Why will specialised skills matter more than nationality for expatriates seeking jobs in the UAE and GCC?

Expatriates are not being pushed out of the UAE and Gulf, but nationalisation programmes are raising the bar for foreign professionals, according to Pedro Lacerda, senior vice president of Tasc Outsourcing. Initiatives such as the UAE’s Emiratisation, Saudi Arabia’s Nitaqat and Omanisation aim to increase citizens’ participation in private-sector jobs. However, continued economic expansion is expected to sustain demand for international talent across AI, technology, healthcare, finance, logistics, tourism, energy and advanced manufacturing. Employers will increasingly seek professionals with specialist expertise, international experience and skills that are scarce locally. Lacerda calls this an “expat upgrade cycle”, in which foreign hires must demonstrate clear value beyond capabilities that can be developed domestically. The GCC’s workforce is expected to become more blended, combining stronger national talent with international expertise where it adds value.