the events industry salary survey - esp international3 about our respondents dubai 59% uk 72% dubai...

The Events Industry Salary Survey

brought to you by

Middle East

i n t e r na t i ona l e ven t rec ru i tmen t

Having run this survey in the UK for 14 years ESP Recruitment is delighted to bring you the 1st annual Events Industry Salary Survey for the Middle East.

In conjunction with SourceMe, the questionnaire was sent out to over 3,000 events professionals and the respondents represented a cross section of people from all sectors of the industry, throughout the GCC. We methodically analysed the data to provide the statistics and facts you will find in this document.

The results presented in the tables, charts and accompanying comments are widely used by employers and HR Managers to benchmark against industry standards, and employees seeking to verify that their salary conforms to market norms.

The salary survey includes:• Comprehensive salary comparisons across all levels of the events

industry• Detailed information about salary increases across the sector• Analysis on education, experience and earnings of expats and GCC

nationals• Compensation and benefits, and what motivates people in events• Commentary from industry experts on the findings and trends• Comparisons with the UK version of the survey

The information in this survey is an average across the Middle East of small, medium and large companies, so please take into consideration the size of company you work for and the location when comparing results. All salaries are quoted in UAE Dirhams.

We would like to thank all those who took the time to complete the confidential on-line questions from which a successful sample provided excellent figures and findings, and trust that you find this report informative.

About Our Respondents 3

All Work and No Play? 5

Why the Middle East? 6

Average Salaries 7

Do You Think You Are Being Paid What You’re Worth?

8

Benefits and Motivation 9

Moving On... 10

Industry Comparisons by Salary 11

Industry Comparisons: Agency Event Management and Production Companies

12

Industry Comparisons: Event/Exhibition Services and Exhibitions

13

Industry Comparisons: Commercial Conferences and Corporate In-House

14

Industry Comparisons: Not for Profit and Government

15

Industry Comparisons: Hotels and Venues

16

Middle East/UK Salary Comparisons 16

Across the Board 17

Index

3

About Our Respondents

Dubai 59%

UK 72%

Dubai 41%

UK 28%

Age Work location

9.5% 0.4% 0.4%

5.3%

77.1%

0.7%

4.6%

Abu Dhabi

Jordan

Lebanon

Qatar

Dubai

Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Male/female split

AVERAGE INCOME ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST EVENT

INDUSTRY

The high average salary is attributed to a legacy of pre-recession salaries when the region was considered a hardship posting, and the high level of seniority and educational qualifications of respondents.

73% of respondents are Manager/Team Leader level or above, hence the high average monthly income.

AVERAGE PAY RISE • 37%ineventsreceivedNOpayriseoverthe

last 12 months

• 34%receivedbetween1and6%

• 17%received10%orhigher

• AveragepayriseacrosstheMiddleEastasa whole is 5%* *haygroup.com

Over 75% of applicants are degree educated or above

This is a very high figure that could represent a link between education and ambition and a desire to work in new markets.

11%

57%

25%

5% 2%

25 or under

26 to 35

36 to 45

46 to 55

56+

Average number of years in events is 8.5 years - more experience leads to higher salaries

AED 18,204.60

The largest proportion of respondents work within SME’s with a turnover of over $1m.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Austra

lasia

Centra

l Asia

Easter

n Euro

peEgy

pt

Far E

ast

Iran

Jorda

n

Leba

non

Medite

rrane

an Euro

pe

Morocc

o

North A

merica

Qatar

Rest o

f Afric

a

Saudi

Arabia

South

Africa

South

America

Syria

United

Arab Emira

tes

United

Kingdo

m

4

Where are our respondents from?

The industry in the Middle East

is relatively young with 93.5% of our respondents being

under 45.

The majority of respondents were from Central Asia

and the UK.

Over77%ofrespondents work in

Dubai.

55% of self employed respondents work over 50 hours per

week, whereas only 30% of employed

respondents do the same amount of hours.

