Employee Experience in UAE

The Global Employee Experience Report allows you to access workplace culture, employee engagement, employee happiness, and employee wellness in UAE. These four main indexes compose the overall Employee Experience Score that sets the ground rules for the future of work.

Bases of Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is generally high in the UAE. One of the biggest reasons for this high rate is the importance given to working environments. Work environments in the UAE are not just seen as business areas. Having a separate work environment for each employee, creating different spaces and hobby areas where employees can spend time together are the elements that enrich the work environment and internal communication. In this way, while the interaction between employees increases, teams voluntarily spend more time together in their favorite work environments.

Employees are more demanding in their career progression and would like to have more responsibilities. With the higher engagement levels, creativity and productivity of the employees are also rises.

UAE is a country with a large number of people from different nationalities. Diversity in companies is therefore high. Work-life balance is highly valued in the UAE. Employees are entitled to 30 days of leave in a year. Even before the pandemic period, the government started flexible working hours and passed two laws.

If you work for a corporate company, the company may give you a household budget in addition to the salary you receive to provide for your vital activities. Companies usually set this household budget at an average of 60,000 dirhams per year and have expense policies that are dedicated to employee wellbeing.

Internal Communication and Employee Feedback Structure

There is a lot of diversity in UAE companies. People from different nationalities can work in the same company. That's why it's critical to lead teamwork. Leaders need to know the working styles of other nations and act accordingly. For example, Europeans take a structured approach; Israelis prefer an independent working style; Indians prefer a strong leadership approach. However, the UAE has different priorities. Loyalty and kindship are important within the company. There is a trust-based bond between managers and employees in the workplace. The understanding of teamwork is a little different compared to other nationalities. Teamwork means working together for UAE and helping each other in every way when necessary. The culture is collectivist; everyone works for company goals.

Companies are generally in a vertical hierarchical structure. Authority and responsibility are rarely delegated; even the most minor decisions are made by higher positions who are collectively selected by voting. Considering the large family structure of UAE companies, we can say that audit is quite common, but employee feedback is not so commonly used. Feedback is given occasionally and but with great care. Sharing feedback is a sensitive issue; it is vital to protect the reputation and treat each other respectfully when giving feedback.

Pillars of Workplace Culture

Expect the unexpected 

Make appointments at least a couple of weeks in advance and confirm them a day or two beforehand. Last-minute changes are not uncommon as priorities move. Also, remember that meetings can become lengthy.

Accept hospitality 

It may be considered discourteous to refuse food or drink when offered. At meetings, Western-style tea or coffee may be served, or alternatively a sweet, milk-free tea or a light Arabic coffee flavored with cardamom. 

Observe gender etiquette 

Besides the etiquette over handshakes with the opposite sex, be aware of casual personal contact too. Maintain eye contact with people of the same sex – but remember that men should not make prolonged eye contact with women or compliment them on their appearance.

Learning & Development of Future Talents

Literacy rates for both genders are close to 95 percent. Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate: 2008-2012, male 93.6%  Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate: 2008-2012, female 97%. Upper Secondary Graduation Rate: 96.7.

Performance & Productivity GDP per Hour Worked: N/A

Part-time Employment Rate: 2,64 %

Average Wages: 6800 USD

Employee Turnover Rate: 8% 

Minimum Wages: 2250 USD

Unemployment Rate: Total 2,35%