“Will 2025 Be The Breakout Year For a CFA Career in The UAE?”
The trends and popularity of CFA certification have been increasing in the UAE for quite some time. Aspirants choose this certification to polish their skills and enhance their careers in accountancy. However, CFA demand in the UAE is increasing, but due to a lack of awareness about this academic pathway, aspirants often question their decision to pursue this certification.
Are you in the same boat, confused about whether or not to do the CFA in the UAE? This blog will provide you with all the clarification you need about the career demands and opportunities CFA brings forward.
Market Trends and Demand For CFA Charters in The UAE:
Ahead, you will gain comprehensive knowledge of all the essential market trends and CFA demand in the UAE.
UAE Financial Sector Expansion:
The financial sector of the UAE is getting stronger with each passing day, as the region is becoming a rapidly growing international finance hub, and the demand in the UAE is growing alongside.
Skilled and expert Accounting professionals are sought-after in the UAE’s job market, especially for roles in asset management, wealth management, compliance, family offices, etc. Major firms like UBS, Rothschild, and DIFC are actively seeking skilled CFA professionals for their offices operating in Dubai. In the past two years, around 46,000 candidates were employed by DIFC, which is about a 10% rise.
Regulatory and Compliance Roles in High Demand:
As the financial sector runs on sensitive data and monetary practices, regulations and compliance are mandatory in the UAE. In Dubai’s financial markets, the high-demand professional roles are in regulatory compliance, risk control, and governance. FSRA and DFSA hire skilled professionals in these areas daily, offering them an attractive job package. Therefore, it also increases the CFA demand in the UAE as they are well-trained in all the above-skilled areas.
Growth in Asset Management and UHNW Exposure:
Another reason for the high CFA demand in the UAE is that these charters are well-equipped with the skills to survive in roles like asset managers. The demand in this area in the financial sector of Dubai has expanded. Finance specialists from all around the world are relocating their careers to Dubai because of favorable tax laws, strategic geographical positioning, high-net-worth clients, etc.
CFA Recognition and Industry Preferences:
This certification is not only recognized in the UAE, but also the demand in the UAE is quite high in the financial sector. Employers sought after these candidates, especially for professional roles like investment banker, corporate finance, portfolio manager, as well as asset & wealth manager, etc.
Job Roles and Salary Expectations For CFAs:
The high CFA demand in the UAE indicates that the potential salary packages for these professionals must be attractive. However, it can highly depend on an individual’s expertise and skills; here is an overview of the expected salary offered to a CFA professional in the UAE based on their professional level.
- The professionals who are newbies and are at the entry level can make something around 120,000-200,000 (AED) in a year.
- Mid-level charters of CFA with prior professional exposure of around 3-4 years can make an estimated 200,000-400,000 (AED) annually.
- Whereas professionals who are at the senior level or are hired for the role of portfolio manager can get an offer for approximately 400,000-600,000 (AED) per year.
Common Professional Roles For CFAs in the UAE:
The top CFA job opportunities in the UAE are for the roles of:
- Portfolio Manager/ Wealth Manager,
- Advisory and Consulting roles,
- Risk and Compliance Officer,
- Research Analyst/ Investment Analyst,
- Finance Director or Chief Investment Officer,
- Venture Capital Analyst, etc.
Growing Sectors with CFA Demand in The UAE:
The CFA charters are more valued in certain sectors and industries in the UAE; some of them are listed below:
- Regulatory and Compliance
- Asset and Wealth Management
- Alternative Investments or Fintech & ESG.
CFA Demand in the UAE: An Outlook For 2025:
Here is a complete outlook for the demand for CFA in the UAE’s financial sector in 2025; go through it and decide if it is worth it or not.
- The wage in the financial sector is expected to grow by 4% in 2025.
- The bonus expectations are on the positive side
- Increased demand and good job opportunities are awaiting.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it is concluded that the CFA demand in the UAE is growing in the financial services sector as employers seek professionals who are masters in investment, portfolio, and asset management. Other than that, the potential salary packages are attractive with bonuses and the expectation of growth in salary. Looking at all these factors, it can be stated that indeed CFA can be the right choice to enhance your career in the UAE’s financial sector.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: In which city of the UAE is the demand for CFA charters the highest?
Ans: The leading countries with good CFA job opportunities in the UAE are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah & RAK.
Q2: Do I need to be fluent in Arabic to survive in the finance industry?
Ans: It is not necessary to be fluent in Arabic to survive in the UAE’s financial sector; however, it can be helpful if you aim to secure government roles, regional clients, or positions in family offices.
Q3: What are the CFA qualification benefits?
Ans: The top CFA qualification benefits in the UAE that can be helpful for your career are as follows:
- Beneficial in Career Advancement
- Enhanced Earning Potential
- Global Acknowledgement
- Professional Credibility
- Cost-Effectiveness in terms of academics, etc.