Onaverage,thehighest salaries in the region are in Qatar, at AED29,207 per

month, with Dubai at AED21,008 and Abu Dhabi at AED20,990.

Those working mainly on Business to Business events

earn the highest salaries on average at AED22,873 per

month.

5

Middle East/UK comparisons

It is good to see that most

people work a respectable

average of 40-50 hours a week,

but not surprising that a 3rd

work more than 50, and that

only a 3rd receive time off in lieu

in recognition of the extra hours

put in - this is very much part of

life in events.

The figures show that employees in the UK are better off than those working

in events in the Middle East in respect to working hours and reward.

Almost 60% of respondents

don’t receive overtime or time off

in lieu.

It seems that employers in the

region would prefer to offer days

off than pay overtime.

All Work and No Play?

Of all respondents

86% are

employed

10% are self

employed

4% are

between jobs

Average number of hours worked per week in the Middle East event industry

Average hours worked in the UK

2%

14%

51%

33%

Less than 3030 - 4040 - 50More than 50

2%

14%

51%

33%

Less than 3030 - 4040 - 50More than 50

Overtime payments Time off in lieu Both of these Neither

ME UK

2%

32%

9%

57%

4%

48%

6%

42%

44 48

Average number of hours worked per week within the UK events sector

Average number of hours worked per week within the UK as a whole

6

Why would people choose to leave the Middle East?

26%ofpeoplearrivedbeforetherecessionandhavestayed,whichshowsthat although people would move for a better salary package or career progression, similar opportunities are not widely available elsewhere.

Almost one fifth of respondents are planning to stay for another 5 years or longer, proving that Dubai is no longer the transient place it used to be.

People are clearly driven by the opportunity that a new market holds, and money. Established hubs such as the UK no longer offer such exciting business environments in many cases and this drives career focused and geographically mobile individuals to consider and take the plunge when it comes to relocation.

8%

53%

54%

16%

19%

36%

33%

30%

24%

24%

None of these/I do not intend to leave the region

Better package and/or tax free salary

Career progression

Climate

Company stability

Exciting/more interesting projects to work on

Lifestyle change

Living and working in a new cultural environment

Returning to home country for family/personal reasons

Travel opportunities

Why the Middle East?

How long have our respondents been in the Middle East?

Main motivatiors behind a move to the Middle East

How long are people planning to stay?

11%

18% 18% 17%

19%

8% 9%

Under 3 years Another 3-5 years 5+ years Indefinitely, but I will return to my home country eventually

Indefinitely, but I am a professional expat so will

move to another international location

Forever, I have made the Middle East my home

Forever, I am originally from the Middle East

4%

17%

8%

17%

11%

26%

17%

I don't live in the Middle East

I have lived in the Middle East all my

life

Less than one year 1-3 years 3-5 years 5-10 years 10+ years

16.2%

22.3%

17.3%

1.1%

0.4%

6.3%

10.3%

6.2%

6.0%

10.7%

2.5%

0.7%

Not applicable, I have lived here all my life

Better package and/or tax free salary

Career progression

Climate

Company stability


Family relocation

Lifestyle change

Living and working in a new cultural environment

Opportunity to work in an international market

Save money

Travel opportunities

2,500 4,500 10,000 8,500

12,000 20,000

53,000

17,500

30,000 35,000

48,000

160,000

75,000

190,000

8,432 14,759

18,772 21,096

34,674 41,005

119,500

Admin/Assistant Sales Manager Marketing Manager Manager/Team Leader Director CEO/Chairman/Owner Board Director

Min Max Average

Average Salaries

Average salary vs experience

Average salary vs age

Average salary vs level of education

NB the average is not calculated from the highest and lowest salaries in each category, but the mean range of figures.

Salaries are fairly predictable, although there is a jump up in the average at 6-10years.WehaveobservedforalongtimethattheMiddleEastoffershighersalaries than other global regions at mid-level and many employees earn more than their European counterparts with the same experience.

