UAE jobs 2027: AI engineers, healthcare specialists and finance chiefs could earn up to Dh200,000 a month

The UAE job market is expected to see strong demand for specialist and leadership talent across artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, banking, finance, energy and technology in 2027, with monthly salaries for some senior positions reaching Dh200,000, according to Michael Page's UAE Salary Guide 2027.

The report identifies 18 sectors where employers are looking to recruit professionals with specialised technical expertise, commercial understanding and leadership capabilities. While AI and data-related roles are gaining prominence, demand is also rising for senior finance executives, healthcare specialists, transformation leaders, project directors and regulatory professionals.

The salary projections highlight how the UAE's evolving business landscape is creating opportunities for professionals who can combine industry knowledge with digital capabilities, strategic decision-making and the ability to lead organisational change.

AI and data specialists are among the most sought-after professionals as organisations accelerate investments in automation, machine learning and AI integration.

The five key roles identified include agentic AI engineers, applied AI engineers, data scientists, AI and machine-learning platform engineers, and AI product managers.

Employers are particularly looking for expertise in agentic AI and multi-agent systems, applied data science, machine learning, AI-assisted software development and production AI engineering.

According to the salary guide, agentic AI engineers can earn up to Dh70,000 a month, while agentic AI architects can command up to Dh75,000. Chief data officers are among the highest-paid professionals in this category, with monthly salaries reaching Dh120,000.

The demand signals a shift towards professionals who can move beyond developing AI applications to building, deploying and managing intelligent systems within business operations.

The banking and financial services sector is expected to seek private banking and wealth managers, private equity and corporate development executives, fundraising specialists, compliance officers and relationship managers.

Employers are prioritising financial product knowledge, relationship management, business development, regulatory compliance and financial modelling, alongside AI fluency.

Senior leadership positions in the sector carry substantial salary potential. Chief financial officers in investment and funds businesses can earn up to Dh200,000 monthly, while managing directors in investment banking can command up to Dh180,000.

Finance and accounting employers are also seeking tax directors, financial planning and analysis leaders, finance directors, treasury managers and financial controllers.

Healthcare and life sciences are among the sectors expected to recruit specialist talent, with employers seeking medical affairs professionals, regulatory and quality specialists, commercial leaders, specialist healthcare practitioners and operations executives.

Knowledge of the UAE's healthcare market and regulatory environment, stakeholder management, market access, pricing, reimbursement and compliance are among the capabilities employers are prioritising.

The salary guide places monthly earnings for consultant physicians at up to Dh100,000, while chief medical officers can earn up to Dh120,000. Laboratory and quality directors can command salaries of up to Dh70,000.

The demand reflects the importance of combining clinical expertise with healthcare operations, regulatory knowledge and commercial capabilities.

The energy sector is seeking renewable energy and energy transition directors, sustainability consultants, ESG specialists, project directors and operations leaders.

Employers are looking for professionals with experience in engineering and project management, asset management, renewables, digitalisation, AI, automation and process safety.

Energy-sector CEOs can earn up to Dh200,000 a month, while chief operating officers can command up to Dh100,000.

Consultancy and business transformation are also creating opportunities for senior professionals. Companies are looking for transformation managers, corporate strategy specialists, AI and digital transformation experts, organisational design professionals and change management leaders.

Partners in management consulting can earn up to Dh200,000 monthly, while directors can command up to Dh135,000.

In private legal practice, demand is centred on lawyers specialising in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, real estate, disputes and project finance. Law firm partners can earn up to Dh200,000 a month, while counsels can command up to Dh110,000.

The human resources function is also undergoing a shift as organisations place greater emphasis on workforce transformation, talent planning and HR technology.

The report identifies demand for multi-territory HR directors, talent acquisition specialists, people and culture professionals, HR transformation consultants and talent management leaders.

Employers are increasingly seeking expertise in AI and HR technology transformation, people analytics, workforce planning, skills intelligence, succession planning and strategic talent acquisition.

Vice-presidents of HR and chief human resources officers can earn up to Dh130,000 a month. Meanwhile, technology employers are looking for DevOps engineers, cybersecurity specialists, platform engineers, security managers and infrastructure leaders.

Cloud strategy, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, technology governance and digital transformation are among the most sought-after capabilities.

Chief information officers and chief technology officers can earn up to Dh150,000 monthly, while chief information security officers can command up to Dh120,000.

Engineering and manufacturing employers are looking for general managers, project directors, business excellence managers, operations managers and research and development leaders.

Expertise in operational excellence, lean manufacturing, automation, AI, supply chain management and large-scale manufacturing projects is increasingly important.

Project directors can earn up to Dh90,000 a month, while R&D and new product development directors can command up to Dh78,000.

Procurement and supply chain functions are also seeking procurement managers, supply chain leaders, logistics executives, strategic sourcing specialists and category managers.

The guide places salaries for chief procurement officers and chief supply chain officers at up to Dh150,000 monthly, while vice-presidents and executive directors of procurement can earn up to Dh120,000.

Property and construction employers are seeking design, development and project directors, commercial managers and facilities management professionals, with experience in project delivery, development management, feasibility studies and asset management.

Beyond specialist technical roles, the report highlights demand across digital, retail, sales and marketing, and business support functions.

Digital employers are seeking engineering managers, product managers, performance marketing specialists and digital leadership professionals, with an emphasis on AI integration, commercial product strategy, data-driven decision-making and user experience.

In B2B sales and marketing, regional sales managers, key account directors, marketing leaders and business development professionals are among the sought-after positions. Consumer-focused businesses are prioritising commercial directors, strategic account leaders, general managers and marketing directors.

The retail sector is placing importance on regional profit-and-loss ownership, pricing and profitability, customer acquisition, category expertise and the ability to adapt global brand strategies to local markets.

The report also identifies demand for office managers, executive assistants, administrative professionals and personal assistants. Bilingual capabilities, technology proficiency, knowledge of UAE labour laws and visa processes, and the ability to work across time zones are among the skills employers value.