Salaries are expected to increase across the Gulf this year as GCC countries compete to attract top expat talent, a new report states.

The UAE is expected to raise salaries by 8.2 percent in 2012, with neighboring countries close behind and Qatar at 7.1 percent, reports a study of more than 5,300 companies in 31 countries by the May Herang Club, a group that specializes in recruitment and employment.

“People are demanding about 20 percent to 30 percent more money to live in Abu Dhabi and Qatar than in Dubai because the cost of living in those areas is higher than in Dubai,” one human resources expert told Arabian Business. “Rents in Dubai have fallen significantly, so it’s benefiting from that immensely.”

Rents are also on the decline in Qatar, but over the past year, the costs of transportation, food and clothing have gone up.

What do you think?

Would more money convince you to hop to another GCC country? Or are there other more important factors at play?