Interestingly degree educated people have a lower average salary than high school graduates and those with only a diploma. This could be a nod towards the event industry being more focussed on experience than education and that either respondents that have a degree are at an earlier stage in their career and haven’t achieved a high salary yet, or that more mature industry professionals are less likely to have a degree.

7

8,945

13,978

23,721

28,548

32,792

Less than 2 years 2-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16 years +

8,424

19,872

25,805

31,331

38,200

25 or under 26 to 35 36 to 45 46 to 55 56 and older

20,788 20,927 18,567

23,604 25,999

High school qualification i.e. Tawjihiyya (GSEC), IB, A-Level, Matric or

equivalent

Diploma or further education

Degree Event management degree

Post graduate or equivalent

Salaries by level of seniority

NB Please note that all UK salaries quoted are taxable.

8

Salary increases across the industry within the last 12 months

This figure represents increases within an existing role, and should be used by employers, and employees as a guideline for annual company increases, which may or may not be linked to performance. It does not necessarily represent a recommended target salary increase when changing jobs.

The average pay rise across the Middle East events industry is 5% which is in line with other industries and the UK, which is a stable and mature market.

A large number of respondents still aren’t receiving pay rises, but those that do get

a global average of between 1-6%.

Do You Think You Are Being Paid What You’re Worth?

37%

17% 17%

13%

8% 9%

None 1 to 3% 4 to 6% 7 to 10% 10 to 20% More than 20%

Yes 26%

No 74%

A staggering 74% do not feel they are being paid their worth!

At 72%, those that work in Event Management Agencies were the highest number of respondents that feel they are being paid their worth, followed by 44% in Commercial Conferences and 34% in Production Companies.

Which sectors are the most satisfied with their salaries?

72%

34%

25%

22%

22%

25%

44%

31%

29%

EMC

Production Co

Exhibitions

Exhibition Services

Hotel

Venue

Commercial Conferences

Corporate In-House

Govt/Public Sector

Benefits and Motivation

Top three benefits

Key motivators

The number of those receiving health insurance is high even though the law requiring employers to offer this benefit has not been enforced across the board. This figure represents the high number of expatriate workers who expect this.

9

30%

44%

35%

68%

37%

43%

Flexible working hours

Job title/seniority

Level of CSR

Creativity of projects

Decision making responsibilities

(such as team/budget management)

Money

LeastMost

Benefits received

58%

8%

43% 45%

14%

28% 26%

10%

20%

27%

27%

35%

29%

36%

50% 42%

36%

25% 20%

35%

15% 58% 28% 19% 36% 30% 38% 65% 60% 39%

Accommodation/housing allowance

Annual flight/allowance Bonus/profit share Commission Company car/allowance Flexible working hours Medical insurance Mobile phone Onsite expenses School fee assistance

1 2 3

The highest rated benefits all contribute to the bottom line, i.e. are cash benefits, which is in line with figures that show people here are heavily motivated by money.

31% of all respondents receive training and the average number of hours of training completed per year is 31.

76%

47%

44%

24%

18%

36%

70%

51%

11%

6%

Annual flight/allowance

Bonus/profit share

Business/onsite expenses

Commission

Company car

Housing allowance

Medical insurance

Mobile phone

School fee assistance

None

10Moving On...

25% 23%

15% 17% 11%

5%

3%

17%

24% 28%

16% 8%

4%

4%

12% 23% 23% 16% 10%

2%

14%

under 1 year 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-5 years 5-10 years 10+ years N/A

Current employer Previous employer Second to last employer

How long do people stay in their roles?

Top 5 reasons for leaving a role

20%

10%

10%

8%

7% Better package


No career prospects in last company

Opportunity to work in an international market

Career break

When do people intend to move jobs?

There seems to be a high turnover and a lot of movement within the region, even post recession.

The main reason for moving companies is for a better package, which is the same as the UK.

7% of people left their last role for a career break; this figure is very high and one potential explanation is that this was an effect of the post-recession market where employers realised the need to recruit more qualified and experienced staff when previously they had hired for potential, rather than a proven track record.

