The regional reading
GCC hiring increased 2% in the third quarter of 2026 after falling 3% in the previous quarter, according to Cooper Fitch’s Gulf Employment Index as reported by MUFG Research on 26 October. The UAE recorded 4% growth, following a 4% decline in the second quarter.
The figures describe the index’s reported change in hiring activity. They are not an unemployment rate, a count of all jobs created, or evidence that every employer expanded its workforce.
A mixed country and sector picture
Saudi Arabia and Oman registered increases of 1.5% and 0.5%, respectively. Qatar fell 1%, while Kuwait and Bahrain each recorded declines of 2%, according to the research note.
Energy hiring rose 7%, while strategy and senior finance positions each increased 6%. Banking and investment management hiring declined 4% and 5%, respectively. The regional headline therefore conceals meaningful differences between markets and roles.
What the index can support
MUFG describes a gradual but uneven recovery. For employers, the useful signal is the variation across countries and functions rather than a claim of uniform regional expansion. This summary relies on MUFG’s account of Cooper Fitch’s index; it does not independently verify the underlying survey sample or methodology. A company’s own recruitment pipeline and local employment data remain separate evidence.
Source
Original summary based on MUFG Research, citing Cooper Fitch Gulf Employment Index: source report. This is attributed secondary reporting, not an interview or on-site report by Middle East Icons. Announced plans, estimates and targets are not completed outcomes. Figures reflect the dated source, not live market data.
