Tag Archives: education
Private sector beckons Emiratis
Private sector beckons Emiratis 29 April 2013 It will remain to be seen following Careers UAE 2013 if private employers can lure Emiratis away from the honey-pot perceived to be the government sector. The three-day recruitment, education and training event, for UAE nationals only, kicks off on April 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Now in its 13 th year, it will help connect Emirati graduates and job seekers with more than 150 employers, educational institutions and professional bodies. Careers UAE exhibition manager Asma Al Sharif said the event would continue to act as a catalyst for Emiratisation, aiding the Ministry of Labour’s target of helping more than 20,000 UAE nationals get recruited. There had been a seven per cent increase in the number of private sector exhibitors, which reflected the growing involvement of the business community in Emiratisation efforts — and they expected healthy visitor numbers to match that, Sharif said. Majid Al Futtaim Holding human resources vice-president Mohammed Malek said local employees were integral to the group’s long-term success. Emiratis made up 15 per cent of their UAE workforce, across all areas including asset management, malls, human resources, hospitality and customer service. Rather than focusing on the number of UAE nationals appointed across departments, the company measured their successful employment of locals based on “quality hires” and the number of years the person served with the company. The trick to attracting them to the private sector was tailored development programmes and training initiatives to help them along the career ladder, Malek said. “The new generation of Emirati youth is very ambitious and well-equipped to face the demands of the job market. They have received quality education and training that has enhanced their professional appeal, and they are also starting to realise the value in career opportunities offered by the private sector.” Meanwhile, 60 per cent of Dubai Aluminum’s (Dubal) senior management are Emiratis, and the company has an average target of maintaining 100 UAE national employees each year. Dubal human resources and organisation effectiveness vice president Sultan Al Sabri said engineering roles were still hard to fill, due to a lack of trained professionals in the market and stiff competition from other competitors in the industry. Bayt.com sales vice president Suhail Masri said the only thing that gave Emiratis priority over expats was if they were applying to a job strictly open to nationals as per the Emiratisation law. A 2011 Bayt.com poll revealed only about half of MENA companies adhered to a localisation hiring policy, and one-third reported having senior-level Emirati employees. On a positive note for Emiratis, they tended to enter companies at varying, and sometimes higher, levels, with 20 per cent of respondents saying most locals joined at an intermediate level, 21 per cent at a senior level, and 24 per cent at entry level, Masri said. About 30 per cent of respondents cited faster promotions for Emirati nationals than non-Emiratis, while a quarter said career trajectories were similar. Bayt.com currently has more than 107,000 Emirati job seekers, however Masri said it was hard to say how many were looking at the private sector. And while the company’s January job index showed multinational private sector companies would be hiring the most this year, a survey late last year still showed 68 per cent of UAE professionals preferred the public sector. A quarter of respondents said the government and civil services attracted the highest proportion of local talent in the UAE, up one per cent from the same survey in 2011. Oil, gas and petrochemicals, and then banking and finance, were the next preferred. The best salary packages lay in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, followed by airline, government, and banking and finance. Despite this, last year’s survey showed women in the UAE were most attracted to education and academia, healthcare and medical services, and media. Sharif said UAE nationals had “virtually unlimited” options to find a job in their preferred field. The labour market was becoming more knowledge-based, meaning more opportunities in innovation-centric industries like Information Communications Technology (ICT), aviation, oil and gas, digital media, finance, transportation, and education, he said. “Choosing the right career path will contribute to their job satisfaction, which in turn will boost their productivity in their eventual positions. That is why this face-to-face interaction between employers and job seekers plays such a pivotal role in advancing the government’s Emiratisation initiative.” Alternative careers in the arts industry were also being highlighted at the fair by urban lifestyle magazine Brownbook, which has arranged for creative institutes, companies and galleries to provide talks, performances and workshops. Other features include the Emirati Women Leaders Panel, a CV clinic by Bayt.com, and a LEGO and Metaphor Training session teaching visitors how to harness the full potential of their creative thinking. Careers UAE also supported the Absher Initiative, which encouraged private sector employers to offer a wide range of incentives targeted exclusively at UAE national candidates, and the Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed UAE Nationals Training Initiative, which gave locals management experience in leading national and international companies, Sharif said. sarah@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Al Azhar’s support to Islamic, Arab issues hailed
Al Azhar’s support to Islamic, Arab issues hailed (Wam) / 29 April 2013 General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces met the Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al Azhar Al Sharif, Dr Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayyeb, who is currently on a visit to the UAE. General Shaikh Mohammed congratulated Dr Sheikh Al Tayyeb for being named the Cultural Personality of the Year in the seventh edition of the Shaikh Zayed Book Award. At the meeting, held at Emirates Palace, Gen Shaikh Mohammed hailed the intellectual and cultural role of Al Azhar Al Sharif and its support to the Islamic and Arab issues. These positions, he noted, stem from the prestigious status attained by the institution centuries ago as a scientific and religious beacon. General Shaikh Mohammed commended the outspoken and clearly-stated positions taken by Al Azhar to firmly counter all attacks on the essence and the creed of Islam. He also hailed the institution’s role in preserving the ideological fabric of