36% of respondents areconsidering moving jobs within thenext6months-thisfigureishigh and one possible reason is the new found stability and more job openings in the local market. After the financial crisis those that kept their jobs were content to stay put citing stability as their key motivator.

36%

13% 3%

42%

7%

Within the next 6 months

I intend to stay for at least 3 years

I intend to stay for over 5 years

I'm happy where I am but open to good opportunitiesI do not intend to move jobs

11

16,850 18,000

38,000 15,370

17,470

24,780

Sales Manager Account/Business Development Manager

Account/Business Development Director

Middle East UK

16,700 17,200 16,800

29,600 15,900 17,000 16,850

27,750

Sales Manager Marketing Manager Operations Manager

Exhibition Director

Middle East UK

17,660 16,350

15,850 15,870

Sales/Account Manager Project Manager

Middle East UK

15,000 22,700

27,000

38,000 16,850

17,840

22,300

31,470

Business Development

Manager

Project/Production Manager

Technical Production Manager

Head of Production/Events

Middle East UK

Agency Event Management Exhibition/Event Services

Exhibitions Production Company

INDUSTRY COMPARISONS BY SALARY

16,850 18,000

38,000 15,370

17,470

24,780



Middle East UK

16,850 18,000

38,000 15,370

17,470

24,780



Middle East UK

16,850 18,000

38,000 15,370

17,470

24,780



Middle East UK

16,850 18,000

38,000 15,370

17,470

24,780



Middle East UK

The UK salaries quoted do not take into consideration taxes and therefore the actual take home pay is between 20% and 40% less than what you see in the charts, creating an even bigger divide between earnings in the two regions and another great incentive for life in the GCC.

Accommodation Decision making abilities Medical Recognition from boss

Bonus Flexible hours Money Recognition from clients

Commission Flight Personal development Working environment

Creativity of projects

TOP 3 MOTIVATORS

MOST IMPORTANT BENEFITS

12

AGENCY EVENT MANAGEMENT Minimum Maximum Average

Sales Executive 5000 10000 8100

Sales Manager 6130 30000 16850

Sales Director 23000 35500 29650

Marketing Assistant 5000 20000 12000

Marketing Manager 13000 35000 23000

Event/Project Assistant 5000 10000 6700

Event/Project Co-ordinator 5500 9000 7750

Event/Project Executive 6000 20000 12500

Event/Project Manager 6500 32500 18100

Event Director 25600 80000 38100

Account/Business Development Executive 4500 12000 9575

Account/Business Development Manager 5700 27500 18000

Account/Business Development Director 15000 48000 38000

Client Services Manager 12000 31000 17500

Director/CEO/BoardDirector 12000 105000 55000

PRODUCTION COMPANY

Business Development Co-ordinator 4250 10500 7380

Business Development Manager 10000 18000 15000

Project/Production Co-ordinator 7500 10000 9400

Project/Production Manager 8400 58000 22700

Head of Production/Events 26000 160000 38000

Technical Production Manager 7500 32000 27000

Technical Production Director 30000 45000 38750

*only in good years, not a traditional part of the package in agencies

4,250

105,000

18,048

Agency Event Management

2,500

160,000

15,125

Production Company

INDUSTRY COMPARISONS: Agency Event Management and Production Companies

Key

*

Salaries

Min Max Average

13

EXHIBITIONS Minimum Maximum Average


Sales Manager 10000 30000 16700

Sponsorship Sales Manager 10000 22000 14540

Marketing Executive 8000 16000 10900


Marketing Director 18900 44000 35000

OperationsExecutive 7000 13000 8700

OperationsManager 10000 25000 16800

SeniorOperationsManager/HeadofOps 22000 50000 30000

Exhibition/Project Manager 12500 25000 19440

Exhibition Director 20000 36000 29600

GM/MD 25000 130000 75800

EVENT/EXHIBITION SERVICES

Sales/Account Executive 6500 18000 13300

Sales/Account Manager 8000 51000 17660

Sales/Account Director 13000 45000 26330



Marketing Director 22500 35000 28750

Project Manager 7500 30000 16350

Production Manager 14500 30000 25300

CEO/Owner/GM/MD 19800 75000 44000

3D Designer 5000 30000 18000

Over65%ofemployeesinthesesectorshavebeenintheregionforover5years.

