By topic
What leaders talked about
See the numbers
| Topic | Quotes |
|---|---|
| Hiring | 22 |
| Skills | 19 |
| Careers | 13 |
| AI | 10 |
| Compensation | 5 |
| Quota | 0 |
| All topics | 69 |
Voices
What leaders said in public, word for word
Up to twenty-five words each, attributed by name and linked to the public page it came from.
Updated
By topic and market
Who said it, where
See the numbers
| Topic | Egypt | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates | Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE | All markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | 22 |
| Skills | 5 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 19 |
| Careers | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| AI | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| Compensation | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Quota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All topics | 15 | 4 | 43 | 7 | 69 |
By month
When it was said
See the numbers
| Month | United Arab Emirates | Egypt | Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE | Saudi Arabia | All markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 23 | |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | |
| All months | 43 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 69 |
Every quote
Read them in full
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“For senior and specialist positions, it is particularly important to understand how candidates have handled real business challenges, made decisions and contributed to measurable outcomes.”
Nisha NairRecruitment manager · Innovations Global
“A CV can get someone noticed, but a recruiter needs to establish what that person has actually delivered.”
Nickie WilsonExecutive director · Genie Recruitment
“My concern is that without human judgement, they risk selecting the candidates who are best at using AI to present themselves,…”
Nickie WilsonExecutive director · Genie Recruitment
“You can use AI to write about a skill. You can't use it to fake one in a live conversation.”
Aws IsmailCo-founder · Onyx AI Solutions
“Candidates now use AI to write better applications, so the CV alone tells you less than it used to.”
Aws IsmailCo-founder · Onyx AI Solutions
“There’s a massive underlying growth in the mining sector at the moment, something I’m very surprised about,…”
Trefor MurphyFounder and CEO · Cooper Fitch
“Consumer confidence is coming back in. People are starting to look at long-term hires, at those more strategic hires.”
Trefor MurphyFounder and CEO · Cooper Fitch
“If you’re confident about the world and the market, then you start having a longer-term view on workforce planning,…”
Trefor MurphyFounder and CEO · Cooper Fitch
“POS systems are chosen to minimise risk, not to maximise features.”
Ahmed SamehChief Marketing Officer · Fortis
“But adoption does not automatically mean trust.”
Ahmed SamehChief Marketing Officer · Fortis
“A skill that is not shown on the CV does not count,…”
Deepanker MahajanFounder and CEO · SkillDrift
“For graduates, the way in is proof of the few skills a posting actually names,…”
Deepanker MahajanFounder and CEO · SkillDrift
“UAE employers still hire first for people who can communicate, lead and look after a customer.”
Deepanker MahajanFounder and CEO · SkillDrift
“In Egypt, we focus primarily on the applications and innovative-solutions layer, where we have strong capabilities and highly skilled young talent.”
Ahmed El ZaherRuns ITIDA
“Our real strength lies in human brains — the talent,…”
Ahmed El ZaherRuns ITIDA
“AI will increasingly take on routine, repetitive, and administrative tasks, allowing people to spend more time on activities that require judgment,…”
Ergul HemmingsenChief Human Capital Officer · Core42
“AI capability development needs to be role-based rather than limited to technical specialists,…”
Ergul HemmingsenChief Human Capital Officer · Core42
“AI fluency is no longer a nice-to-have or a capability reserved for technical teams.”
Ergul HemmingsenChief Human Capital Officer · Core42
“A candidate who knows how to optimise their profile for an algorithm will consistently outrank someone who is genuinely better at the job…”
Avinav NigamFounder and CEO · TERN Group
“When a company is uncertain, it protects what it cannot afford to lose.”
Avinav NigamFounder and CEO · TERN Group
“When uncertainty hits, the first thing any sensible business does is stop making long-term commitments. Hiring is a long-term commitment.”
