Talent Recruitment
The Future of Talent Acquisition in the Middle East
How can talent leaders hire at scale in the Middle East’s competitive market? Is tech-enabled recruiting the solution?
April 28, 2025
The Future of Hiring and Talent Acquisition at Scale in the Middle East: Tech-Driven Solutions
Large-scale projects across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf countries are attracting significant investment and driving transformation in tourism, technology, smart urban development, and AI infrastructure.
And behind every major development is a critical need for talent. From architects and engineers to data scientists, designers, executives and frontline workers, the region is competing globally to attract the best—and fast.
For talent acquisition leaders, the mission is clear: find, assess, and onboard thousands of skilled professionals, often under intense timelines. But high-volume recruiting isn't just about filling roles at speed; it’s about doing so efficiently and intelligently, without compromising on quality.
That’s where automation steps in.
What the Experts Say
In a recent conversation with Iktimal Daneshvar, Vice President, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) - MEA, she broke down the bottlenecks of high-volume hiring—and how organizations are solving them with tech.
“There are two key challenges,” she explained. “First is filling the top of the funnel—getting candidate details into the system. Second, and more time-consuming, is assessing those candidates against open requisitions.”
To tackle this, Korn Ferry works with clients to automate both ends of the process.
Chatbot technology plays a starring role. “We’re using chatbots to make it really easy for candidates to apply—whether they’re on their mobile or desktop,” Iktimal said. No long forms. No clunky portals. Just streamlined entry points.
Second, “Using Korn Ferry assessments, fully enabled by chatbot tech, we screen candidates against the behaviors, traits, and competencies needed for each role,” she shared. “So when recruiters log into their ATS, they’re already looking at candidates who’ve gone through a few vetting stages.”
This isn't about replacing humans—it's about giving recruiters more time to make smarter decisions, not sift through stacks of CVs.
Two Key Takeaways
- Automation doesn't mean impersonal. When done right, tools like chatbots can enhance the candidate experience—offering faster, smoother application journeys while collecting the right information up front.
- Tech enables better matching. By using behavior- and competency-based assessments early in the process, organizations can ensure quality is not lost in the rush of volume.
Tips for Talent Leaders Hiring at Scale
Here are practical tips to transform your high-volume recruiting strategy:
- Use mobile-first application systems. Meet candidates where they are—on their phones. Reduce friction at entry points.
- Deploy smart chatbots. Automate candidate intake and FAQs with conversational AI that guides applicants and gathers key data seamlessly.
- Pre-screen with behavioral assessments. Don’t just filter based on keywords or years of experience. Use AI to identify candidates who align with your culture and role expectations.
- Focus your recruiters on decision-making. Free up your team from repetitive tasks so they can build relationships and influence hiring outcomes.
- Monitor and refine. Regularly analyze where candidates drop off or get stuck, and keep improving the process to stay competitive.
The Bottom Line
The scale and speed of transformation in Saudi Arabia and the UAE demand a new playbook for talent acquisition. With thousands of roles to fill and global competition heating up, companies that embrace smart, tech-enabled recruiting will win the race—not just for people, but for progress.
Need help designing a high-volume long term talent acquisition strategy?
Connect with Korn Ferry to explore how RPO and automation can support your talent goals.
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