About Us
More Than a Decade of Placing the Right People, Not Just Available Ones
Robbert Murray & Associates was built on a simple idea: recruitment in Dubai works better when the people doing it actually understand the industries they’re hiring for. That’s still true today.
Our consultants come from the sectors they now recruit for — which means when we’re briefed on a refinery maintenance manager or a Head of Compliance for a bank, we’re not learning the job title for the first time. We know what “good” looks like in that seat, and we know which candidates in the market are quietly looking, even if their LinkedIn still says “Open to opportunities: No.”
We work across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider GCC, with particular depth in healthcare, oil and gas, banking and finance, construction, FMCG, and information technology. Whether it’s a single confidential executive hire or a full contract workforce for a project rollout, our approach stays the same: understand the business first, then go find the person who actually fits it.
Why Businesses Across the UAE Choose Robbert Murray
We’ve been placing people in this market since before “GCC hiring” was a category on anyone’s LinkedIn bio. Here’s what that actually looks like day-to-day:
- We reply to a new brief within one working day, not “sometime this week.”
- Every retained search comes with a replacement commitment — if a placement doesn’t work out inside the agreed period, we go back to market at no extra fee.
- You get one consultant who owns your account from brief to onboarding, not a rotating cast of recruiters who each know half
the story. - Shortlists for standard roles land within 15 working days; executive and C-suite searches typically run 30 days depending on seniority and confidentiality requirements.
- We work across healthcare, oil & gas, banking and finance, IT, construction, FMCG, shipping and aviation — with consultants who specialise in one or two of those sectors rather than trying to cover all of them equally.
Recruitment in Dubai: Common Questions
Fees typically range between 15% and 25% of the candidate’s first-year salary, depending on seniority and how specialised the role is. We work on a success basis for most searches, meaning there’s no fee unless we place someone. For executive search assignments, we’re happy to walk you through pricing before any commitment — get in touch and we’ll give you a straight answer, not a sales call.
A standard recruitment agency advertises your role and works through applicants who come to them. Executive search is different — it’s a proactive, research-led process where we identify and approach specific people who match your requirements, most of whom aren’t actively job-hunting at all. We use both approaches depending on the role: advertised recruitment for open-market positions, and confidential headhunting for senior or sensitive appointments.
It depends on the level. Mid-level and specialist roles usually see a shortlist within 15 working days. Executive and C-suite searches take longer by design, usually 30 days, because they involve market mapping, discreet outreach, and thorough reference checks before anyone gets in front of you.
Yes. While we’re based on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, we regularly place candidates across Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and the broader GCC. Many of our clients hire from Dubai as a regional base while building teams in multiple markets, and we support that with local market knowledge in each country.
Yes, alongside executive search and permanent recruitment, we run payroll outsourcing and contract/temporary staffing for businesses that need flexible workforce solutions, project-based teams, or support managing employees they can’t put on their own UAE payroll directly.
Our strongest sector depth is in healthcare, oil and gas, banking and finance, construction, FMCG, shipping, and IT, but our consultants also handle telecom, retail, and aviation searches regularly. If you’re unsure whether we cover your sector, ask us; we’ll tell you honestly if it’s not a strong fit rather than take the brief anyway.