Unrealistic salary expectations and skill gaps remain key hiring gaps. While 59% of Emiratis receive training, 68% of employers say they provide L&D — showing signs of progress. 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 4 UAE National Employee Retention How Do You Rate Your Current Job Satisfaction? - Employees Rate Your Experience Of Retaining UAE National Employees – Employers Retaining UAE National employees continues to present challenges for private sector employers. While 22.01% of employers report no difficulties in retention, this marks a decline compared to last year's 42.41%, indicating a shift in retention dynamics. A majority (52.39%) face some challenges, while 25.60% find retention highly challenging. This aligns with earlier concerns about salary expectations, cultural mismatches, and competition with public sector opportunities. Addressing these challenges through tailored retention strategies, competitive benefits, and career development opportunities could help improve long-term workforce stability. Job satisfaction among Emirati employees remains a key area of focus, with 56.94% of respondents indicating they are either satisfied (37.22%) or very satisfied (19.72%) with their current roles. While this suggests that over half of UAE National employees appreciate their work environment, the overall satisfaction rate has declined compared to last year’s 73.66%. On the other hand, dissatisfaction levels have risen, with 22.52% reporting dissatisfaction and 20.55% stating they are very dissatisfied. Compared to last year, this increase in dissatisfaction may highlight ongoing challenges such as salary concerns, long working hours, and limited career progression. Addressing these factors through structured development plans and workplace improvements could enhance job satisfaction levels. 1 9 . 7 2 % 3 7. 2 2 % 20.55% 22.52% V E R Y S AT I S F I E D D I S S AT I S F I E D S AT I S F I E D V E R Y D I S S AT I S F I E D 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 52.39% 2 5 . 6 0 % 22.01% 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 5