Vitalii Mikhailov, Founder And CEO Of EasyStaff, Talks About How Cross-Border Hiring Surges 85%, With UAE Startups Are Scaling Globally

Cross-border hiring has rapidly shifted from a niche talent strategy to a global default. Startups in every major tech hub are now building distributed teams earlier, faster and with far more intention than ever before. The global scramble for engineering, product and data talent has pushed companies to search far beyond their physical headquarters – and the results are transforming hiring models at scale.

Nowhere is this change more visible than in the UAE.

The region’s booming tech ecosystem, ambitious founders and aggressive scaling rhythm have fueled an 85% surge in cross-border hiring over the past two years. As demand intensifies, startups are assembling hybrid global teams almost from day one – a pattern closely observed by Vitalii Mikhailov, Founder and CEO of EasyStaff, a global payroll and contractor management platform built specifically for distributed teams.

In a recent conversation, Mikhailov shared why UAE startups are hiring across borders earlier, which regions are becoming essential talent pipelines and how operational challenges are shaping the future of team-building across MENA.

Why UAE Startups Are Expanding Their Talent Search So Early

According to Vitalii, the UAE has become one of the most active and fast-moving startup ecosystems in the world – but this momentum comes with pressure. Local competition for talent, particularly in tech, is intense.

“Many founders start building distributed teams almost from day one,” Vitalii explains. “The reason is clear – the local talent market, especially in tech, is highly competitive. To keep up the pace, startups expand beyond borders, tapping into regions like Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They’re focused on finding top talent fast and building flexible teams that last.”

Instead of waiting until Series A or B (as was typical just a few years ago), founders are now internationalizing their hiring strategy as soon as their product roadmap takes shape. This allows them to accelerate development cycles, keep burn rates under control and stay competitive in a region where the race to scale is unforgiving.

The Rise of CIS Talent: The UAE’s Fastest-Growing Hiring Corridor

One of the most striking patterns Vitalii highlights is the surge in demand for engineering, product and data talent from the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) region.

“We’re seeing a consistent trend: for engineering, product and data roles, startups in the UAE are turning to the CIS region,” he says. “This corridor has become a reliable talent pipeline – fast, adaptable and technically solid.”

According to Vitalii, the appeal goes far beyond competitive salaries.

“It’s not just about rates. It’s the experience with complex B2B products, the ability to work across time zones, and the understanding of distributed work dynamics that make this region strategic for MENA companies.”

This shift has made the CIS-to-UAE hiring channel one of the most active cross-border talent routes in the global startup landscape.

The Hidden Challenges: Compliance, Payments and Global Operations

However, hiring across borders is not without its complications. Founders scaling globally often underestimate the operational, financial, and compliance hurdles involved in managing international talent.

“Scaling cross-border teams comes with serious operational weight,” Vitalii notes. “Compliance, taxes, and banking infrastructure can become bottlenecks if not addressed early.”

Fragile banking systems in several regions, FX risks, and slow international payments can slow down operations – or worse, create month-long delays for contractor payouts. This is why, Vitalii says, one solution in particular has seen explosive adoption: “That’s why we see a growing shift toward stablecoin payments; they offer speed, lower transaction costs and fewer banking limitations. In some regions, they’ve already become a more practical alternative to SWIFT.”

Platforms like EasyStaff now automate these processes end-to-end, enabling startups to hire globally without battling paperwork or fragmented payroll systems.

Hybrid Teams Become the Default Structure for MENA Startups

As UAE startups scale, hybrid team structures have quietly become the norm, and Vitalii believes this shift is permanent.
“Hybrid teams are no longer an exception – they’re the default,” he says. “Founders keep leadership and strategic roles locally while distributing execution globally.”

This model delivers a powerful mix of speed and scalability.

“This structure gives them operational leverage: it cuts overhead, speeds up delivery, and supports scalable growth.”

For MENA startups, hybrid teams aren’t simply an efficiency tool – they’re becoming a competitive advantage. Companies that embrace distributed talent early are able to move faster, diversify expertise, and scale internationally with fewer constraints.

A New Era for Global Hiring in the UAE

The surge in cross-border hiring, up 85% and rising, reflects a deeper shift in how UAE startups build, expand and win. With global access to engineering and product talent, new payment rails like stablecoins and platforms like EasyStaff simplifying compliance, founders are scaling internationally from the moment they launch.

For Vitalii, this isn’t a temporary trend. It’s the new foundation of startup growth across the region. As he puts it, this evolution is “reshaping how companies approach talent and structure, focusing on efficiency, access to expertise and long-term scalability.”

The message is clear: the future of the UAE startup ecosystem will be built not just locally, but globally – one distributed team at a time.