UAE professionals are putting down career roots in the country, but many are still staying on the sidelines of the professional networks that could help them access visibility and opportunity.
According to new research from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, 91% of UAE professionals plan to continue living and working in the UAE over the next 6-12 months, including 66% who say they definitely intend to stay. This comes as the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for talent and innovation.
Recent findings from LinkedIn and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade also showed that the UAE recorded one of the strongest post-pandemic hiring recoveries among major global markets in 2025, with early data from June 2026 pointing to renewed recovery in hiring and international talent flows after volatility in the first half of this year.
While UAE professionals are demonstrating a strong intention to build their futures in the country, many are not fully participating in the professional communities that can help them navigate a fast-changing labour market. Nearly all UAE professionals surveyed, at 96%, say their professional network is important in helping them navigate a career shaped by AI and rapid workplace change. Yet 74% say they always or often browse work or career-related content online without actively participating.
The research points to a clear gap between recognising the value of a professional network and knowing how to use it. 42% of UAE professionals say they are not sure how to get started, while 41% say they do not know how to turn connections into meaningful relationships.
Many of the barriers are social and confidence-driven. Four in 10 (40%) worry they are bothering people or wasting their time, while 33% worry about being judged. More than half, at 58%, say they have not received sufficient guidance on how to build professional relationships or grow a network.
However, the findings suggest that professionals may be underestimating how willing others are to support them: 86% of UAE professionals say they would be likely to respond to or support someone seeking career help, even if they did not know them personally.
Visibility is becoming career capital
Career opportunity in the UAE is still led by skills, but networks help turn those skills into visibility, relationships, and momentum. While 39% say having the right skills and experience gives them the strongest chance of accessing new opportunities, 25% point to a strong professional network and 23% to online visibility. The value is already showing: 42% say online professional communities helped them increase their knowledge and a close 41% made a connection that supported their career.
“The UAE continues to be a place where people come to build ambitious, long-term careers. But in a fast-moving labour market, skills alone are not always enough. Visibility and relationships also matter, especially for people who are new to the country, early in their careers, or looking to move into a new sector,” said Najat Abdelhadi, LinkedIn Mena Career Expert.
“Building a network does not need to start with a big request or a perfectly written message. Small interactions add up: LinkedIn members are almost three times more likely to receive a connection request and almost five times more likely to receive a message if they’ve interacted with a post from one of their connections.
“It can start with leaving a thoughtful comment, asking a question, or sharing a perspective from your own experience. Over time, those small moments help people become more visible and build relationships before they need them.”
LinkedIn Career Expert tips to move from scrolling to participating
●Start with people you already have something in common with. Whether it's your school, university, industry or a topic you want to know more about, common ground makes it easier to start conversations and build relationships. LinkedIn's My Network tab and AI-powered people search can help find people who share your interests.
●Take the pressure off by following before connecting. You don't need to send a connection request straight away. Follow people whose careers, companies or ideas interest you and get a feel for the conversations they're part of. When you do reach out, you'll have a more natural reason to start the conversation.
●Don’t overthink the first step. Networking does not have to start with asking for a job or a favour. A comment, reaction, question or shared article can be the beginning of a professional relationship. Being visible does not mean self-promotion; it means contributing.
●Build relationships before you need them. The best time to invest in your professional relationships isn't when you're looking for a job. Staying connected over time can help you understand where opportunities are moving.
●Remember that most people want to help. Many young professionals worry about bothering others, but experienced professionals are often more willing to offer advice than people realise. Don't underestimate how far a thoughtful message can go. –TradeArabia News Service
UAE professionals, job, career, LinkedIn
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