The Middle East’s life sciences sector continues to develop, with demand for specialist talent, evolving skills requirements and competition for experienced professionals shaping the market. Here’s a snapshot of the current hiring landscape across Biotech, Pharma and Medical Devices, based on LinkedIn Talent Insights*.
1. Talent Availability
Biotechnology: A total of 70,416 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 32,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are Egypt, UAE, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️ Biotechnology
▪️ Molecular Biology
▪️ Biochemistry
▪️ Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
▪️ Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Medical Devices: A total of 154,124 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 38,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are Egypt, KSA, UAE, Turkey and Jordan. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️Medical Devices
▪️Sales Management
▪️Analytical Skills
▪️Product Management
▪️Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals: A total of 396,971 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 120,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are Egypt, KSA, UAE, Turkey and Jordan. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️Pharmaceutics
▪️Pharmacy
▪️Pharmaceutical Sales
▪️Medical Sales
▪️Analytical Skills
2. Hiring Trends
Biotechnology: More than 6,800 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 160+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Research, Engineering, Sales, Operations and Healthcare Services. Top hiring locations in the Biotechnology sector are:
▪️Istanbul
▪️Saudi Arabia
▪️Egypt
▪️Cyprus
▪️United Arab Emirates
Medical Devices: More than 15,000 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 300+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Sales, Engineering, Operations, Information Technology and Healthcare Services. Top hiring locations in the Medical Device sector are:
▪️Saudi Arabia
▪️Istanbul
▪️Egypt
▪️United Arab Emirates
▪️Ankara
Pharmaceuticals: More than 54,000 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 800+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Sales, Operations, Research, Healthcare Services and Engineering. Top hiring locations in the Pharmaceutical sector are:
▪️Egypt
▪️Istanbul
▪️United Arab Emirates
▪️Saudi Arabia
▪️Ankara
So, what does this mean for employers and job seekers?
The data shows a Middle East life sciences market with significant talent availability, but continued movement and demand for specialist skills. For employers, knowing where talent is concentrated and which functions are most active can help shape a more targeted recruitment strategy. For job seekers, ongoing hiring activity across Pharma, Biotech and Medical Devices points to opportunities across a range of specialist and commercial functions.
*The figures in this article are based on LinkedIn Talent Insights and information professionals have listed on their profiles. They represent a snapshot of the market in August 2026 and can change daily as profiles, roles and availability are updated.
At Kinetic, we support organisations across the Middle East, UK, Turkey and Africa by connecting them with specialist professionals who can help deliver their business objectives. Looking to strengthen your team or understand the talent landscape in your market? Contact our specialist recruitment team to discuss your hiring requirements.