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Abu Dhabi is the capital and largest city of the United Arab Emirates, located on the Arabian Gulf. It is a modern, cosmopolitan city with a vibrant business and cultural scene, offering a wide range of attractions and activities to suit all tastes. From the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, to the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and a plethora of world-class museums, shopping malls, and restaurants, Abu Dhabi has something for everyone. Abu Dhabi is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Abu Dhabi are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Abu Dhabi you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.
The statistics on tech talent in Abu Dhabi show a robust and growing talent pool, with a diverse range of skillsets. Over a third of the talent pool consists of software engineers, with a strong presence of full-stack and back-end developers. Additionally, there are a large number of DevOps, AI/ML, and data science professionals in the area, as well as a growing segment of front-end developers. This wide range of tech talent makes Abu Dhabi an attractive destination for tech companies looking to establish a presence in the region.
The tech ecosystem in Abu Dhabi is rapidly growing and becoming more diverse and vibrant. The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) is driving the digital transformation of the Emirate and encouraging innovation. The government has invested heavily in creating a supportive environment for tech startups and established companies to operate in, with a range of incubators, accelerators, funding initiatives, and venture capital firms.The city is also home to a number of leading tech companies, such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Accenture, as well as local startups and entrepreneurs. The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has established a FinTech Regulatory Laboratory, which supports innovation in the financial sector.The Abu Dhabi Science Park is a hub for innovation, with a range of research centers, laboratories, and commercial businesses. The UAE Innovation Hub offers physical and virtual co-working spaces, and the Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Center offers mentoring and guidance for startups.The city also hosts a number of events, such as the annual Abu Dhabi Innovation Week, which highlights the region’s tech achievements, and the Tech & Innovation Summit, which brings together tech leaders from around the world.
1. Abu Dhabi Technology Meetup
2. Abu Dhabi Cloud Computing Meetup
3. Abu Dhabi Artificial Intelligence Meetup
4. Abu Dhabi Software Development Meetup
5. Abu Dhabi DevOps Meetup
6. Abu Dhabi Data Science Meetup
7. Abu Dhabi Mobile App Development Meetup
8. Abu Dhabi Cyber Security Meetup
9. Abu Dhabi Blockchain Meetup
10. Abu Dhabi IoT Meetup
1. Utilize professional networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to connect with potential developers in Abu Dhabi.
2. Contact local universities and ask if they have any upcoming graduates with software development skills.
3. Post job openings on local job boards and online freelance sites.
4. Reach out to local software development companies and ask if they have any open positions or if they can refer any developers.
5. Look for local Meetup groups where you can network with developers in the area.
6. Use a recruitment company to source software development talent in Abu Dhabi.
The best way to find developer talent in Abu Dhabi is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.
Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.
An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.
An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.
1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Glassdoor
4. Monster
5. Bayt
6. Jobzella
7. Naukrigulf
8. Jobs in Dubai
9. Gulf Talent
10. Dubizzle
If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.
1. Upwork
2. Fiverr
3. AngelList
4. Freelancer
5. LinkedIn
6. Toptal
7. 99designs
8. SimplyHired
9. Remote OK
10. WeWorkRemotely
When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.
The average salary for a junior developer in Abu Dhabi is about AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 per month. This salary range depends on the experience, qualifications, and skills of the individual developer. Junior developers typically have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field and some knowledge of programming languages and software development frameworks. They may also have knowledge in areas such as web development, mobile app development, and database management. Junior developers usually work on smaller projects and tasks, providing support to more experienced developers, and developing basic code and algorithms.
The average salary for a senior developer in Abu Dhabi is AED 11,831 per month. This figure includes base salary, bonuses, and other additional compensation. Senior developers in Abu Dhabi typically earn between AED 8,000 and AED 15,000 per month, depending on the size of the company, the developer’s experience, and other factors. Senior developers in Abu Dhabi may also receive additional benefits such as health insurance, housing allowance, and transportation allowance.
Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Abu Dhabi. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Abu Dhabi. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Abu Dhabi.
An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party service provider that helps companies hire and manage employees in a foreign country. If you are looking to hire employees in Abu Dhabi, an EOR can play an important role in helping you navigate the complexities of Abu Dhabi’s labor regulations.
An EOR helps employers by taking over the responsibility of managing the recruitment process, contract negotiation, payroll and tax administration, filing and submitting required documentation, and providing benefits and insurance. The EOR will also handle the termination process if required.
To use an EOR in Abu Dhabi, you must first register your business in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). You will then need to select an EOR that is registered in the ADGM. Once selected, the EOR will help you complete the registration process and provide support with the recruitment, onboarding, and management of your employees.
The EOR will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable labor laws and regulations in Abu Dhabi, including the Employment of Foreign Nationals Law and the Labour Law.
Using an EOR in Abu Dhabi can provide businesses with a cost-effective and streamlined approach to hiring and managing employees in a foreign country. It can also help businesses stay compliant with the applicable labor laws and regulations, as well as reduce the risk of penalties for non-compliance.
Across GitHub, Stack Overflow and LinkedIn, including emails
