By country
Layoffs in the United Arab Emirates
16 sourced layoff rounds at 13 companies in the United Arab Emirates between May 2022 and Aug 2026: 3,366 people in the rounds where a number was given. Each one links to the article or filing it came from. The list covers what we have been able to source, not every cut in the country.
People affected
3K
Where a number was given
Companies
13
With a sourced round
Rounds
16
May 2022 → Aug 2026
Every round, newest first
- DP World−300
The Dubai ports and logistics group reorganised its European divisions, with some staff moved to other roles and others made redundant.
About the figure: 300 roles affected across European operations; the number of actual redundancies was not disclosed.
Logistics & Shipping · Source: WorldCargo News
- Careemnumber not given
The Dubai super app cut jobs across several markets including Pakistan and closed its Berlin office as part of a global restructuring.
About the figure: Reported from posts by affected staff; Careem had not publicly confirmed the cuts or given a number.
Transportation & Delivery · Source: Pakistan Observer
- Noonnumber not given(50% of workforce)
The founder of the Dubai e-commerce platform said AI agents now handling interviews and operational work would let Noon halve its staff within three months.
About the figure: Stated by founder Mohamed Alabbar at a conference; Noon did not announce a formal restructuring or headcount figure.
E-commerce · Source: The National
- Atlantis Dubai−600
Operator of Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal cut headcount after hotel occupancy fell at the start of the Iran war.
About the figure: Disclosed by management in September 2026; the month of the cut is approximate (early in the war).
Hospitality & Leisure · Source: AGBI
- Petrofac (UAE)−180
The oil services contractor laid off Sharjah staff tied to a cancelled offshore wind grid contract while its holding company was in UK administration.
About the figure: Staff quoted put the number at 190 to 200; earlier rounds also hit India and Malaysia.
Energy & Utilities · Source: Gulf News
- PwC (Middle East)−1,500
PwC cut staff and about 60 partners in the Gulf after the Saudi Public Investment Fund barred it from new advisory contracts.
About the figure: Secondary report of a Financial Times story; cuts were made over several months from February 2025.
Professional Services · Source: HRKatha
The US funded Arabic news channel dismissed its whole Dubai regional headquarters staff after the Trump administration cut its funding.
About the figure: Part of wider cuts at the US government funded Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
Media & Streaming · Source: Al-Monitor
- Noonnumber not given(10% of workforce)
Dubai based online retailer founded by Mohamed Alabbar cut marketing, advertising and other roles to lower costs.
E-commerce · Source: AGBI
- Majid Al Futtaim−105
Dubai mall and retail group cut holding company and leisure division roles under a new chief executive.
Retail & Corporate · Source: AGBI
- Bybitnumber not given(30% of workforce)
The exchange announced a second round of cuts across the company as the crypto bear market deepened.
Crypto · Source: Decrypt
- Swvlnumber not given(50% of workforce)
Swvl halved its remaining workforce in a second round six months after cutting 32 percent.
Transportation & Delivery · Source: TechCrunch
- Kitopi−93
Dubai cloud kitchen unicorn cut about a tenth of its head office staff as diners returned to restaurants and tech funding slowed.
About the figure: Reported by people familiar with the matter via Arabian Business; under 2 percent of the total workforce of over 5,000.
Consumer Goods & Food · Source: Wamda
- Anghami−39(22% of workforce)
The Abu Dhabi music streaming service cut full-time headcount alongside cloud spending to improve profitability after its US listing.
Media & Streaming · Source: Billboard
- Vezeeta−50(10% of workforce)
Egypt born, Dubai based healthtech startup cut about a tenth of its roughly 500 staff amid the venture funding slowdown.
About the figure: Company gave no number; up to 50 is based on posts by affected employees.
Consumer Tech · Source: TechCrunch
- Bybitnumber not given(30% of workforce)
The Dubai based crypto exchange began cutting roles to merge overlapping functions as the crypto market slumped.
About the figure: The 30% figure came from unnamed sources; the company confirmed cuts but not their size.
Crypto · Source: CoinDesk
- Swvl−400(32% of workforce)
Dubai based mass transit startup announced a 32 percent headcount cut two months after listing on Nasdaq through a SPAC.
About the figure: The 400 figure is an approximation reported by TechCrunch.
Transportation & Delivery · Source: TechCrunch
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