Indian tech professionals are moving to the UAE in large numbers, attracted by the Golden Visa program and better living conditions. This trend is likely to continue and even grow, according to travel industry experts.
Business travel between India and the UAE has surged recently, largely due to this migration of tech talent. Frequent trade meetings and industry events in Dubai and other parts of the UAE are also driving this increase.
Atish Thapa, the head of Cleartrip in the Middle East, said, “The UAE’s favorable visa policies and initiatives in digital currency have led to many executives traveling to the UAE for job interviews and exploratory visits.”
Recruiters in both India and the UAE have observed a significant rise in professionals moving to the UAE. A. Ramachandran, CEO of MyRCloud, noted a 30-40% increase in tech hires for UAE-based firms, especially in fintech, healthtech, and edtech sectors.
Shaan Abdul Rahman, COO of THC, confirmed this surge, stating that more applicants from India are being processed for IT and software jobs in the UAE.
Major events like GITEX and Gulfood, held on a larger scale this year, have also brought many Indian business executives to the UAE. The easing of pandemic travel restrictions has further boosted air travel and airfares between the two countries.
Cleartrip data shows a 136% increase in UAE-India flights from January to June this year compared to the same period in 2021. The festive season saw another 43% rise in air traffic, leading to airlines increasing seat capacities and a subsequent drop in airfares on the India-Gulf routes.
