The surge is driven by large-scale infrastructure projects, a booming manufacturing sector and a rapidly expanding logistics industry.
According to the study, unlike in previous years when most migrant workers gravitated towards Dubai, Abu Dhabi offers significantly higher wages, with construction, manufacturing and transport paying 15-30% more than elsewhere in the UAE.
As a result, the demand for skilled tradespeople—electricians, plumbers, and technicians—has risen by 20-25%, as the emirate pushes ahead with industrial and urban expansion.
“For long, Dubai has been the focus of job seekers, but Abu Dhabi’s 25% rise in labour demand and higher wage offerings showcase its emergence as the UAE’s next major employment hub,” said Samuel Joy, founder of Huntr.
Abu Dhabi’s economic growth is fuelling this hiring spree. The emirate’s GDP grew by 4.5% in 2024, with the construction sector expanding 10% in the third quarter alone, contributing AED 26.7 billion to the economy.
Manufacturing output also saw steady gains, reaching AED 29.4 billion. Meanwhile, the logistics and transport sector is projected to grow at nearly 7% annually, driven by the region’s push to position itself as a global trade hub.
With an estimated 3.5 million, Indian workers, constituting nearly 40% of UAE’s population, are at the centre of this trend. Estimates suggest between 100,000 and 500,000 Indians are currently employed in Abu Dhabi’s construction sector alone.
