As the war in the Middle East reaches into its fourth week, companies in the region are scrambling to switch supply chains, change logistics routes, and prioritize employee safety.
The corporate-level changes have filtered down to hiring: Local tech recruiters told Business Insider that some clients have suspended hiring, while others said expats are seeking jobs that would let them move to Europe and Asia.
The UAE has become an increasingly important hub in the Middle East for tech companies to connect with big funding sources, customers, and talent. For about a decade, foreigners have made up about 90% of the country’s population. About half are white-collar workers, some of whom are now reassessing their plans as the conflict continues.
Read more about the US-Iran conflict
Downturn in applications
Vahid Haghzare, a Dubai-based director for Silicon Valley Associates Recruitment, said job applications slumped since the war broke out.
“Until recently, the volume was overwhelming, the SVA Recruitment team was receiving more UAE applications than we could process, and my own private practice was always fully booked with executives consulting about moving to the region,” he said.
“I’ve honestly never seen it this quiet,” he added. His firm works across Asia and the UAE.
Jobs are being pulled, too. One of the firm’s US SaaS customers suspended all regional hiring, Haghzare said.
Prioritizing essential roles
Zahra Clark, the head of the Middle East and Africa region at Tiger Recruitment, told Business Insider that clients are still hiring but are becoming more selective and prioritizing key roles.
“Business levels across the GCC are still moving, and the UAE in particular has proven to be very resilient — we saw this clearly during Covid and are seeing a similar mindset now,” she added, referring to Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
SVA’s Haghzare said that local roles, such as those focused on the UAE market, are still moving forward, but bigger ones are on ice.
“Anything regional or international that would normally sit in Dubai, Doha, or Riyadh are very much on hold right now,” he said.
Expat exodus
Meanwhile, expats are looking to move back to Asia or Europe.
“It’s very reminiscent of what our business experienced in Hong Kong during the 2019 protests and the tough Covid restrictions — the same concerns, the same questions,” Haghzare said. “In periods of uncertainty, international expats typically have the lowest risk tolerance, and we’re seeing that pattern repeat again here.”
Locals are staying put, giving them an advantage, said Haghzare.
“In fact, local candidates are perhaps feeling a bit of relief,” he said.
Competition has dropped sharply because of fewer foreign applications, and foreigners are unable to fly into the region.
Recruiting has returned to pandemic-style accommodations.
“We are seeing more interviews conducted online, with onboarding also being handled in a more flexible and remote way,” said Tiger Recruitment’s Clark. “This isn’t new, but it’s being relied on more heavily again.”
