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Middle East Edition
23rd January 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

UAE launches ‘Emirati Work Bundle' platform

The UAE has introduced the Emirati Work Bundle, a digital platform designed to enhance employment services for citizens in the private sector. Khalil Khoori, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), said: "It covers the full process from the moment an Emirati citizen registers on the Nafis platform." The initiative aims to streamline procedures and reduce requirements for both citizens and employers. The platform integrates data from various authorities, ensuring efficient service delivery and supporting the UAE's Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme.
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WORKFORCE

UAE workforce surges by 12.4%

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has reported 12.4% growth in the local workforce for 2025, up from 10.9% in 2024. The private sector saw a 7.8% increase in company numbers. Young workers aged 18 to 35 made up 54.9% of the workforce. Women held 17.4% of leadership roles, with 45.8% of skilled female workers in the total female workforce. MoHRE noted a 377% rise in Emirati employment in the private sector since the launch of the Nafis programme, and highlighted the UAE's competitive labour market and commitment to attracting global talent.

Saudi Arabia aims to localise 340k jobs

Saudi Arabia plans to localise over 340,000 jobs for its citizens through a new phase of the “Nitaqat” programme. The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, aims to enhance labour market sustainability and support the Kingdom's Vision 2030 agenda. Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi said: “The experience of the previous stages has confirmed the ability of the Saudi citizen to succeed in various professions.” The programme mandates a 60% localisation rate for key roles, with a three-month grace period for compliance.

Oman targets 50,000 private sector jobs in 2026

In 2026, Oman plans to create 60,000 job opportunities, with 10,000 in the government sector and 33,000 in the private sector. The Ministry of Labour, through the 'Sahim' initiative, has already provided permanent contracts to many of the 74,000 job-seekers. Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour, emphasised the importance of balancing supply and demand in the labour market.
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HIRING

The great graduate job drought

Economic uncertainty and the arrival of artificial intelligence have brought a reduction in entry-level roles, with potentially disastrous consequences for young people, the Financial Times reports.
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TECHNOLOGY

Dimon warns of AI dangers

JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon has warned that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence could lead to civil unrest if not managed properly. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he emphasised the need for governments and businesses to support displaced workers. Dimon highlighted the potential job losses in sectors such as trucking due to automation, saying: "Should you do it all at once . . . No. You will have civil unrest." In contrast, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, argued that AI will create jobs, particularly in infrastructure and tradecraft, countering fears of mass unemployment.
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INVESTMENT

QIA and Goldman Sachs expand investment partnership

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Goldman Sachs have established a preliminary agreement aimed at boosting their partnership, with a target of $25bn in investments. Under the new memorandum, QIA will serve as an anchor investor in key strategies managed by Goldman Sachs, while the bank plans to enhance its presence in Doha. QIA chief executive Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi said the expanded partnership will grant it access to valuable investment opportunities in critical sectors including AI and fintech.
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INTERNATIONAL

EU's ‘Made in Europe’ law aims to boost industrial production

The European Commission will later this month propose new rules to ensure investment decisions prioritise local companies, and key foreign investments are subjected to strict conditions around sharing technologies, hiring local workers and establishing joint ventures with European companies. The proposal aims to strengthen the resilience of the EU's supply chains and safeguard the bloc's single market and industrial capacity. The proposed conditions in the draft Industrial Accelerator Act, which Bloomberg says upends a free-trade philosophy that has governed decades of policy, will also introduce strict new rules on public procurement processes, including requirements for a minimum percentage of European-origin content in purchased products.

M&S tech chief resigns months after costly cyber attack

Marks & Spencer chief technology officer Josie Smith is stepping down just 18 months into the role and nine months after a major cyber attack crippled the UK retailer’s online operations. The breach, carried out by hacking group Scattered Spider in April 2025, halted online sales for weeks and cost the company hundreds of millions of pounds. Smith, whose departure follows the exit of chief digital and technology officer Rachel Higham four months ago, will be succeeded by Darren Gibson, currently head of fashion, home, and beauty tech transformation. M&S also announced that chief product officer Krista Nordlund will leave in July to return to the US.

Lawyers are ‘endangered’ in Donald Trump’s America, international group warns

The Day of the Endangered Lawyer, an annual event every January 24 to raise awareness of risks to members of the profession, has chosen the US as its focus country for 2026. The group says the selection reflects serious concerns of escalating attacks against lawyers in 2025, including executive orders targeting law firms, harassment, political reprisals and discriminatory measures undermining the independence of the legal profession.

Hyundai's union opposes humanoid robot plans, citing job concerns

Hyundai Motor's labour union has issued a warning about the company's plan to deploy humanoid robots by 2028, saying such actions may lead to "employment shocks" and threaten job security for workers. In an internal letter, the union insisted that no robots should be introduced without a labour-management agreement, reflecting their concerns that automation could be used to cut costs at the expense of the workforce. While Hyundai's shares have risen following news of the robot initiative, the union maintains that the push for automation could harm the jobs of employees in South Korea, particularly as the company expands its production facilities in the US.
 
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