Hiring trends

PwC data shows AI-skilled professionals command significant wage premiums as businesses compete for scarce digital expertise.

Even as employers grow more cautious on hiring, companies are strengthening AI governance frameworks to improve resilience and long-term performance.

In the Gulf region, tensions that escalated in February 2026 have not halted hiring activities; however, the process has become more protracted, selective, and contingent.

For job seekers and companies alike, the message is clear: success in this new era will belong to those who can pivot fast, embrace change, and stay in sync with a digital-first, AI-driven world