UAE heading for pay hike in 2012

There may be some good news for UAE employees as the New Year may usher in pay hikes, albeit in single digits.

According to Aon Hewitt, a human resource consulting and outsourcing solutions business of Aon Corporation, people working in the UAE are expected to get a 5.2 per cent pay hike in 2012.

Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are projecting the biggest growth at 5.9 per cent each.

But the pay hike, according to experts in the recruitment industry, may again vary a lot depending on the company and the industry. “Our opinion is that most companies will hold off on salary increases until the current macroeconomic uncertainty is alleviated. As such, we anticipate salary rates to hold steady in the near and medium term,” Cliff Single, Commercial Manager at BAC Middle East told 'Emirates24|7'.

Overall, salaries for employees in the Middle East are projected to see an increase of about 6.3 per cent next year. Salaries rise in the GCC will be muted than other countries in the Middle East, according to figures released by Aon Hewitt.

Across the broader Middle East, companies in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan and Lebanon anticipates the highest rises in 2012, with Egypt projecting salary increases of 10 per cent, nearly double the average of 5.4 per cent in the GCC.

Globally, companies in India and China are among the most optimistic, estimating increases of 12.8 per cent and 9.6 per cent respectively.

Figures at a glance

1. Egypt tops Middle East at 10.4 per cent
2. KSA & Kuwait lead the charge for the GCC at 5.9 per cent

Country and anticipated salary rise in 2012

1. Egypt - 10.4 per cent
2  Yemen - 8.3 per cent
3. Jordan - 6.3 per cent
4. Lebanon - 6.0 per cent
5. KSA - 5.9 per cent
6. Kuwait - 5.9 per cent
7. Qatar - 5.4 per cent
8. UAE - 5.2 per cent
9. Oman - 5.2 per cent
10. Bahrain - 4.8 per cent
 

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