An India-focused Global Workforce Study published on 26 December projects that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will generate roughly 300,000 incremental jobs per year for the next five years, totalling more than 1.5 million new roles by 2030. The forecast comes as the United States tightens allocations under its H-1B skilled-worker visa, nudging Indian professionals to seek alternatives.
Researchers cite mega-projects like Abu Dhabi’s clean-energy clusters, Dubai’s AI-driven logistics corridors and Saudi Arabia’s NEOM development as engines of demand across construction, healthcare, financial services and technology. Despite rapid adoption of automation, the Gulf economies’ labour needs are expected to climb 12 % in the UAE and 11.6 % in Saudi Arabia over the period—outpacing the UK (2.8 %) and US (2.1 %).
For Indian corporates the data signal a strategic pivot: global-mobility teams should re-evaluate assignment pipelines, language training and compensation benchmarks for Gulf postings. The report notes that entry-level IT salaries in Dubai now average AED 12,000 (₹270,000) per month, nearly double equivalent packages in Bengaluru after cost-of-living adjustments.
![Study says UAE and Saudi will create 1.5 million new jobs for Indians by 2030 amid tighter US H-1B quotas]()
To streamline relocation logistics, VisaHQ’s online platform offers end-to-end guidance on securing UAE permits. Through its dedicated page (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), Indian applicants can verify requirements, upload documents and track status for Specialist, Golden and other visas, reducing paperwork headaches and accelerating onboarding timelines.
Indian recruitment agencies are already ramping up Gulf desks, with several planning talent fairs in Mumbai and Hyderabad in Q1 2026. Visa consultants point to the UAE’s revamped Specialist Visa and longer-tenure Golden Visa as tools that make relocation more attractive than the uncertain US lottery.
However, analysts caution that competition will intensify once construction peaks ease after 2028. Professionals are advised to prioritise credentials in AI, fintech compliance and green engineering to stay ahead in an evolving Gulf labour market.
Researchers cite mega-projects like Abu Dhabi’s clean-energy clusters, Dubai’s AI-driven logistics corridors and Saudi Arabia’s NEOM development as engines of demand across construction, healthcare, financial services and technology. Despite rapid adoption of automation, the Gulf economies’ labour needs are expected to climb 12 % in the UAE and 11.6 % in Saudi Arabia over the period—outpacing the UK (2.8 %) and US (2.1 %).
For Indian corporates the data signal a strategic pivot: global-mobility teams should re-evaluate assignment pipelines, language training and compensation benchmarks for Gulf postings. The report notes that entry-level IT salaries in Dubai now average AED 12,000 (₹270,000) per month, nearly double equivalent packages in Bengaluru after cost-of-living adjustments.
To streamline relocation logistics, VisaHQ’s online platform offers end-to-end guidance on securing UAE permits. Through its dedicated page (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), Indian applicants can verify requirements, upload documents and track status for Specialist, Golden and other visas, reducing paperwork headaches and accelerating onboarding timelines.
Indian recruitment agencies are already ramping up Gulf desks, with several planning talent fairs in Mumbai and Hyderabad in Q1 2026. Visa consultants point to the UAE’s revamped Specialist Visa and longer-tenure Golden Visa as tools that make relocation more attractive than the uncertain US lottery.
However, analysts caution that competition will intensify once construction peaks ease after 2028. Professionals are advised to prioritise credentials in AI, fintech compliance and green engineering to stay ahead in an evolving Gulf labour market.
