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Men Receive More Monetary Benefits, Women Report Better Work-life Balance

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Bayt.com

Reveals a Bayt.com and Markelytics Solutions MENA Study

Study unveils a higher tendency amongst men to switch jobs than women with both genders expecting increased salaries by 20% in 2025.

Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading job site, and Markelytics Solutions have collaborated on a new research and unveiled the results of their first study together, named the Salary Survey in the MENA region. The initiative delves into core aspects of employee satisfaction, including compensation, work-life balance, job security, and professional growth. Drawing on responses from over 1,200 employed individuals across the GCC, North Africa, and the Levant, the research identifies opportunities for employers to enhance compensation structures, retain talent, and better understand the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

The survey highlights notable patterns in job mobility among MENA professionals. Men exhibit a higher tendency to switch jobs compared to women (65% vs. 50%), often driven by the pursuit of better compensation or career progression. Younger respondents (18–25) display particularly high turnover rates with over 40% having a tendency to switch jobs with many having held three or more roles early in their careers. In contrast, employees aged 36 and above often report having five or more past roles, reflecting career stability and growth. Additionally, 81% of respondents have spent no more than two years with their current employer, indicating widespread job transitions across the region. Regionally, employees in North Africa and the Levant tend to have longer tenures due to local workforce participation and union protections. In the GCC, which includes a large expatriate workforce, contractual limitations set by employers result in shorter tenures, as 48% of respondents have been with their current employer for only 1–2 years.

The survey also highlighted benefits of employees, ranging from monetary and work-life balance to professional development. The results revealed that 77% of respondents receive monetary benefits, such as bonuses or overtime pay, with men more likely to access these financial perks. Women, meanwhile, benefit more from policies supporting work-life balance. Healthcare coverage is most prevalent in GCC countries, where nearly half of employees receive medical insurance, while employees in the Levant receive the least healthcare coverage. In terms of benefits related to professional and personal development, opportunities are limited, with North Africa showing relatively better engagement in training programs. Flexible working hours are reported by 25% of respondents, but family-oriented benefits like educational allowances or travel support remain scarce.

The study also highlighted that employees (36+) report higher satisfaction levels regarding salary and overall work experience, compared to younger groups. However, dissatisfaction with compensation persists, with 28% of men and 38% of women describing themselves as “not at all satisfied” with their salaries. North Africa leads in satisfaction levels related to management and organizational culture, whereas GCC and Levant respondents cite stagnant wages and limited benefits as key concerns. Workplace proximity, strong leadership, and a reputable company name, significantly influence employee loyalty across all regions.

In terms of compensation trends, a majority of respondents (66%) did not receive raises in 2024, with 46% of women and 34% of men currently expecting salary increases of 20% or more in 2025. One in five plans to request a raise in 2025, reflecting elevated wage expectations. North Africa leads the region in 2024 salary increments, while the Levant shows minimal optimism for future raises, likely due to economic challenges. Employees in the GCC indicated benefits from employer-provided housing and allowances. In terms of earning dynamics, around three quarters of men who took part in the study claim to be sole earners, while only 31% of women participants claim to receive support from and rely on spouse or family income.

High job mobility remains a defining feature of the MENA workforce, with 59% of respondents planning to leave their current positions in the near future. Younger professionals (18–25) lead this trend, citing inadequate salaries, burnout, and limited recognition as primary motivators. Toxic workplace environments, including office politics and favoritism, further contribute to dissatisfaction. Overall, 87% of respondents report switching jobs at least once in the past year, emphasizing the urgent need for employers to address retention challenges.

Jasal Shah, CEO of Markelytics Solutions, commented: “These findings reflect the evolving priorities of a diverse workforce, where employees expect more than just competitive salaries; they also seek personal growth, stability, and supportive work cultures. The comprehensive study is a direct result of our new partnership with Bayt.com, which can enable organizations in the MENA region to make informed decisions that not only align with employee needs but also bolster long-term business success.”

Dina Tawfik, Vice President of Growth at Bayt.com, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Markelytics Solutions on this survey, which shines a spotlight on critical aspects of employee satisfaction in the MENA region. Through insights on compensation, benefits, and mobility, we aim to help employers optimize their people strategies and empower employees to find workplaces that truly meet their aspirations.”

The Salary Survey underscores several critical gaps within compensation, benefits, and career advancement structures, particularly for younger employees and women. By addressing these areas, organizations can more effectively engage their talent, reduce turnover, and build a resilient workforce. Conducted online in the month of December 2024, the survey included more than 1,200 employed respondents from GCC countries, North Africa, and the Levant. With 87.9% participation from GCC and North Africa, the data provides actionable insights to guide future workforce strategies.

