French defence and aerospace major Thales has announced plans to recruit more than 9,000 employees worldwide in 2026, including 60 new positions in the United Arab Emirates and 30 roles in Saudi Arabia.
The recruitment drive follows a strong hiring year in 2025, when the company onboarded 8,800 employees globally, exceeding its original target of 8,000. The expansion highlights continued demand across Thales’ defence, aerospace and digital security operations.
Across the Middle East and Africa, the group plans to create 150 new jobs next year. In India, 450 additional roles are also expected to be filled as part of the global workforce expansion.
Patrice Caine, Chief Executive Officer of Thales, said the company remains committed to attracting young talent into science and technology fields. He added that encouraging more women to pursue careers in these sectors is a key priority.
Thales employs more than 83,000 people across 68 countries. The company reported revenues of €20.6 billion in 2024, reflecting sustained performance in defence systems, aviation technologies and cybersecurity solutions.
Diversity remains central to its hiring strategy. In 2025, women accounted for 32 per cent of total recruitments. Around 69 per cent of management committees included at least four women, with a target to raise this to 75 per cent in 2026. The company also reported that more than 7 per cent of its workforce in France comprises employees with disabilities.
Interest in careers at the company continues to rise. Thales said it received 1.4 million job applications worldwide in 2025, compared to one million in 2024. Recruitment advisory firm Universum ranked the company as the most attractive employer among engineering school students in France.
Engineering positions will make up approximately 40 per cent of new hires in 2026. These roles include software development, systems engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science. A further 25 per cent will be recruited into industrial positions such as technicians, operators and production engineers.
In France alone, Thales plans to hire 3,300 employees across several regions.
Thales has maintained a presence in the UAE for over 50 years and currently employs more than 500 people across three offices. Its regional operations include Thales Emarat Technologies, which focuses on strengthening defence and aerospace capabilities in the country.
The company’s portfolio includes avionics systems, flight decks and in-flight entertainment for civil aviation, along with radar systems, missile platforms, armoured vehicles and unmanned aerial systems for defence applications.
The 2026 hiring plan signals the company’s continued investment in talent as it expands its technological footprint across global and regional markets.