Avinav NigamFounder and CEO · TERN Group
“Tailor each application to the role, highlight relevant experience and measurable achievements, and continue investing in skills such as AI, digital literacy,…”
Mahesh ShahdadpuriGroup Chairman · TASC Outsourcing
“It is now common for a single vacancy to attract several hundred applications within a matter of days, especially for professional and managerial roles,…”
Mahesh ShahdadpuriGroup Chairman · TASC Outsourcing
“Know your market. Find your edge. Be patient,…”
Ayman BakyFounder · Baky Hospitality
“Every success story takes its own time, and you should filter out the noise of other success stories and focus on building something solid.”
Mahmoud BarakatFounder · Moko Chocolates
“not to fall in love with the idea of entrepreneurship, the shiny LinkedIn profiles, or the crowning achievements of others.”
Ahmed AtefFounder · Kenzz
“Entrepreneurship is one of the toughest mental games you can ever play,…”
Yassin AsfourFounder · Byte+
“Start lean, start quickly, start very small, and don’t over-engineer,…”
Ahmed WadiFounder · Money Fellows
“And that means talking to customers a lot. Never stop talking to customers. Even if you are running a USD 1 bn company…”
Hussein WahdanFounder · Blueworks
“solve a real problem, not just a trendy AI one,…”
Amina El GamalFounder · Bond & Bloom
“Never think that you are successful; that would be the beginning of the end.”
Hind WassefCo-founder · Diwan
“Learn a bit more of the boring nuts and bolts of business — more accounting, how to read a balance sheet,…”
Hind WassefCo-founder · Diwan
“Organisations that recruit experienced technical leaders early give them time to evaluate platforms, establish governance frameworks, integrate systems…”
Abdullah Al JaafariCEO and Founder · Resquad AI
“That responsibility falls to experienced engineers and AI architects. Yet these are among the hardest profiles to hire across the region,…”
Abdullah Al JaafariCEO and Founder · Resquad AI
“It’s still not completely accessible to the average user. You still have to have a somewhat technical background to fully utilize the tool.”
Karim HarounyCEO · Mashtal
“Your AI will do all of that in a fraction of a second now. From a CS perspective, it’s brilliant,…”
Karim HarounyCEO · Mashtal
“If you're operating purely without the help of any AI resources, you're fighting an uphill battle.”
Ahmed El HefnyCEO · Zonta
“When we hire someone, we check their AI skills — how they write prompts, what kind of AI tools they use.”
Aly KhattabFounder · ReQaf
“Vision 2030 initiatives, major national programmes, and diversification away from oil continue to influence hiring demand and the types of skills organisations are seeking.”
Ryan TaggGeneral Manager for Saudi Arabia & Senior Director, Enterprise Solutions · Hays Middle East
Zawya (Hays Middle East press release) (opens the source in a new tab)
“Actual recruitment happens where revenue, regulation, or delivery risk necessitates additional capacity.”
Jessie JoyHead of HR · Magnitude Creative
“Employees with proven performance and potential are familiar with the organisational DNA, making them twice as attractive to upskill than trying out a new hire.”
Karuna AgarwalDirector · Future Tense UAE
“Instead of hiring new employees for specialised roles, we upskill current staff to handle high-value clients, manage online orders, and run loyalty programs effectively.”
Shabeel UmmerHead of HR · V Group International, Middle East
“We focus on training our sales associates in advanced product knowledge, personalised customer service, and digital sales tools.”
Shabeel UmmerHead of HR · V Group International, Middle East
“We strongly advise candidates to upskill alongside their job search, pursue targeted certifications, and clearly articulate how their skills can solve immediate business problems.”
Zaid AlhialiCo-Founder · Marc Ellis
“Candidates who are securing roles today are the ones who show they are actively learning, adaptable, and aligned with what employers need right now…”
Zaid AlhialiCo-Founder · Marc Ellis
“Businesses are operating in an environment where budgets are tighter, it’s harder to attract the right talent, and skills are evolving quickly.”
Zaid AlhialiCo-Founder · Marc Ellis
“One key skill set is the data analysis,…”
Vlacheslav ShakhovManaging director · Cooper Fitch
“Companies are adopting AI, but only about seven per cent reported some kind of job loss.”
