By country
Layoffs in the United Arab Emirates
8 sourced layoff rounds at 7 companies in the United Arab Emirates between May 2022 and Mar 2026: 2,748 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
7
With a sourced round
Rounds
8
May 2022 → Mar 2026
Every round, newest first
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Search every company in the directory, or read how we choose and check events in the methodology.