What is the scope of an Automotive Engineering postgraduate in the Gulf?

I pertain more towards an R&D profile, and less towards sales & marketing as is abundant here in most Gulf countries. While a academic based career is more yielding with such qualifications, I wonder if the industrial sector would begin the need of such positions. The job market in Europe is abundant with such technical job profiles, but then have become saturated. In a relatively new economy like any Gulf country such as Kuwait, KSA, Qatar or UAE, is it too rare for such job profiles to be created? Any constructive insights are welcome. Thank you.