Islam, which is rich in diversity of visions and thoughts that comply with the foundations of Shariah and the spirit of Islam. General Shaikh Mohammed emphasised the UAE’s interest in bolstering its cooperation with, and support to Al Azhar Al Sharif in the service to Islam and Muslims in scientific, religious, educational and other spheres. General Shaikh Mohammed and the Grand Imam discussed issues facing the Muslim World and emphasised the need for coordination among all parties concerned in the Arab region and Muslim World in order to achieve solidarity and face challenges. The Grand Imam praised the wise leadership of the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his role in backing the causes of Islam and Muslims in continuation of the approach adopted by the late founding father, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He also hailed the UAE’s humanitarian and charitable aid that had given the UAE a good international reputation. He also praised the UAE’s support for religious and scientific institutions involved in spreading the culture and teachings of Islam. Continue reading
UAE-UK relations hailed
UAE-UK relations hailed Amanda Fisher / 29 April 2013 British residents in Dubai will be eagerly watching the outcome of the impending meeting between the UAE’s President and the Queen of England — the second in three years. As the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan prepares for his state visit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday, during which he will visit Queen Elizabeth two-and-a-half years after she came here, British expatriates in the country are relishing the close ties. British Business Group chairman Jonathon Davidson said relations between the two countries, which had historically been strong since even before unification, were rejuvenated after the Queen’s 2010 visit. That rejuvenation should continue as a result of this week’s meeting, he said. “During the economic boom, like many international relationships, people lost the day-to-day focus because everyone was pursuing their own economic goals and there was no real requirement to have (them)…obviously when the crisis happened, there was a requirement for a lot of international economic relationships to be revitalised.” This coincided with Conservative leader David Cameron coming to power, and Davidson said Cameron’s Prime Ministership had focused on reinvigorating ties, with Cameron having visited twice since his tenure — while foreign secretary William Hague and London mayor Boris Johnson have both visited in recent weeks. “I think the improvement started two-and-a-half years ago and now we need to act on the back of that to make sure that continues in as many areas as possible. The UK and the UAE, in which up to 120,000 Brits living here are the highest Western expatriate population, were looking at working on a lot more projects together and “being a lot more economically intertwined”, Davidson said. Davidson, who had been involved with “behind-the-scenes” discussions about greater UAE-UK collaboration, said he expected topics of discussion to centre, from a business perspective, on education, oil and gas, professional services and the SME sector, as well investment from UAE companies into such things as the world’s largest windfarm London Array and the London Gateway port. Other topics like visas on arrival for Emiratis and regional security cooperation would also likely be discussed, he said. “Those will all go on in parallel, the left hand pursuing big joint projects and right hand pursuing ancillary matters.” The meeting was significant, not only because it would be a useful discussion but also as a “visible sign” of collaboration between the two countries. “It’s very important from time-to-time that the most senior (officials) visibly promote the relationship, because that’s like the icing on the cake for all the hard work that goes on.” Davidson said the SME sector, which comprised most of the 2,000 British businesses in Dubai Davidson’s group represented, was the best chance to get business booming after the sluggish recession-era economic performances. “It’s a perfect opportunity for the UK and UAE (SME) companies to join their technical knowledge, and their learning and their funding.” British Consul-General Edward Hobart said Shaikh Khalifa’s visit reflected the “special friendship between the royal families in the UK and UAE”, borne out of a 200 years of history and a commitment to common values and shared interests. Ties between the countries were already strong, but strengthening, he said. “We work closely together on the full range of bilateral areas including diplomacy, business, and security. During Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to the UAE six months ago, collaboration between our two countries across everything from trade to education, energy to defence increased.” Hobart said he was proud of the “rich and prominent connections” between the two countries. Briton Christopher Southcombe and his wife have lived in Sharjah for the past 17 years, after coming initially to do some short contract work on what would be an exhibition on painted dhows. “The exhibition never happened but… I found when I was here that this place was alive and throbbing and everything was happening and everything was positive.” Southcombe said that contrasted to the England of the ‘90s. “In England if the cricket team lost people were saying ‘Sack the manager’, if the football team lost: ‘Sack him’…the people were whingeing so much, I said to Pat (wife) ‘Come on let’s go’. So we did, we just sold up and went.” Southcombe said in the time the couple had been here, they had witnessed great development — as well as an influx of British expatriates. “I’m very impressed with this country, it’s really dynamic and go-ahead and the relationship with the UK is very important, and this kind of interaction between the heads of state is meaningful.” Southcombe said all visits between heads of state were beneficial. “Simply like having a dinner party and renewing acquaintances with old friends. The fact they’ve bestowed honours upon each others, it’s a public show of the friendship, and an important friendship.” The two countries had a long history together, and while there had been some negative interaction in the early days the partnership was now very positive – “like a marriage that lasts for years and years and years and the bonds grow stronger and stronger.” Southcombe said while although he would eventually get “thrown out”, he would stay here and keep working for some time yet. “It is home at the moment, we have no home in England. For the last 17 years, this has been our only home.” Continue reading
