People walk on Creek Harbour as the Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa, the world’s largest building (C) is seen in the background on February 5, 2025.
Fadel Senna | Afp | Getty Images
The Middle East could emerge as the major beneficiary of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for higher H-1B visa fees.
The Gulf region’s sustained push to become the next global artificial intelligence hub – which is drawing billions of dollars of investment from local sovereign wealth funds, global private equity and U.S. Big Tech – could see it outflank other geographies hoping to snap up foreign expertise caught up in the uncertainty.
Investors highlighted how governments are driving technology-focused national strategies – such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s National AI Strategy – and creating a business-friendly environment for tech firms with long-term golden visas for skilled professionals, reduced regulations and other incentives for entrepreneurs.
“Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, are offering comp packages among the highest in the world to capture top AI-talent from Silicon Valley,” said Francesco Filia, CEO of Fasanara Capital.
Filia said tech pros are drawn to the Middle East by a mix of top-tier compensation, a tax-friendly environment, and the opportunity to work on large-scale, innovative projects.
“The Gulf also offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle with high-quality infrastructure and access to everything Asia has to offer,” Filia told CNBC.
While details of White House plans to require companies to pay a $100,000 fee on H1-B applications remain unclear, the move is expected to intensify the global war for tech talent.
“Tech companies in the UAE find the flexibility of the labor market for hiring top foreign talent to be a key advantage,” Zachary Cefaratti, founder and executive group chairman of Dalma Capital, told CNBC.
“The impact of increasing foreign labor limitations in other countries only increases the UAE’s relative attractiveness as a talent hub” he added.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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The U.K. and Europe, whose tech sectors have a comparative lack of support and funding, could struggle to attract key expertise, while the often-hostile tone underpinning the public debate around immigration could put off prospective hires coming to the region.
“In the UAE, talented people are welcomed with open arms,” Simon Hopkins, CEO of Milltrust International Group, told CNBC. “The U.S. and the U.K. have both shot themselves in the foot with ill-considered immigration policies. The focus should be on eliminating illegal immigration — not driving away valuable contributors to economic success.”
Hopkins said mobility will prove a key driver of the global economy and will ultimately help shape its winners and losers.
Not just a stepping stone
“What sets the UAE apart is its ability to combine ambition with infrastructure, creating an environment where innovation moves quickly and gains real traction,” Amina Taher, CMO at digital financial platform Wio Bank, told CNBC.
The UAE, which struggled to retain talent outside of the oil and gas industry about 15 years ago, has since built a commercial and financial hub that it hopes will rival London and New York.
“Increasingly, top technology and fintech talent see the region not just as a stepping stone, but as a place to build, grow, and contribute meaningfully,” Taher said.
At the forefront of the UAE’s strategy are its visa options, ranging from options for creators, freelancers and self-employed workers to the coveted Golden Visa, a 10-year stamp that is not tied to an employer.
In April, Saudi Arabia unveiled a National Skills Platform aimed at strengthening its workforce training and development, as part of a wider strategy to address global shifts arising from AI and automation.
“Saudi Arabia’s futuristic NEOM city and the UAE’s AI-powered smart city projects offer unique, large-scale opportunities for tech pros,” Filia said. “Working on these state-of-the-art data centres being built will train a new generation to support AI-driven urban development, fintech, and logistics.”
Retaining top talent
While countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia could stand to benefit from uncertainly surrounding Trump’s new labor policies, not all talent will flock to the Gulf.
Michael Stull, managing director, ManpowerGroup UK, said there is not a significant pathway into citizenship in many of the Gulf states.
“You will still be considered to be on the edge, and not part of the country. So there’s a little insecurity that people feel there,” Stull told told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday.
Israel’s war against Hamas has brought Gulf states like Qatar directly into the crossfire, raising doubts over the stability and safety of the region for many looking to relocate. The UAE’s geography alone, across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, caused concerns this summer when Iran and Israel traded direct fire, reminding residents across the Gulf that the region still must contend with the stability of its neighbors.
