Middle Eastern companies double salaries for key IT roles compared to Europe
A significant movement of tech professionals from Europe is set to enhance recruitment efforts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Companies in these regions are tapping into Eastern and Southern Europe to fill critical IT positions, particularly in data, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
According to a study by workforce solutions firm Hays, Middle Eastern companies are offering more than double the salaries for key IT roles compared to some European countries. The study, focusing on the EMEA region’s tech and IT talent market, revealed that over a third of European tech professionals plan to leave their jobs this year, with low salaries being a major factor.
“Tax-free salaries continue to make the UAE a highly attractive place to work,” said Eamonn Hart, senior manager – Technology at Hays Middle East, speaking to Khaleej Times. “Firms can typically offer higher salaries here than in most European countries. With strong market conditions and organizations ramping up operations in the region, it presents many attractive career prospects for specialists looking to leverage their skills.”
European tech professionals are also driven to leave their jobs due to a lack of development opportunities, career progression, and challenging roles. “Organizations in the UAE can satisfy tech professionals’ thirst for AI and exciting projects,” Hart noted. “82 percent of all EMEA tech professionals desire AI training. IT specialists crave exciting work with the newest, most impactful technologies. Indeed, 40 percent of all tech professionals in EMEA cited ‘challenging roles or projects’ as the biggest factor they look for in an organization after pay.”
Rising Salaries and Hiring Trends
The Tech Talent Explorer survey, which gathered responses from over 5,000 IT specialists across 20 EMEA countries, found that 22 percent of techies in the Middle East expect a salary increase of 20 percent or more this year. In contrast, fewer than 10 percent in Europe anticipate such an increase.
Hart highlighted that UAE-based companies will continue recruiting throughout 2024 and into 2025. “With technology playing a critical role for businesses wanting to innovate, digitally transform, keep up with competition and market demand, technology professionals will be paramount. There is currently a key focus on AI positions with cybersecurity becoming increasingly important,” he said.
Average Salaries for Key IT Roles
The study revealed the following average salaries for key IT positions across the EMEA region:
- Network Engineer
- Middle East: EUR 74,900 (Dh 298,500)
- Czechia: EUR 31,000 (Dh 123,500)
- Spain: EUR 33,000 (Dh 131,500)
- Data Engineer
- Middle East: EUR 90,000 (Dh 358,700)
- Italy: EUR 45,750 (Dh 182,300)
- Portugal: EUR 48,000 (Dh 191,300)
- Security Engineer
- GCC: EUR 105,000 (Dh 418,500)
- Hungary: EUR 39,000 (Dh 155,400)
- Spain: EUR 44,200 (Dh 176,100)
- DevOps Engineer (Cloud Infrastructure)
- GCC: EUR 100,500 (Dh 400,500)
- Hungary: EUR 45,000 (Dh 179,300)
- Italy: EUR 47,000 (Dh 187,300)
- Software Architect
- GCC: EUR 120,000 (Dh 478,200)
- Czechia: EUR 62,500 (Dh 249,100)
- Italy and France: EUR 64,000 (Dh 255,000)
Key Hiring Period
Hart pointed out that 56 percent of tech professionals in the Middle East are already utilizing AI, a higher percentage than in any European country.
“The new data offers lots of encouragement for companies in the Middle East looking for tech talent,” Hart added. “It shows that the second half of 2024 will be a key time for hiring from Europe as many professionals will be open to new opportunities.”
He concluded, “Salaries are generally higher in the UAE and KSA, which is an obvious attraction for tech specialists in lower-paying European countries. This report offers new insights as to other ways that Middle Eastern companies can attract this talent — for example by highlighting AI initiatives and progression plans.”
