Dubai and Abu Dhabi Top Choice for 73% of Fractional Executives Applying Abroad

Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain the top destinations for senior executives seeking fractional roles abroad, with nearly three-quarters of cross-border applicants choosing the UAE, new data shows.

Fractional, the UAE’s largest collective of part-time C-suite leaders, analysed applications to its 64 city hubs between 1 August and 13 October 2026. The UAE ranked first in each month, with at least 70 per cent of applicants from outside the country selecting Dubai or Abu Dhabi as their preferred location.

Overall, 73 per cent of fractional executives who applied to work in another country chose the UAE. Applicants were almost three times as likely to pick Dubai or Abu Dhabi as any of Fractional’s other 62 hubs. None of the executives already based in the UAE applied to work elsewhere.

Wider talent pool from abroad

The data highlights the UAE’s reliance on international talent. More than a quarter — 27 per cent — of applicants to the Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs were based outside the country, compared with 8 per cent for all of Fractional’s other hubs combined.

Non-resident applications came from 27 countries. Europe accounted for 36 per cent and South Asia for 24 per cent. About a third — 31 per cent — of non-resident applicants said they would relocate to the UAE. Two-thirds — around 67 per cent — said they would serve UAE businesses through regular visits, before or instead of moving their households.

Experienced leaders seeking flexibility

The applicants are senior leaders. More than half had at least 15 years of executive experience and over a third had 20 years or more, in line with applicants already in the UAE. Roles included chief operating officers, chief financial officers, chief marketing officers, chief executives, chief technology officers and chief human resources officers.

Fractional executives are part-time leaders embedded in the C-suites of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that need senior expertise without the commitment of a full-time hire.

Lifestyle and growth cited as draws

“Senior talent is still choosing the UAE,” said Rhys Holding, managing director of Fractional. “Executives are drawn by the lifestyle, the ambition and pace of growth, and the opportunity to work alongside like-minded, internationally experienced talent. Senior executives abroad want to work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and those already here are finding compelling reasons to stay.”

Holding linked the interest to the structure of the UAE economy. “With most businesses in the UAE being SMEs, we’re seeing growing demand for fractional C-suite executives,” he said. “As these businesses scale, they need experienced leaders who have already solved the problems they’re facing for the first time, but not necessarily on a full-time basis. Fractional gives them that C-suite expertise, with the flexibility to bring in the right people at the right time.”