The entire Middle Eastern region is expected to display moderate to strong hiring (especially white collar) in the coming year, especially owing to its long-standing policy of diversification away from oil production. According to auditors and market observers PwC, Middle East and Africa (MEA) can expect an increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal flows in the coming year, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, retail and consumer sectors, leading to an increased demand for finance and accounting professionals in these markets. According to UAE’s Ministry of Labour, the UAE labour market is ‘heading towards attracting talent and expertise in specialised and technical professions’.