Communication and human skills lead hiring demand among UAE employers

Employers across the United Arab Emirates are prioritising human skills, particularly communication, when searching for new talent. According to a new study of thousands of job advertisements, these interpersonal qualities significantly outpace technical demands such as artificial intelligence. The findings highlight a strong preference for candidates who can effectively interact, lead, and support clients in a professional environment.

What happened According to a report by Khaleej Times, which cited data from the AI career platform SkillDrift, communication is the most frequently requested skill by UAE employers. The analysis, which examined 7,025 local job advertisements on the platform, showed that communication was listed in 22.4 per cent of all postings. Other human-centric skills also ranked highly: problem-solving and leadership both appeared in 9.1 per cent of the listings, while customer service was featured in 8.4 per cent.

In contrast, technical skills such as artificial intelligence (AI) appeared far less frequently. The study found that AI was requested in only 0.4 per cent of UAE job listings (just 28 out of 7,025 postings). This is notably lower than in the United States, where AI is required in 4.1 per cent of listings indexed by the platform. However, SkillDrift pointed out that its UAE database primarily covers operations, engineering, sales, and hospitality, meaning the AI figure represents a minimum estimate rather than the entire job market.

Language requirements also varied. English was specified in 21.3 per cent of UAE advertisements, while Arabic was requested in 7.4 per cent. This Arabic requirement is lower than in neighbouring countries, such as Saudi Arabia at 13.2 per cent and Qatar at 13.5 per cent. Furthermore, internships represented 3.7 per cent of the country's postings, with Sharjah recording the highest share at 6.4 per cent and Abu Dhabi the lowest at 1.6 per cent.

What it means for employers For organisations in the UAE, the data reinforces the ongoing importance of soft skills in building resilient teams. Even as global technological shifts drive conversations around automation and digital transformation, local companies still place their immediate hiring emphasis on fundamental human interactions. Employers are actively seeking professionals who can manage client relationships, lead projects, and collaborate across teams. These soft skills remain vital for businesses focusing on hospitality, sales, and operational efficiency, where direct human engagement is essential for commercial success.

What it means for job seekers For job seekers, these findings suggest that highlighting interpersonal strengths on a CV is just as crucial as showcasing technical expertise. While having digital competencies is beneficial, candidates must prove they can communicate and work in teams. The data also reveals the experience levels currently targeted by employers: among listings that specified experience, 14.1 per cent were open to individuals with one year of experience or less, whereas 35.4 per cent sought candidates with five or more years of experience. For recent graduates, demonstrating the exact soft skills requested in a job advertisement serves as the primary gateway to securing a role.

What to do now - Audit your CV against target roles: Compare your current resume with the job description to identify any missing skills and work to address those gaps first. - Expressly list your soft skills: Ensure essential human skills like communication, leadership, teamwork, or customer service are explicitly written on your CV, as unlisted skills will not be counted. - Highlight language proficiency: If you are fluent in English or Arabic, clearly feature these languages to match the substantial demand across local postings. - Verify requirements with official channels: Job seekers should always consult the official ministry guidelines or relevant authorities to ensure their qualifications and contract details align with the latest UAE employment regulations.