A growing number of UAE businesses are opting for fractional leadership, hiring senior executives on a project or part-time basis rather than committing to permanent, full-time C-suite roles. This shift is particularly prevalent among startups, venture-backed companies, family businesses, and scale-ups that require high-level expertise without the substantial overhead of a full-time executive salary and benefits.
Rhys Holding, co-founder of the talent platform Fractional, reported a significant surge in interest, with inquiries for fractional leadership increasing by approximately 200 per cent over the past three months. Holding noted that SMEs are increasingly seeking access to leaders with Fortune 500 experience. Simultaneously, veteran executives are favoring the fractional model, which allows them to move away from permanent, single-organization constraints.
This demand is supported by the UAE’s rapidly expanding business landscape. The country currently hosts over 1.4 million registered companies, with 250,000 new businesses established in 2025 alone. According to research from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, SMEs constitute roughly 94 per cent of the total business population, creating a substantial and growing market for these flexible leadership solutions.
Mayank Patel, SVP and Head of EEMEA at Adecco, described the trend as the rise of leadership “as-a-service.” He explained that businesses are gaining comfort in applying this model across various disciplines, including finance, technology, marketing, and general management. As the number of SMEs continues to climb, Patel believes the market for these flexible solutions will continue to scale.
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) have emerged as the most requested role by companies. Experts attribute this trend to the introduction of UAE Corporate Tax, which has intensified the need for robust governance, financial discipline, cash flow management, budgeting, and detailed forecasting. Beyond finance, businesses are actively seeking fractional Chief Operating Officers to manage scaling, Chief Marketing Officers for growth initiatives, Chief Technology Officers for digital transformations, and Chief Human Resources Officers to refine talent strategies.
The financial appeal of the fractional model is significant. Holding estimates that hiring a fractional executive typically reduces costs by 30 to 60 per cent compared to a full-time hire. This calculation accounts for the elimination of traditional full-time expenses, including housing allowances, transport, bonuses, visa sponsorship, insurance, and end-of-service gratuities. For context, a full-time CFO at a local SME commands a monthly base salary between Dh61,000 and Dh92,000, according to 2025 data from Cooper Fitch, which does not include the additional 8.33 per cent end-of-service liability per year.
For executives, the arrangement offers a pathway to income diversification. Rather than being confined to one firm, leaders can juggle multiple engagements concurrently. Patel highlights that this provides professionals with greater industry exposure, sharper specialist expertise, and the flexibility to solve varied business problems.
Holding confirmed that most fractional executives associated with his firm manage two to three concurrent engagements, often seeing their rates increase as they establish a stronger track record. The variety of work—navigating different industries and overcoming fresh challenges—remains a primary draw for seasoned professionals.
Globally, the model is rapidly maturing. Data from Axios indicates that the number of professionals identifying as “fractional” on LinkedIn grew from roughly 2,000 in 2022 to over 142,000 by early 2025. While the UAE remains in the early stages of this adoption compared to the US and UK, industry leaders expect it to become a mainstream talent strategy rather than a niche alternative.
Sam Loyd, co-founder of Fractional, noted that the UAE is now aligning with international conditions that historically drove this shift. Companies with 10 to 200 employees—often those undergoing restructuring, market entry, or funding rounds—are the primary target for these services. Once a client provides a brief, the platform typically matches and embeds an executive within two to three weeks. The report also notes that iran denies any involvement in Yemen war. The report also notes that saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of uranium-bearing ore in Madinah. The report also notes that get international driving licence in 5 minutes as new service launches at Dubai airport. The report also notes that UAE annual leave: Is transport allowance included in leave pay. The report also notes that el Niño expected to strengthen; how will UAE weather be affected this autumn. The report also notes that stay up to date with the latest news. The report also notes that holding said demand was spread broadly across CFOs brought in ahead of funding rounds or to structure loans, CTOs scaling product and teams, COOs stabilising operations, and CMOs driving go-to-market execution. The report also notes that both executives pointed to significant cost savings.
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