Perks and benefits

2023 Salary Guide

The rising cost of living is pushing businesses to review the benefits they offer, cutting overheads to improve their offering.

Packages are adjusted to account for rising costs

While salaries are stagnant, businesses are taking steps to make sure the cost of living is less restrictive for employees
Some employers are providing extra bonus payments, while others are increasing allowances for housing or healthcare

If increases continue, senior leaders will not be able to offer more support for fear of putting their businesses at risk

How is inflation affecting employment in the UAE?

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Offering high or extra bonus payments

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Increasing regular allowances

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Allowing employees to sell back annual leave days

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Businesses are reducing family benefits

Business leaders are looking at ways to reduce their overheads so that they can provide more support to more employees
More organisations are offering single status benefits rather than family benefits, which reduces the costs associated with education and healthcare
However, this does limit the talent pool, as many with families will not opt to relocate on these terms

Flexible working is increasingly common

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would prefer fully remote working

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would prefer to work in the office full-time

UAE companies have been slow to introduce flexible working on a permanent basis
Expat candidates are asking for an element of flexibility, but the majority are happy to be in the office full-time
However, three quarters (78%) of employees say that offering flexible working is essential for staff retention and attraction

Some employers are taking action to help employees with the rising cost of living, but one hand must take from the other, or business leaders risk eating into their profit margin. Reducing family benefits in order to provide higher allowances elsewhere is a good option, but it does reduce the available talent pool, as workers with families will not be willing to relocate.

Gareth El Mettouri, Associate Director – Middle East

Sources

Data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on an online survey of 500 working professionals developed by Robert Half and conducted by SavantaComRes between 05/08/2022 to 15/08/2022.