[DUBAI] Banking and finance professionals in the Middle East plan to seek new jobs this year after bonuses failed to meet expectations, according to eFinancial Careers (efc).

Almost 60 per cent of the region's financial services employees plan to change position, with 45 per cent saying they were disappointed with their bonus, efc reported. Bonuses rose for half of Middle East finance professionals, compared with 49 per cent in the UK, 47 per cent in the US and Hong Kong, and 42 per cent in Singapore.

Dubai, which teetered on the brink of default in 2009, is rebounding as equity and property markets soar in the regional business hub. The world's best-performing stock market and a revival of public offerings are prompting banks and brokerages to renew hiring in Dubai.