Are You Satisfied With Your Current Salary? - Employees What Salary Hike Do You Expect In 2025? - Employees Expectations for salary increases among UAE National employees remain high, with 43.04% anticipating a raise of 10% or more – an increase from last year’s 37.63%. This suggests a growing demand for higher compensation, likely driven by inflation and evolving market conditions. Meanwhile, 19.61% expect an 8-10% hike, while 15.16% foresee a 5-8% increase. However, 22.19% of respondents do not anticipate any salary raise, a slight rise from last year’s 19%, highlighting that a segment of employees remains uncertain about their financial growth. Salary dissatisfaction remains a key concern among UAE National employees, with 74.24% expressing discontent with their current earnings – an increase from last year’s 68%. This suggests a widening gap between salary expectations and actual compensation. Meanwhile, only 25.76% of employees report being satisfied with their salary, a slight decline from last year’s 32%. These findings indicate a growing need for organisations to assess salary structures, benefits, and career progression opportunities to improve employee satisfaction and retention. Y E S N O 74.24% 8 . 3 7 % 2 5 . 7 6 % 1 5 .1 6 % 43.04% 2 2 .1 9 % 19. 61% 5 - 8 % 1 0 % A N D A B OV E 8 - 1 0 % N O S A L A R Y H I K E 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 4 6 A majority of private sector employers continue to offer salaries within the AED 4,000 - AED 10,000 range, with 55.98% of respondents falling into this category. While this remains the most common salary bracket, there is a slight decrease from last year’s 65.72%, suggesting a potential shift toward more competitive compensation for UAE Nationals. Additionally, 31.10% of employers are offering salaries between AED 10,000 - AED 20,000, while only a small percentage (8.37%) are providing AED 20,000 - AED 30,000. These figures indicate that while budget-conscious hiring remains prevalent, there is some movement toward attracting experienced talent with higher salary packages. What Salary Range Are You Offering? - Employers 55.98% 8 . 3 7 % 3 1 .1 0 % A E D 4 , 0 0 0 - A E D 1 0 , 0 0 0 A E D 2 0 , 0 0 0 - A E D 3 0 , 0 0 0 A B OV E A E D 5 0 , 0 0 0 A E D 1 0 , 0 0 0 - A E D 2 0 , 0 0 0 A E D 3 0 , 0 0 0 - A E D 4 0 , 0 0 0 1 . 2 0 % 3 . 3 5 % What Would Make You Continue With Your Existing Employer? - Employees *MULTIPLE SELECTION APPLY* Salary remains the top factor influencing UAE National employees’ decision to stay with their current employer, with 45.55% of respondents prioritizing it. This aligns with the broader trend of increasing salary expectations seen in other survey findings. Job security follows closely at 42.91%, reaffirming its continued importance for long-term employment decisions. Career path (37.22%) and company culture (28.93%) are also key considerations, suggesting that employees are looking for both stability and opportunities for professional growth. Company benefits (26.81%) continue to play a role, though slightly lower in priority compared to salary and job security. These insights highlight the evolving expectations of UAE Nationals in the workforce, emphasizing the need for competitive salaries, clear career progression, and a supportive work environment. 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 J O B S E C U R I T Y 4 2 . 9 1 % 4 5 . 5 5 % 3 7. 2 2 % 2 8 . 9 3 % 2 6 . 8 1 % 2 2 .1 0 % S A L A R Y C O M PA N Y C U LT U R E CA RE E R PATH C O M PA N Y B E N E F I T S OTHE R 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 4 7