UAE and GCC Employees Prioritize Health Insurance and Flexibility Over Free Food Perks
A study reveals UAE and Gulf employees value health benefits and flexible work more than free food or lifestyle perks.
A recent study surveying over 3,000 employers and employees across the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reveals that practical workplace benefits like health insurance, wellbeing initiatives, and flexible working hours are more important to employees than traditional perks such as free food.
The research, conducted by NAVO, analyzed data from 2,000 employer sources—including job ads, career pages, and LinkedIn posts—alongside more than 1,000 employee reviews and discussions from platforms like Glassdoor, Indeed, Reddit, Blind, and Fishbowl. After filtering out duplicates and generic mentions, the final dataset included 1,121 references to workplace perks.
Health benefits topped the list with 124 mentions, followed closely by wellbeing initiatives at 122 and flexibility and remote work options at 111. Paid leave was the fourth most mentioned benefit with 101 references, while financial and retirement benefits and professional development opportunities received 90 and 75 mentions respectively.
Health and Wellbeing Lead Employee Priorities
When combining wellbeing with mental health benefits, the study found these categories generated the highest overall interest, with 179 mentions. Health benefits encompassed medical insurance, private medical coverage, and employer-funded healthcare, whereas wellbeing referred to broader wellness programs.
Flexibility and remote working options covered hybrid schedules, flexible hours, four-day workweeks, and work-from-home arrangements. Paid leave included annual, parental, sick leave, and other paid time off, highlighting the emphasis employees and employers place on work-life balance.
Employees Highlight Ergonomic Workstations
The study also identified a notable difference between employer-promoted perks and those frequently discussed by employees. Over 80 percent of mentions related to standing desks and ergonomic workstations came from employees rather than employers. These ergonomic amenities ranked eighth overall with 56 mentions, 45 of which originated from employees.
Similarly, generic desks and chairs were predominantly mentioned by employees. In contrast, benefits such as professional development, mental health support, and life and disability insurance were mostly promoted by employers.
Free Food Perks Least Mentioned
Despite the common use of free meals and snacks as recruitment incentives, these ranked lowest among the benefits analyzed, with only six total mentions. The report noted that low mention frequency does not necessarily indicate a lack of value; some benefits like health coverage and paid leave may be considered standard expectations rather than perks that employees actively discuss.
The employer data included a significant representation from the UAE and GCC, with 320 of the 2,000 employer sources originating from this region. NAVO emphasized that the findings reflect broad workplace trends rather than conclusions specific to any single country.