2,500

60,000

18,551

Event/Exhibition Services

6,600

130,000

23,764

Exhibitions

INDUSTRY COMPARISONS: Event/Exhibition Services and Exhibitions

Exhibitions

Event/Exhibition Services

TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


Min Max Average

Salaries

14INDUSTRY COMPARISONS: Commercial Conferences and Corporate In-House


Corporate In-House

TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


Salaries

Min Max Average

4,500

40,000

16,650


7,500

62,000

22,500

Corporate In-House

COMMERCIAL CONFERENCES Minimum Maximum Average



Sales Director 22000 25000 23500



OperationsExecutive 7000 13000 10000

OperationsManager 12000 25000 15000

OperationsDirector 25000 50000 36800

Junior Conference Producer/Manager 7000 16000 13200

Conference Producer/Manager 8000 27000 17750

Senior Conference Producer/Manager 15000 30000 19550

Conference Director 24500 40000 34200

CORPORATE IN-HOUSE EVENTS TEAM



Event Co-ordinator 8000 15000 12500

Event Manager 11000 30000 20500

Director/MD/Executive Director 25000 62000 44000

•CommercialConferenceemployeesarethemosteducated,with89%havingadegreeorhigher.•StaffinCommercialConferenceandGovernmentorganisationsreceivethemosttraining,withthemgetting47and55annualhoursrespectively.•CommercialConferencecompaniesarebestknownforofferingthehighestcommissionstructuresintheindustry.

TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


15

GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC SECTOR Minimum Maximum Average


Event Executive 9800 11500 10650

Event Manager 20000 27000 24000

Head of Events 35000 43500 39250

NOT FOR PROFIT/ASSOCIATION/CHARITY

Marketing Co-ordinator 6000 16000 10900



Event Manager 15000 22000 17600

Head of Events 20000 35000 28000

Government/Public Sector

Not for Profit/Association/Charity

8,500

25,700

16,340

NFP/Charity/Association

9,800

43,500

24,400

Government/Public Sector

INDUSTRY COMPARISONS: Not for Profit and Government

All of the Government employees that completed the survey have lived here for over 5 years

Salaries

Min Max Average

16

AGENCY EVENT MANAGEMENT Middle East UK

Sales Manager 16850 15370

Account/Business Development Manager 18000 17470

Account/Business Development Director 38000 24780

COMMERCIAL CONFERENCES

Marketing Manager 15000 16350

Conference Producer/Manager 17750 16100

CORPORATE IN-HOUSE EVENTS

Event Manager 20500 19440

EXHIBITIONS



OperationsManager 16800 16850

Exhibitons Director 29600 27750

EXHIBITION/EVENT SERVICES

Sales/Account Manager 17660 15850

Project Manager 16350 15870

HOTELS


Event Director 24000 21560

NOT FOR PROFIT/ASSOCIATION/CHARITY



Head of Events 28000 27230

PRODUCTION COMPANY



Head of Events 28000 27230

VENUES




Middle East/UK Salary Comparisons

4,000

56,350

15,783

Hotels and Venues

Hotel salaries are generally the

lowest in the industry, due to the

fact that benefit packages are

quite extensive.

INDUSTRY COMPARISONS: Hotels and Venues

62%workover50hoursaweek,

which is a far higher proportion

than the industry wide average.

