Latest news with #WashikaHaak-Saheem
05-05-2025
- Business
Dubai Customs Signs MoU with German University to Boost Logistics Training and AI Integration
Dubai Customs has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Dubai and Germany's Kühne Logistics University (KLU), aimed at advancing education, training, and research in logistics and artificial intelligence. The agreement was formalised at KLU's Hamburg campus by Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director-General of Dubai Customs; Professor Washika Haak-Saheem, Dean of the Dubai Business School; and Professor Andreas Kaplan, President of KLU. The MoU lays the groundwork for joint academic programmes, hands-on training, and research initiatives focused on logistics services, supply chain management, and AI applications in customs operations. It also supports the ongoing development of the Dubai Logistics Academy and Dubai Customs' scholarship programme. As part of the initiative, students from the scholarship programme have begun intensive training at KLU. Their experience includes academic coursework, practical training, and visits to leading German companies and the Port of Hamburg, where they explored advanced logistics technologies and AI-powered systems. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, highlighted the partnership as a strategic step toward building a future-ready workforce and integrating AI into public services. Dr. Busenad noted that the collaboration aligns with Dubai's goal of becoming a top global logistics hub and supports the broader national vision of 'We the UAE 2031.' University of Dubai President Dr. Issa Al Bastaki and KLU President Professor Kaplan both affirmed their commitment to delivering high-impact programmes that foster innovation and prepare students for the evolving demands of the global economy. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As expats flock to Dubai, living costs are surging. Salaries not so much.
A new survey suggests that Dubai's population growth is having a negative impact on expat salaries. As more expats compete for jobs, salaries are set to remain flat in 2025, Cooper Fitch found. But the recruitment agency said housing costs are up, which could shrink expats' disposable incomes. As expats continue to relocate to Dubai, the cost of living is rising but salaries are expected to stagnate, according to a new survey by Dubai-based recruitment agency Cooper Fitch. Cooper Fitch projects that salaries across the United Arab Emirates will flatline in 2025, with an average increase of 0%, despite expected GDP growth. Its UAE Salary Guide 2025, based on a survey of business leaders from over 1,000 organizations, also notes that some market analysts warn the country's expanding expat population could eventually drive average salaries down. Foreigners have long been drawn to Dubai by tax-free incomes, a luxury lifestyle, and a warm climate. Dubai's population has surged to about 3.85 million, with expats accounting for roughly 87%, according to government data. This marks a population increase of about 475,000 people from March 2020. The positive economic indicators, including inflows of foreign direct investment and rising GDP, may entice even more people to relocate to Dubai in the coming years. However, Cooper Fitch said that when it comes to salary increases, the significant population growth is "balancing the economic gains." Fiona Robson, the head of the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, told BI that the influx of expats is expanding the talent pool for job vacancies. As such, she said that salary stagnation "could be due to less of a need to offer premium salaries when there is already a good set of candidates to select from." Dubai remains a magnet for high-income earners, said Washika Haak-Saheem, the dean of Dubai Business School at the University of Dubai, in an email to BI. However, those who are less well-off may be increasingly feeling the pinch. Haak-Saheem said that for middle-income professionals "who are important to Dubai's dynamic economic growth, ensuring sustained salary growth remains an area of focus." Dubai is now the costliest city in the Middle East for expats, and 15th globally, according to Mercer's Cost of Living 2024 ranking. Housing is a major factor. In the 12 months leading up to December 2024, rents rose by an average of 16%, said CBRE's head of MENA research, Matthew Green, in an email to BI. "This has been driven by a rapidly rising population, with new supply failing to keep pace with demand," he said. And rents are forecast to rise even further in the coming quarters, Green added. "The disparity between escalating living costs and stagnant salaries poses financial challenges for many expatriates," Rizwan Tahir, professor of global management at the Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai, told BI. Flatlining salaries and rising rents may be the price of Dubai's expanding expat community. Even so, the city plans to keep growing. According to its urban development roadmap, Dubai aims to increase its population by an additional 5.8 million by 2040. Going forward, available salaries and rents could lead to a reduction in disposable income for some, but Trefor Murphy, CEO of Cooper Fitch, said that context is key when it comes to salaries in the UAE. "They're already at that very high level and it's tax-free," he said, adding: "People get paid really well." Do you have a story to share about life as an expat in the UAE? Contact this reporter at jzitser@ Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
