R I N G OT H E R I T S K I L L S M A R K E T I N G 3 8 . 9 3 % 1 9 . 5 9 % 1 7. 9 8 % 2 4 . 0 8 % 1 7. 8 7 % 1 0 .1 1 % 2 5 . 9 5 % 1 0 . 8 4 % 3 6 . 8 4 % 6 5 . 3 5 % M A K I N G E M I R AT I S AT I O N A S U C C E S S 2 0 2 5 - G U I D E B O O K 5 1