The Economy of Tomorrow: Reflections from the Economy Middle East Summit

The UAE’s Economic Strategy: Resilience, Talent and the Next Phase of Growth

I recently attended the Economy Middle East Summit, where it was a real privilege to hear the keynote by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism. The theme was The Economy of Tomorrow: The UAE Emerges Stronger, and the message coming from the stage was confident, clear and very much focused on the long term. Below are the takeaways that stood out most for me, particularly from a senior talent perspective.

The UAE’s Economic Scaffolding Remains a Standout Strength

While much of the world is navigating fragile fiscal positions, the UAE continues to operate from a position of real resilience. The Minister set out what he described as the country’s economic scaffolding, which includes:

• Sovereign wealth fund assets of roughly $2 trillion
• Sovereign credit ratings reaffirmed at AA by S&P and Aa1 by Moody’s
• Limited public debt compared with most advanced economies
• The policy flexibility to absorb regional shocks without disrupting long-term direction

This combination gives the UAE the ability to respond to regional tensions, energy market disruption and trade volatility, while still continuing to invest in long-term growth. In a fragmented global environment, that kind of stability is becoming one of the country’s most distinctive advantages.

A Long-Term Agenda That Refuses to Slow Down

What struck me most was the clarity around the long-term agenda. The Minister was emphatic that uncertainty is not a reason to slow down reform or pull back on ambition. If anything, it is precisely the moment to accelerate execution and direct capital into sectors that strengthen resilience.

The IMF currently forecasts UAE growth of 3.1% this year, rising to 5.3% by 2027. The recovery will not be linear across sectors, but it is expected to be real. Domestic demand has held up better than many expected, with much of the recent dip linked to tourism rather than weakness in consumer spending.

Talent Policy Is Now Economic Infrastructure

Talent is now economic infrastructure. That was the framing that resonated most for me, and it captures something important about how the UAE intends to compete over the next decade. What began as a model built around generous residency for exceptional individuals has matured into something far more strategic. The system is now being designed to respond to capability shortages in the sectors that will define the next phase of growth — AI and advanced industries, healthcare and life sciences, digital trade and logistics, sustainability and clean energy, and financial services and capital markets. The shift is significant. The UAE is no longer simply competing to attract individual talent. It is building the conditions for capability at scale.

Multinational Headquarters: Build From, Not Just Operate From

The Minister’s message to multinational companies was clear: the UAE is positioning itself as a place to build from, not simply operate from. The proposition is no longer primarily about tax or geography. It is about clarity, continuity, regulatory speed, and how responsive the policy environment is to the realities businesses face on the ground.

This is reshaping the senior hiring conversation across the region. Building a regional headquarters requires a deeper executive bench:

• Regional CEOs and Managing Directors
• Chief Communications Officers and Heads of Corporate Affairs
• Chief Sustainability Officers and ESG leaders
• General Counsel and Heads of Compliance
• Chief People Officers and Heads of Talent
• Investor Relations and Capital Markets specialists

These are the senior roles we are increasingly being asked to place across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as more global businesses commit to a genuine regional presence rather than a lighter-touch operation.

What This Means for Talent in the UAE: Reflections from a Headhunter

As someone embedded in executive search across the region, a few implications stand out. Demand for senior strategic talent will continue to outpace supply, particularly in AI, sustainability, healthcare and financial services, and international hiring will stay essential. The environment is also rewarding a different kind of leader — one who can build under pressure and navigate cross-jurisdictional complexity. Multinational appointments into the UAE are now substantive, board-shaping hires, and bilingual, regionally-experienced talent commands a real premium as Emiratisation evolves and Saudi competition intensifies. Compensation expectations have shifted accordingly. Senior packages here are now benchmarked against London, New York and Singapore.

Final Thoughts

The Minister closed his keynote with a line that has stayed with me since: the UAE was not built for good times only. It was built to perform in any conditions. The same, increasingly, is true of the senior leaders choosing to build careers here.

For those of us in talent, the next three to five years will shape which executives lead the UAE’s next phase of growth. Getting the right leadership in place will be central to whether the country’s ambitions are realised at the pace its strategy demands.

Whether you are hiring top talent or considering your next career move, our team would be delighted to support you.

Alice Weightman is CEO and Head of MENA for Hanson Search.

Hanson Search Group is a global talent consultancy providing executive search, recruitment and leadership advisory services. Built on more than twenty years of trusted relationships, we operate as a connected global platform of specialist practices with expert consultants embedded in key markets.