Who Should Be Your First Hires in a UAE based Startup?

A no-nonsense guide for founders who want to build the right team, not just any team.

Introduction: Your First Hires Will Make or Break Your Startup

As a founder, you wear all the hats – until you cannot.

When it is time to grow, your first few hires are not just employees. They are co-creators of your culture, product, and future.

So... who should be the first hires in a startup? I am asked often. The answer is not “whoever is available” or “my cousin who knows Canva.” This guide walks you through how to think about your first hires – strategically.

Step 1: Start With What You Actually Need

Before you hire anyone, do this:

→ Map out your next 6–12 months of business goals

→ Identify what roles are critical to achieving those goals

→ Ask: What tasks am I doing that someone else could do better or faster?

Remember: Hiring is not about offloading everything. It is about unlocking growth.

What Can Be Outsourced at the Start?

Not every problem requires a full-time hire. Many early-stage startup functions can (and should) be outsourced until you reach scale or complexity.

Here are the top functions to outsource in your first year:

1. Finance & Accounting

→ Bookkeeping, budgeting, VAT filing, payroll

→ Use a freelance accountant, part-time CFO, or accounting firm

2. HR & Recruitment

→ Contracts, policies, onboarding, hiring

→ A fractional HR partner can set up your people systems without the cost of a full team

3. Legal

→ Company setup, NDAs, employment contracts, IP

→ Hire a legal consultant or law firm with startup expertise

4. IT & Tech Support

→ Email, security, devices, troubleshooting

→ Keep it lean and external unless you are a tech company

5. Design & Branding

→ Logos, websites, decks, visual assets

→ Freelance designers or small agencies can do wonders on a budget

6. Marketing

→ Social media, SEO, content, digital ads

→ Outsource to generalist freelancers or boutique agencies early on

7. Virtual Assistance

→ Scheduling, research, admin tasks

→ A VA can free up hours of founder time without a large investment

Bottom line: If it is not core to your business or brand at this stage, outsource it.

When Should You Bring Functions In-House?

You know it is time to hire internally when:

→ You are relying heavily on one freelancer

→ The role touches sensitive data, people, or clients

→ You need consistency, speed, and full-time focus

→ You are spending too much time managing outsourced vendors

Startups often begin with external help and then transition key functions in-house as the business grows.

Top First Hires (And Why They Matter)

Once you are ready to build your core team, these are the roles worth considering:

1. Operations Manager / Generalist

→ The chaos coordinator.

→ Ideal when you, the founder, are buried in admin, logistics, follow-ups, and ops fires.

They handle the moving parts so you can focus on strategy, sales, or product.

2. Executive Assistant (EA)

→ A founder’s secret weapon.

→ Perfect when your time is your bottleneck.

They manage your schedule, inbox, meetings, follow-ups, and help you work on the business, not in it.

3. Marketing / Growth Specialist

→ The lead-getter and brand-builder.

→ Best when you have a product but need visibility and users.

Early hires in this role should be full-stack: copywriting, content, social, maybe even performance ads.

4. Technical Hire / Developer

→ The product builder.

→ Non-negotiable if your startup is tech-first and you are not the coder.

Look for someone who can ship MVPs fast, work independently, and handle feedback well.

5. Customer Success or Sales

→ The revenue protectors.

→ Great if you already have customers or want to grow sales fast.

They close deals, support users, and gather insights you can feed back into the product.

Traits to Look for in First Hires (Not Just Skills)

→ Bias for action – No time for overthinkers.

→ Low ego, high ownership – You need doers, not title chasers.

→ Generalist mindset – Roles will evolve. They must, too.

→ Culture builders – Every hire shapes your startup DNA.

Startups are messy. Hire people who are builders, not babysitters.

Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Hiring based on friendship or loyalty alone

🚫 Hiring too fast because you are overwhelmed

🚫 Hiring specialists too early when generalists will do

🚫 Hiring without a clear role or onboarding plan

When to Get Help

If you are:

→ Struggling to define the role

→ Swamped and making rushed hiring decisions

→ Burning money on job ads with no good leads

→ Unsure how to assess candidates properly

Then it might be time to bring in a recruitment partner who understands startups (and can save you a hiring headache or three).

Conclusion: Build the Right Core Team – Not Just a Team

Your first hires should not just solve today’s problems.

They should help build the company you want to lead tomorrow.

Choose people who complement you, challenge you (in a good way), and care about the mission as much as you do.

Need Help Making Your First (or Next) Hire?

At HRnow, we specialize in recruitment for startups and small businesses across the UAE.

From operations and HR to EA/PA and business support – we help you hire the right people to grow faster, not just fill a seat.

→ Startup-savvy recruitment strategy

→ Embedded or project-based hiring

→ No time-wasters, no fluff – just great people, fast.

Let’s talk. Your future team is waiting. +971509663035