Vlacheslav ShakhovManaging director · Cooper Fitch
“The companies don't mind spending, but they would like to spend wisely.”
Vlacheslav ShakhovManaging director · Cooper Fitch
“Specialist roles or senior individual contributors actually received a healthy increase last year, between 5 to 9 per cent.”
Vlacheslav ShakhovManaging director · Cooper Fitch
“Firms are prioritising specialised talent that shape outcomes and not just output.”
Kamal ReggadCo-founder and chief executive · RemotePass
“The Gulf is focusing on roles that drive real change,…”
Kamal ReggadCo-founder and chief executive · RemotePass
“This reform allows workers to switch employers and leave the country without needing sponsor approval after their contracts end,…”
Ian GiulianottiExecutive director · Nadia Global
“Competition will be robust, especially in popular hubs like Dubai and Riyadh…”
Raghib SalimGeneral manager · Nadia Global
“The employment market will continue to show record growth in 2026,…”
Raghib SalimGeneral manager · Nadia Global
“Rising living costs and economic slowdowns will shape which skills are most valued, like resilience, flexibility and creative thinking,…”
Ahmad Al-RajhiMinister of Human Resources and Social Development · Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
“Expect significant growth in tech-centric jobs like AI specialists and data analysts, while roles such as data entry and administrative assistants may decline,…”
Ahmad Al-RajhiMinister of Human Resources and Social Development · Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
“Bonuses will be more performance-driven. Financial services, FinTech, sales and trading roles will pay the highest,…”
Waleed AnwarManaging director · Upfront HR
“Middle managers who add strategic and digital leadership value will remain essential.”
Mahesh ShahdadpuriFounder and chief executive · TASC Outsourcing
“The challenge is less about job availability and more about readiness.”
Mahesh ShahdadpuriFounder and chief executive · TASC Outsourcing
“Candidates with UAE experience continue to command a premium, particularly at mid to senior-level roles,…”
Mahesh ShahdadpuriFounder and chief executive · TASC Outsourcing
“High performers and hard-to-replace roles will see movement, while average performers may see smaller or no increases.”
Aws IsmailDirector of recruitment · Marc Ellis
“2026 won’t be a year of across-the-board salary hikes, but most companies will increase pay selectively,…”
Aws IsmailDirector of recruitment · Marc Ellis
“We’re seeing early signs of a skills-first overlay being added to traditional hiring filters,…”
Sharad SindhwaniEVP, Product & Business Head · Naukrigulf
“Around one in four recruiters now apply soft filters for AI or automation proficiency, even in non-technical roles.”
Sharad SindhwaniEVP, Product & Business Head · Naukrigulf
“These mentions appear across engineering, construction, real estate, consulting, and energy, often as part of core responsibilities rather than optional skills.”
Sharad SindhwaniEVP, Product & Business Head · Naukrigulf
“Economic diversification, strategic fiscal reforms, and investment in non-oil sectors have positioned the GCC as a hub of innovation and opportunity.”
Oliver KowalskiManaging Director · Hays Middle East
Zawya (Hays Middle East press release) (opens the source in a new tab)
“Service teams in the country are taking a lead in skills development and specialisation…”
Mohammed AlkhotaniSVP & GM · Salesforce Middle East
“The UAE appears to be ahead of the curve regionally and globally in terms of AI adoption for services,…”
Mohammed AlkhotaniSVP & GM · Salesforce Middle East
No quote matches those filters in this edition.
Why are the quotes so short?
Because we quote at most twenty-five words, word for word, and link to the page the words were said on. Read the source for the rest.
Can I be quoted here?
Only from something you published in public: a post, an interview, a podcast page or a conference page. We never take words from a private group or a direct message.
The Desert Camel Report
Know the compensation, the skills and the hiring moves in your market, before your next conversation.
Edition November 2026, with its source beside it. The gaps are marked, not filled.