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Emerging Trends Shaping Financial Empowerment and Inclusion in the UAE Workforce

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Emerging Trends Shaping Financial Empowerment and Inclusion in the UAE Workforce

By Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East

A portrait of Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East
Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East

One of the most critical issues faced by low-income employees across the UAE and the broader Gulf region is achieving true financial empowerment. In the UAE, over 60% of the workforce comprises low-income migrant workers earning less than AED 5,000 per month. These employees are the backbone of the nation’s key industries, yet many still struggle to access the benefits of a fully digital financial ecosystem.

While the UAE’s Wage Protection System (WPS) was introduced to safeguard workers’ rights—ensuring salaries are paid accurately, on time, and through traceable digital channels—the banking system’s minimum salary requirement prevents a large portion of the workforce from opening traditional accounts. This creates a structural gap that payroll solutions are designed to fill, enabling compliant salary payments and basic access to digital finance.

As the Middle East accelerates its digital transformation and workforce reforms, how workers are paid and supported financially has become as important as how they contribute to growth. This shift has put a renewed spotlight on the systems managing their wages and day-to-day financial needs. For low-income employees, these systems determine not just how they are paid, but how securely they live—affecting access to savings, remittances, and their ability to handle emergencies.

When Digital Pay Isn’t Enough

The introduction of the Wage Protection System marked a turning point in the UAE’s journey toward fair and transparent wage practices. Today, nearly all employees are paid through digital channels, ensuring salaries are disbursed accurately and on time. Yet despite these advances, a significant percentage of wages are still withdrawn in cash each month, showing that digital pay does not automatically translate into digital financial inclusion.

For many employees, limited digital literacy, mistrust of financial systems, and unfamiliarity with digital tools prevent them from engaging fully with the digital economy. As a result, the very system designed to protect and empower workers can feel more like a compliance obligation than an opportunity for empowerment.

This is where payroll providers play a critical role. Too often, the industry stops at compliance—ensuring wages are delivered digitally—without addressing the human factors that determine whether employees can truly benefit from financial technology. Empowerment comes not from the transfer itself, but from helping workers understand, trust, and use digital money confidently. Only then can payroll innovation translate into lasting financial well-being and equal access to economic opportunity across the UAE.

Digital salary management platforms have already transformed how employees receive and manage their earnings. Mobile apps and prepaid cards now give workers immediate access to their wages, allowing them to make purchases, send remittances, and track expenses in real time. Many solutions integrate seamlessly with the WPS, enabling even unbanked employees to participate in the digital economy for the first time. A recent study found that organizations implementing mobile-accessible payroll solutions report up to 25 percent higher employee satisfaction, underscoring the clear business value of digital inclusion.

Empowering Through Education

Financial literacy programs are equally critical in helping employees make informed decisions about saving, budgeting, credit, and long-term planning. In the UAE, less than 31 percent of the population demonstrates basic financial literacy, highlighting a major opportunity to empower workers through education.

From workshops to mobile-based learning tools, such programs can equip employees with the practical skills to use digital salary systems effectively, avoid debt traps, and build savings or plan remittances. Employers that distribute salary cards directly at worker accommodations and provide multilingual support during onboarding see much higher adoption rates, as these field-level activations build trust and make digital tools easier to use.

Employers who take financial education seriously often see a clear business impact. Companies that invest in onboarding sessions and field engagement consistently report higher digital adoption rates. These activations not only build trust but also transform digital payroll from a compliance task into a tangible employee benefit.

When workers understand and trust digital tools, they gain control over their finances—and that stability shows at work. Financial stress is one of the most common challenges among low-income employees, limiting their ability to manage urgent expenses and affecting productivity, retention, and overall well-being. In sectors such as construction, this stress can even impact concentration and safety, as employees distracted by financial worries are less able to perform at their best.

Partnerships between employers and fintechs like Edenred are expanding this approach, combining digital wage tools with financial education programs that improve confidence, satisfaction, and long-term well-being.

The Next Phase of Financial Empowerment

Employers remain central to driving inclusion. By choosing payroll partners that provide multilingual support, education, and easy mobile access, companies can reduce disputes, strengthen retention, and improve overall workforce stability.

A growing number of organizations are now exploring earned wage access programs, which allow employees to access a portion of their earned income before payday. Surveys show that most low-income workers value this flexibility to cover urgent expenses, medical bills, or family emergencies—without resorting to high-interest loans or informal borrowing. When paired with education and budgeting tools, earned wage access can provide not just relief in emergencies but also encourage more responsible money management.

This flexibility can increase employees’ sense of financial security, yet it should complement—not replace—broader financial literacy and planning initiatives. The most successful models combine accessible financial products, user education, and ongoing engagement, ensuring workers have both the tools and the confidence to manage their finances effectively.

As technology evolves, artificial intelligence and data analytics will make financial support more personalized and accessible. Predictive models can help employers identify employees under financial strain, while new digital products can guide users toward healthier financial behaviors. But technology alone will not close the gap.

