UAE jobs: Hiring in non-oil sector rises in July despite higher costs

The UAE's non-oil private sector saw a significant rebound in July 2026, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showing the fastest improvement in four months. Despite rising input costs, firms are aggressively hiring to meet a surge in new orders. This economic health indicates a robust environment for industrial expansion and a subsequent increase in the procurement of capital equipment and operational technology.

With business activity rising, procurement departments should prepare for increased competition for high-demand machinery and industrial supplies. The surge in hiring suggests that companies are scaling up operations, which typically precedes investments in automation, plant machinery, and warehouse equipment to maintain productivity amid rising labor and material costs.