TOP 3 MOTIVATORS


HOTELS Minimum Maximum Average

Sales Co-ordinator 3000 10000 6000


Sales and Marketing Director 10000 30000 18000


Event Manager 5000 18000 13000


VENUES

Sales Co-ordinator 5000 12000 8300


Sales and Marketing Director 15000 27000 20000

Marketing Co-ordinator 6000 20000 13390


Event Manager 6000 26250 15690


Salaries

Min Max Average

17

CONCLUSIONS

I am sure you agree the survey makes for interesting reading, highlighting key trends and

analysis and concluding overall that, for a variety of reasons, employees do not feel they

are paid their worth. So whilst the average salary increase year on year falls in line with

worldwide cross-industry figures of 3-5%, why do people here feel they deserve more? Is

it the long-obsolete legacy of the Middle East being a hardship posting; that people are

acutely aware of the residual pre-recession over-inflated salaries that exist amongst more

recently aligned packages; the fact that many SME’s within the events industry do not

have a dedicated and qualified HR team to pay close attention to staff needs or the clear

ambition of expats and nationals employed in events here...?

On balance our career minded, go-getting staff are staying the course, seemingly

challenged by a changing business landscape and satisfied by the variety of projects they

work on. We love the lifestyle and tax free economy and plan to stay for a many years to

come…. You may draw your own conclusions, but from where I’m sitting, with some much

needed improvements within HR functions in line with the overall rise in professionalism in

the business environment since the recession, things look pretty rosy for the Middle East

events industry.

MIDDLE EAST EVENTS INDUSTRY OUTLOOK 2015

In line with the general global outlook, Middle East economies, predominantly within the

GCC, grew at an average 4% in 2013 with a further worldwide turn around forecast in

the last quarter of 2014. A negative factor currently affecting the market is the growing

extremist threat and recent crisis in Syria, but the positives outweigh these and signs of

revival with rising industrial outputs and a record number of jobs created in the United

States, a cooled down Eurozone crisis, stable oil price forecasts and of course Dubai

winning Expo2020, are all signalling better than expected economic growth in the Middle

East region. All these factors have boosted investor confidence all around the world and in

turn the Middle East is seeing greater foreign investments and a resurrection of real estate

growth, and a new found period of stability. All this leads to job creation, and the “Expo

2020 factor” further compounds the obvious need for highly experienced, passionate and

ambitious events professionals to see us through this landmark phase and beyond.

Across the Board

Countries attracting major global events, such as Expo2020 and the 2022 World Cup, are putting the Middle East on the map and the market is picking up slowly

Countries attracting major global events, such as Expo2020 and the 2022 World Cup, are putting the Middle East on the map and I have noticed an immediate positive reaction

Some sectors will struggle in general this year, including mine

Some sectors will struggle in general this year, but mine will do well

Political crises and uncertainty in the region are affecting the market I currently work within

Despite cautious optimism the post-recession market is more stable across all business sectors, and steadily recovering

The economy has recovered fully post-recession and 2014/2015 will be good for all sectors

Countries attracting major global events, such as Expo2020 and the 2022 World Cup, are putting the Middle East on the map and the market is picking up slowly

Countries attracting major global events, such as Expo2020 and the 2022 World Cup, are putting the Middle East on the map and I have noticed an immediate positive reaction

Some sectors will struggle in general this year, including mine

Some sectors will struggle in general this year, but mine will do well

Political crises and uncertainty in the region are affecting the market I currently work within

Despite cautious optimism the post-recession market is more stable across all business sectors, and steadily recovering

The economy has recovered fully post-recession and 2014/2015 will be good for all sectors

40%

29%

3%

4%

3%

13%

8%

What do our respondents feel about the current event industry?

esprecruitment is the leading international recruitment consultancyfor the events industry, offering UK and international career

opportunities and confidential advice from graduate todirector level across all sectors:

hotels • venues • commercial conferences • corporate in-house• event management agencies • production • charities and public sector

• not-for-profit and associations • conference and incentive travel• exhibitions • catering • exhibition and event services

• experiential marketing and communications• digital • design and creative

www.espinternational.aeespinternational, Knowledge Village, Dubai, UAE

t:043690798e: [email protected]

www.esprecruitment.co.ukesprecruitment, Manchester Street, London, W1U 7LH

t:02072992960e: [email protected]

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