According to new data from Fractional, the largest collective of fractional executives in the UAE, nearly three-quarters (73%) of senior fractional executives who applied for jobs in another country chose the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
These applicants were almost three times more likely to choose Dubai or Abu Dhabi compared to any of the other 62 city centers of Fractional. Notably, none of the executives already working in the UAE applied for jobs elsewhere.
Fractional analyzed applications across its 64 city hubs between August 1 and October 13, 2026. The UAE ranked first every month, with at least 70% of applicants from other countries preferring Dubai or Abu Dhabi as their place of employment. Applicants from other countries are those who applied from a country different from where they wish to work.
These candidates are senior leaders; more than half of them have at least 15 years of experience in management positions, and more than a third have 20 years or more, which matches the profile of candidates already in the UAE.
Fractional's executives work part-time and integrate into the senior management of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that require a high level of expertise without the commitment of full-time employment. Applications were received for various roles, including Chief Operating Officers, CFOs, Marketing Directors, CEOs, CTOs, and HR Directors.
The system allows applications to be submitted through any of the 64 city hubs, including hubs in the applicant's home region. The system records the applicant's country of residence at the time of application. The analysis excludes UAE residents who traveled during the application period.
The data indicates that the UAE attracts a significantly larger share of international talent. More than a quarter (27%) of applicants to the Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs were outside the country, compared to 8% for all other Fractional hubs combined.
Rice Holdings, Managing Director of Fractional, noted: 'Highly qualified personnel continue to choose the UAE.' He added that executives are attracted by the lifestyle, ambition, growth pace, and the opportunity to work alongside like-minded individuals with international experience. He also emphasized that executives from abroad aim to work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while those already there find compelling reasons to stay.
Applications from non-residents came from 27 countries. Europe accounted for 36% of these, and South Asia for 24%. Approximately one-third (31%) of international applicants stated their intention to relocate to the UAE. Two-thirds (about 67%) reported that they would serve UAE businesses through regular visits, or instead of relocating their families.
Holdings linked this interest to the structure of the UAE economy. He stated: 'Since most businesses in the UAE are SMEs, we are seeing growing demand for fractional senior executives.' He continued that as these companies scale up, they require experienced leaders who have already solved the problems they face for the first time, but not necessarily on a permanent basis. Fractional provides them with this senior-level expertise with the flexibility to attract the right people at the right time.