Tax policy, world-class infrastructure, and a bold push for AI are likely the first things that come to mind when most people think about the UAE’s tech scene. This makes the country an attractive prospect for multinationals, such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft, to name just a few.

But these big giants are only one thread in the UAE’s tech tapestry. The startup scene is thriving too, with thousands of firms innovating in fintech, travel tech, and proptech in particular, racing to scale. And as ambitions rise, so does the pressure to build top talent.

Dubai now hosts more than 800 AI companies—mostly startups—according to the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence. But despite an “abundance” of tech workers, a talent report by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Fragomen shows most lack the skills needed for specialized AI roles, forcing employers to recruit talent from beyond the Middle East.

In a country with a large, multicultural expat workforce, startups, both big and small, are now expanding their efforts to attract specialized talent from around the globe, not just in AI.

“Our recruitment has been global, including Europe, the US, and Asia,” says Akeed Azmi, co-founder & CEO, Cercli.“Our team includes engineers and operators from Google, Meta, Deel, Rippling, Goldman Sachs, and Booking.com.”

Huspy, the Dubai-based proptech firm, is also rapidly expanding its global talent pool. “In recent months, we’ve hosted highly successful recruitment webinars and roadshows in Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Turkey, and Lebanon—all drawing exceptional turnout and strong conversion,” says Mark Castley, CEO of Real Estate at Huspy.

“This momentum is bringing a new wave of agents to Dubai this year, adding fresh perspectives and global experience to the team.”

He adds that beyond real estate, much of Huspy’s team has leaders joining from major tech companies including Uber, Revolut, Klarna, and Microsoft.

Sergey Panov, CEO and co-founder of Oncount, a licensed accounting startup, says that many of his team members were hired from abroad. “Some work remotely, while others have relocated and joined us in the office from different regions and companies.”

Similarly, across the Nuwa Capital portfolio, companies are tapping international talent to build out their product, engineering, data, and growth teams. “Several have hired specialists from companies like Google, Amazon, Uber, Revolut, and Booking.com, then complemented that with local commercial talent,” says Sarah Abu Risheh, Partner at Nuwa Capital. 

“Remote-first setups followed by selective relocation have become common, helping founders close capability gaps far more quickly,” she adds.

Additionally, Visarun.ai, a next-generation visa-as-a-service platform, has recruited top-tier experts in AI, product, and growth from around the globe. 

A STRATEGIC PRIORITY

It turns out that hiring global talent not only supplies them with skill sets they didn’t have, but it’s also faster than building tech capabilities in-house. They bring practical knowledge of implementation. They are aware of the challenges to expect and know how to pitch projects to clients effectively.

It’s a strategic move. 

“Diverse talent drives innovation and helps startups scale faster,” says Azim. “Engineers from different backgrounds solve problems differently and build better products. Our global team helps us understand diverse markets and customer needs across over 50 countries.”

He adds, “Access to global talent pools while building here in the UAE has been critical to our company’s scaling and 10x revenue growth over the past 12 months.”

Founders increasingly recognize that scaling worldwide isn’t just about markets—it’s about building teams that think and operate globally.

“Diversity materially improves performance,” says Abu Risheh. “Mixed teams identify risks earlier, build more universal products, and expand faster across markets.”

She adds: “We see clear impact in our own portfolio: companies that hired senior engineering or product leaders from Europe or Southeast Asia typically ship faster, raise follow-on capital more efficiently, and professionalize internal processes sooner.”

Apart from innovation, for visarun.ai, founder Alena Iakina says a diverse team helps the company understand the nuanced needs of global customers. “For any startup aiming to scale internationally, a diverse talent pool is the ultimate competitive advantage.”’

In the same vein, Gary Sheynkman, Partner at Further Ventures, which also actively recruits from abroad, adds that talent demand is fueled by sheer momentum. “The UAE is a growing market—both domestically and as a hub for international finance. Companies here, or serving this market, constantly need to expand their talent base.

It also works both ways. For the high-skilled talent, particularly in science, research, and technology, the UAE offers some of the world’s most competitive compensation packages. They are drawn to a powerful combination of high pay, a tax-friendly environment, and the opportunity to work on ambitious, cutting-edge projects.

A BLUEPRINT FOR THE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM

Experts say the influx of global talent in the UAE is also expected to gain impetus, with US President Donald Trump’s plan to raise H-1B visa fees. The UAE’s drive to become a global AI hub — backed by billions from sovereign wealth funds, private equity, and major tech firms — positions it to attract foreign experts who might reconsider the US amid uncertainty.

“As global talent reassesses the cost–benefit of moving to the US, the UAE stands out as one of the most compelling alternatives, offering a streamlined immigration system, competitive incentives, and a rapidly growing innovation ecosystem. The result is a noticeable shift in talent interest toward the UAE,” says Castley.

The government is driving a technology-focused national strategy—such as the UAE’s National AI Strategy—and creating a business-friendly environment for tech firms, offering long-term golden visas for skilled professionals, reduced regulations, and other incentives for entrepreneurs.

Collectively, these efforts are turning the UAE into a model for the global startup ecosystem. With ambitions to rival London and New York as a commercial and financial hub, the country is drawing top tech talent who now see it not as a waypoint, but as a place to scale their futures.

“Talent always follows opportunity, and skilled professionals don’t relocate unless the environment is dynamic, well-funded, and future-focused,” says Castley, adding that the influx of global talent is a direct validation of the UAE’s startup-friendly policies.

Stanislav Semenov, founder & CEO of Eqvilent, says the UAE has stripped out nearly all friction: you can relocate, register, and start operating within days. “Safety, infrastructure, and no personal tax make it easy to move, but what really matters is speed. The time zone sits perfectly between Europe and Asia, so global teams stay in sync.”

Semenov adds that predictable rules and fast setup mean capital meets operators—not paperwork. “That combination creates real throughput. For us, the UAE is an execution hub: we can hire, test, and iterate faster than almost anywhere else. That pace compounds into an edge.”

According to Iakina, the UAE is now setting the standard for a modern, agile, and future-ready ecosystem. “It shows that with the right regulatory support and infrastructure, a nation can rapidly become a global innovation hub—attracting the brightest minds to solve global challenges.”

While the setup process is fast and straightforward, allowing entrepreneurs to launch quickly and start testing ideas, the real differentiator is the government’s active support for entrepreneurship. 

“There’s even a dedicated Department of Innovation where founders can pitch their ideas and potentially secure funding or sponsorship,” Panov adds.

For three years running, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor has ranked the UAE as the world’s best place to launch a business. 

With business-friendly policies, deep access to capital, world-class infrastructure, and a truly multicultural environment, Azim says the country has assembled the ingredients entrepreneurs everywhere are chasing. “Talent follows opportunity, and the UAE is creating real opportunities. When engineers from global tech giants like Meta and Google want to move here to build, it is a clear signal the ecosystem is mature and attractive.” 

While the UAE has engineered a founder-centric model built on speed, regulatory clarity, and targeted support—an operating environment many say doesn’t exist anywhere else—the global talent race isn’t won by the highest bidder. It’s won by those offering purpose, growth, and real flexibility. As UAE startups scale globally, experts say their real edge will hinge on how well they retain top-tier talent.

“Recruit for varied skills and backgrounds, set fair compensation structures, support relocations properly, and build a culture where people stay and compound their impact,” says Abu Risheh.