60% of UAE professionals say training quality decides whether they stay
This report captures insights from 3,382 professionals across the GCC, to reveal where current skilling approaches miss the mark, what drives GCC talent to learn (or leave), and how leaders can align L&D with national priorities like Vision 2071 to build resilient, future-ready teams.
Inside the report you’ll find
- Why training quality drives retention.
- The top five tech skills GCC talent wants most.
- The human-skills gap hurting leadership pipelines.
- What makes programmes culturally fluent and ROI-driven.
Top 5 findings from the field
- Training is now a retention strategy
Nearly 60% of UAE professionals say training quality influences whether they stay, yet 52% report they have not been trained in their priority skills. - Tech dominates attention, but human skills decide outcomes
Demand is strong for Data Analytics (79%), AI for Public-Sector (73%), Cloud Security (72%), Cyber-Security (69%), but one-third still feel under-prepared in conflict-management, decision-making and emotional-intelligence. - ‘Tailored-to-me’ beats ‘one-size-fits-all’
49% prefer role-specific programmes, 35% choose immersive hands-on workshops, and 41% are comfortable with hybrid delivery — clear proof that blended, context-aware formats are expected. - Context matters more than convenience
58% want trainers with GCC expertise, 50% favour Arabic/bilingual delivery, and 88% expect alignment with Vision 2071. - Learning breaks down at application
39% say previous programmes lacked GCC-specific real-world examples, while 24% ask for stronger follow-up and personalised feedback so lessons translate into day-to-day performance.
What top voices in this space have to say
“Training isn’t optional anymore. If an organisation won’t invest in me, why should I invest my time in them?”
— Senior Analyst, Abu Dhabi
“We’ve trained for technology adoption, but soft skills are what keep teams aligned and performing under pressure.”
— Senior HR Leader, Sharjah
“A standardised approach doesn’t account for our unique challenges. We need training that speaks to our sector, our teams, and our goals.”
— HR Manager, Dubai
