French defence and aerospace company Thales plans to recruit more than 9,000 employees worldwide in 2026, including 60 positions in the UAE and 30 in Saudi Arabia, as part of a regional hiring programme covering the Middle East and Africa.
Regional hiring targets and workforce plans
The company exceeded its 2025 recruitment goal after adding 8,800 employees against an initial target of 8,000. For 2026, it has outlined 150 new roles across the Middle East and Africa and about 450 positions in India.
Chief executive Patrice Caine said the group aims to expand participation in science and technology careers, with a focus on attracting young professionals and increasing female representation in the workforce.
Workforce composition and diversity data
Women represented 32% of all hires in 2025, while 69% of management committees included at least four women. The company has set a target of 75% for 2026. In France, more than 7% of employees were people with disabilities during 2025.
Thales reported receiving 1.4 million job applications globally in 2025, up from one million in 2024. Employer ranking firm Universum placed the company first among engineering students in France.
Job categories and UAE presence
Around 40% of 2026 hires will be in engineering fields such as software, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data, and systems engineering. Industrial roles, including technicians and operators, will account for about 25% of recruitment.
The company employs more than 83,000 people across 68 countries and reported €20.6 billion in 2024 sales. It has operated in the UAE for over 50 years with more than 500 staff, including through Thales Emarat Technologies, which focuses on defence and aerospace capabilities.
