UAE needs over 90,000 skilled workers by 2026; Details inside

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) GCC hospitality market faces a shortage of skilled professionals as the region will require more than 90,000 workers by 2026.

As per the reports, UAE and Saudi Arabia will be the primary markets, needing 82,000 skilled hospitality professionals by 2026.

Rohit Walia, executive chairman and CEO of Alpen Capital, said the facing a shortage of skilled workers and needs help to recruit and retain adequately trained professionals for various roles, ranging from management positions to service staff.

“Furthermore, increasing competition within the industry is creating pressure on existing infrastructure, resources, and market positioning,” he said.

As per the Alpen Capital’s GCC Hospitality Industry Report 2024, released on Tuesday, a shortage of skilled workers presents a significant hurdle to the sector’s growth trajectory, hindering its ability to recruit and retain trained professionals for various roles.

$10-billion sector

The UAE’s hospitality market is estimated to rise at 6.9 per cent per annum to reach $10 billion in 2028 as compared to $7.1 billion in 2023, mainly attributed to the country’s appeal to international tourists as a leisure and business hub, supported by a well-developed tourism infrastructure, it said.

The UAE has become a desired venue for business conferences and regional and international cultural exhibitions. As part of its tourism strategy, the UAE aims to receive about 40 million hotel guests annually and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP to $122.6 billion (Dh450 billion) by 20318, Alpen Capital said in its GCC Hospitality Industry report.

The study noted that multiple-entry visas for Indians and the MICE industry will boost UAE’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry.