Search Site

Trends banner

ADNOC Drilling secures $1.15bn contract

The contract for two jack-up rigs begins in the second quarter.

Etihad Q1 profit $187 million

This is a 30% YoY increase over Q1 2025.

Yalla Group Q1 revenue $83m

Net income rose to $36.4 million, a 17% YoY increase.

Qatar Airways annual profit $2bn

This was a record 28% jump in annual net profit.

Masdar issues $1bn bond

Its green bond program hits $2.75 billion.

Saudi construction sector employs 3 million workers

1 min read
  • The Gulf Cooperation Council countries have a high reliance on foreign labor. In 2020, foreign workers accounted for 60 percent of the total labor force.
  • GCC countries face high unemployment among nationals, shortage of skilled labor and a mismatch between the skills of nationals and the requirements of the labor market.

Dubai, UAE — The Gulf Cooperation Council countries have a high reliance on foreign labor. In 2020, foreign workers accounted for 60 percent of the total labor force in the GCC countries, mostly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. They face high unemployment among nationals, shortage of skilled labor and a mismatch between the skills of nationals and the requirements of the labor market. The governments are addressing labor market challenges by promoting vocational training and education for nationals, introducing quotas on foreign workers, facilitating the recruitment of skilled labor and encouraging female participation in the labor market. Here is the distribution of the labor force across five major sectors in the GCC countries: