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*.
Recent market developments
▪️GenomaLab invests nearly US$10 million in Oman, creating up to 50 jobs. Read more here.
▪️Mubadala Bio and Eli Lilly announced a strategic collaboration to develop localised pharmaceutical packaging and logistics capabilities in Abu Dhabi. Read more here.
▪️MS Pharma and ADCAN Pharma join forces to expand pharmaceutical localisation in the UAE. Read more here.
1. Talent Availability
Biotechnology: A total of 89,204 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 42,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are Egypt, Algeria, UAE, Istanbul and Saudi Arabia. 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 174,969 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 41,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are Egypt, KSA, UAE, Turkey and Algeria. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️Medical Devices
▪️Sales Management
▪️Analytical Skills
▪️Product Management
▪️Marketing
Pharmaceuticals: A total of 466,314 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 129,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are Egypt, KSA, UAE, Turkey and Algeria. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️Pharmaceutics
▪️Pharmaceutical Sales
▪️Medical Sales
▪️Analytical Skills
▪️Marketing
2. Hiring Trends
Biotechnology: More than 8,200 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 170+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Research, Engineering, Sales, Operations and Marketing. Top hiring locations in the Biotechnology sector are:
▪️Saudi Arabia
▪️Istanbul
▪️United Arab Emirates
▪️Tunisia
▪️Egypt
Medical Devices: More than 16,000 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 350+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Sales, Engineering, Operations, Information Technology and Finance. Top hiring locations in the Medical Device sector are:
▪️Saudi Arabia
▪️Istanbul
▪️United Arab Emirates
▪️Egypt
▪️Qatar
Pharmaceuticals: More than 59,000 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 1,100+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Sales, Operations, Research, Marketing and Engineering. Top hiring locations in the Pharmaceutical sector are:
▪️Saudi Arabia
▪️Egypt
▪️United Arab Emirates
▪️Turkey
▪️Tunisia
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 for November 2026 and can change daily as profiles, roles and availability are updated. You can view our October report for comparison here.
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.