Real progress will depend on collaboration between fintechs, employers, and regulators to build an ecosystem that blends technology, education, and empathy. Businesses increasingly recognize that supporting workers in their financial journeys fosters a more engaged and loyal workforce, directly impacting productivity and retention. Selecting payroll partners that combine compliance with education, multilingual support, and mobile accessibility helps companies reduce payroll disputes and improve satisfaction.

The trajectory of financial empowerment for low-income employees in the UAE is promising. The next stage will depend on how effectively stakeholders align innovation with understanding—ensuring every salary payment becomes an opportunity for inclusion and growth. When that happens, financial empowerment will move from aspiration to reality.

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MultiBank Group and Khabib Nurmagomedov Launch an Exclusive Worldwide Multi-Billion-Dollar Joint Venture to Build the World’s First Regulated Tokenized Sports Ecosystem

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Multibank Group, the financial derivatives institution, has entered into an exclusive worldwide multi-billion-dollar joint venture with global sports icon and undefeated UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) to create a first-of-its-kind regulated ecosystem connecting global finance, sports and technology.

The partnership will culminate in the creation of a multi-billion-dollar joint venture, MultiBank Khabib LLC, uniting two global powerhouses: MultiBank Group, a leader in regulated financial excellence, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, undefeated in the octagon and whose influence extends far beyond sport. The company will operate from MultiBank Group’s headquarters in Dubai, building a worldwide network of high-end sports ventures and real-world digital assets. This structure fulfills the vision of MultiBank Group Founder and Chairman, Naser Taher, for an exclusive global joint venture, granting MultiBank exclusive rights to develop and promote projects under the Khabib Nurmagomedov brand name, including the development of 30 state of the art Khabib gyms, Gameplan and Eagle FC brands.

The entire venture is backed by MultiBank Group’s regulated digital ecosystem and powered by its cornerstone $MBG Token being the driving force behind its expanding portfolio of real-world-asset (RWA) technologies and initiatives.

 Naser Taher, Founder and Chairman of MultiBank Group, stated: “From the UAE, we are shaping a new blueprint for the business of sport through the regulated tokenization of real-world sports assets (RWSA). Together with Khabib Nurmagomedov, and powered by our ecosystem token, $MBG, we are uniting finance and athletics into a single transparent, technology-driven ecosystem — one built on trust, innovation, and the strength of the MultiBank framework. This initiative proudly aligns with the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for digital asset innovation and world-class sports.

Khabib Nurmagomedov added: “This partnership with MultiBank Group is built on shared values of strength, respect, and discipline. Together with Multibank, we are building real global opportunities that go beyond sport, empowering athletes, and fans through a regulated and innovative digital ecosystem. This is only the beginning.”

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Edenred UAE strengthens market leadership with financially inclusive payroll solutions, C3Pay serving 2.5 million users

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Edenred, a leading digital platform for services and specific purpose payments and the undisputed market leader in salary processing and financial inclusion for the underbanked in the UAE, continues to reinforce its leading position in payroll card solutions, value-added financial services, and compliance-first innovation under the leadership of newly appointed Managing Director Claudio Di Zanni.

As the first company authorised by the Central Bank of the UAE to process WPS salaries, Edenred UAE has long positioned financial inclusion as the foundation of its offer in UAE — ensuring that access to financial services isn’t an added benefit, but a guaranteed outcome of getting paid. 

Trusted by both large enterprises and a growing base of SMEs, the backbone of the UAE economy, Edenred UAE now serves more than 15,000 corporate clients, 2.5 million cardholders, and partners with over 10 banks and 20 financial institutions. Demand has been strong in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and facility management—where reliability and seamless execution are critical.

Edenred UAE salary cards, C3Pay, powered by RAKBANK and part of the Mastercard network, can be used globally. A key driver of Edenred’s adoption success is its unmatched expertise in on-site training at worker accommodations, which helps large enterprises efficiently onboard thousands of employees. This ensures that workers understand how to activate their cards, utilise app features, and engage with key financial tools.

Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East, said: “Edenred UAE has set the benchmark for payroll and financial access in the region with digital innovative solutions, great ambitions and internationally committed teams. Our ambition now is to extend that lead by deepening trust with our clients, scaling services that matter to end users, and ensuring full compliance in a fast-evolving regulatory landscape. With unmatched reach, an expanding client base, and a proven model for financial inclusion, we are ready to shape the next phase of the region’s salary card ecosystem — developing its full potential and contributing to giving workers who were previously excluded from the financial system a secure, transparent, and dignified way to manage their money.

Edenred UAE remains the reference in payroll solutions, as it continues to scale high-impact services, deepen banking partnerships, and reinforce its role as the benchmark for secure, compliant, and ethical financial access in the UAE and beyond. With a sharpened focus on innovation and strengthened leadership, it is entering a new chapter of platform excellence as the backbone of financial access for the UAE’s workforce.

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