UX Researcher

Skatch; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Flexible hybrid culture

Travel allowances

Gym memberships

Offsite events

Job summary

Alaan is the Middle East's first AI-powered spend management platform built for the region. We are hiring our first UX Researcher — a greenfield opportunity to build the research function from the ground up and become the voice of the customer at Alaan.

You'll work closely with Product, Design, and Engineering to ensure every feature is rooted in user needs, behaviors, and challenges, and you'll shape the future of fintech in the UAE and Saudi region.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in a UX Research role, preferably in B2B, SaaS or FinTech.
• Strong portfolio showing proficiency in interviews, contextual inquiry, surveys, usability testing, and heuristic evaluation; impact on product direction.

Responsibilities

• Own: identify knowledge gaps, define research questions, and prioritize a roadmap with product/design.
• Discover: conduct ethnographic and contextual field research within finance teams.
• Execute: plan, recruit, and run qualitative and quantitative studies across the product cycle.
• Synthesize: translate findings into reports, journey maps, and personas for design and strategy.
• Build: establish systems and tools for research, pipelines, repositories, and cross-functional education.
• Champion: be the voice of the customer in every room to guide product and business decisions.

Skills

UX Research

Research portfolio

Storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Ethics in research

Job description

About Alaan

Alaan is the Middle East s first AI-powered spend management platform, built to help businesses save time and money. Our all-in-one solution combines smart corporate cards, real-time expense tracking, AI-powered automation, seamless accounting integrations, and deep financial insights- designed to simplify finance operations and maximize control over company spend. Founded in 2022, Alaan is already the trusted partner of over 1,300 leading businesses across the UAE, including G42, Careem, McDonald s, Tabby, Al Barari, Rove Hotels, Rivoli, and CarSwitch. Together, our customers have saved over AED 100 million with Alaan. In just three years, Alaan has become the #1 expense management platform in the Middle East- and we ve done it while becoming profitable. Backed by Y Combinator and top global investors- including founders and executives of leading startups- Alaan is built by a world-class team from McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Zomato, Careem, Rippling, and other high-growth companies. We re not just building software. We re reimagining how finance works for modern businesses across the region.

About The Role

Alaan is a next-generation spend management platform built for the Middle East. We re not just another fintech company - we are a design-first organization where building with users, incorporating feedback, and iterating relentlessly are our core values. We are committed to delivering a world-class, seamless user experience that empowers businesses to manage their finances smarter. To deepen our commitment to user-centricity, we are hiring our first UX Researcher - a greenfield opportunity to build the research function from the ground up and become the definitive voice of the customer at Alaan. As the founding UX Researcher, you ll bridge the gap between our users and our product. You ll work intimately with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to ensure every feature we build is rooted in a deep understanding of user needs, behaviors, and challenges. Beyond research execution, you ll be a strategic partner and advocate for the user, shaping the future of fintech in the UAE and Saudi region.

What Youll Do

• Own: Partner with product and design leadership to identify knowledge gaps, define research questions, and prioritize a roadmap aligned with business goals.
• Discover: Conduct ethnographic and contextual field research observe finance teams in action and uncover unmet or unarticulated needs.
• Execute: Plan, recruit, and run qualitative and quantitative studies across the product cycle, from generative discovery to usability testing and post-launch validation.
• Synthesize: Turn complex findings into clear, actionable insights via reports, workshops, journey maps, and personas shaping both design and strategy.
• Build: Establish the systems, tools, and best practices for research at Alaan, including participant pipelines, repositories, and education for cross-functional partners.
• Champion: Be the relentless voice of the customer in every room, ensuring user needs guide both product and business decisions.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: 3 5 years in a UX Research role, preferably in B2B, SaaS, or FinTech.
• Research Skills: A strong portfolio showing proficiency in multiple methods (e.g., interviews, contextual inquiry, surveys, usability testing, heuristic evaluation) and demonstrable impact on product direction.
• Ownership: Proven ability to work autonomously with high ownership and thrive in ambiguity while creating clarity and structure.
• Collaboration & Storytelling: Exceptional ability to communicate insights and influence diverse teams technical and non-technical alike.
• Ethics: Strong ethical compass for managing participant data and confidentiality.
• Location: Based in Dubai, or based in India and open to relocation.
• Bonus Fit: Experience as a founding researcher in startups, familiarity with the fintech sector, knowledge of Middle Eastern business culture, and proficiency in Arabic or other regional languages.

Whats in it for you

• Contribute to building the Middle East s most beloved fintech brand from the ground up
• Benefit from a role with significant ownership and accountability
• Thrive in a flexible hybrid culture with ample work-life balance
• Participate in exciting offsite events
• Competitive salary and equity
• Enjoy additional perks like travel allowances, gym memberships, and more