What Current And Future Skills Are You Looking For In UAE National Candidates? - Employers *MULTIPLE SELECTION APPLY* Confidence among UAE National job seekers in their skills has significantly increased, with 82.97% now believing they possess the necessary skills to secure a job in the private sector. This marks a notable rise from last year’s 63.33%, reflecting growing self-assurance and possibly improved training opportunities. Meanwhile, 14.97% remain unsure about their readiness, suggesting that some job seekers still perceive gaps in their skill sets. Only 2.06% feel they do not have the required skills, a decrease from the previous year’s 4.62%, indicating a positive trend in skill development and career preparedness. The shift suggests that efforts in training, education, and career development programmes are effectively equipping UAE Nationals with the competencies needed for private sector employment. However, continued focus on bridging any remaining skill gaps, particularly through targeted upskilling initiatives, remains important. Communication skills (53.33%) and IT skills (38.10%) remain top priorities for employers who responded to the survey, though both have seen a slight decline from last year’s 55.80% and 49.55%, respectively. This suggests that while these competencies are still essential, other skill areas are gaining importance. Accounting & finance (36.90%) and marketing (35.48%) continue to be in demand, reinforcing the need for strong business and financial acumen. Project management (34.52%) and leadership (30.71%) have seen steady interest, reflecting a growing emphasis on structured execution and managerial capabilities. Notably, analytics (28.10%) and engineering (31.67%) are gaining traction, indicating an increased demand for data-driven decision-making and technical expertise in the UAE job market. Do You Believe You Possess The Skills Important For Your Desired Job Field? - Jobseekers 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 .1 0 % 3 5 . 4 8 % 3 6 . 9 0 % 2 8 .1 0 % 1 4 . 2 9 % 1 9 . 2 9 % 3 4 . 5 2 % 3 1 . 6 7 % 3 0 . 7 1 % 5 3 . 3 3 % N O C H A L L E N G E S FAC E D H I G H LY C H A L L E N G I N G S O M E C H A L L E N G E S FAC E D 82.97% 14.97% 2 . 0 6 % 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 2 Do You Believe You Possess The Skills Necessary For Further Development In These Skills? - Employees A strong majority of UAE National employees (83.55%) express confidence in their ability to further develop their skills, highlighting a positive outlook on career growth and continuous learning. This suggests that most employees feel equipped to build on their existing competencies, potentially benefiting from workplace training and upskilling initiatives. A smaller segment (12.49%), remains unsure about their potential for skill development, indicating a need for clearer career progression pathways or access to more structured learning opportunities. Meanwhile, only 3.96% believe they lack the necessary foundation for further development, a reassuringly low figure that underscores the overall readiness of UAE National employees to enhance their professional capabilities. Y E S U N S U R E N O 83.55% 12.49% 3 . 9 6 % 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 3