Dubai: Dubai's tourism industry, which has recorded double-digit growth, will absorb 600 UAE nationals every year, as part of the emiratisation drive, government officials said on Wednesday.
The sector has one of the poorest records in emiratisation.
Ebrahim Yaqoot, Manager of Human Resources at the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai (DTCM) said the Maharat programme for the nationalisation of the hospitality sector does not currently focus on a certain nationalisation rate.
"We are currently concentrating on increasing the number of nationals in this sector, which has been relatively low. We will train 600 nationals after their graduation, and have them work in this sector," said Yaqoot.
"There are currently 400 nationals who work in the hospitality sector, but the number will increase to 600 by the end of this year."
Yaqoot told Gulf News that a fourth and fifth batch of nationals will graduate from the programme to work in the tourism and hospitality sector in August and November.
He added that the Committee for Tourism Sector Nationalisation, which is supervised by the DTCM, and includes the Emirates National Development Programme and the Emirates Hospitality Academy as well as Tanmia, work hand in hand to increase he number of nationals in the hospitality and tourism sector.
"This is done in stages, starting with the selection of the good cadres who wish to work in the sector, and have good English language skills, then they are enrolled for training courses for nine weeks.
"Following successful completion of the courses, they are given jobs in hotels and tourism companies," Yaqoot said, adding that the programme is gaining increasing popularity among nationals, as they know that taking the course means securing a job with a minimum salary of Dh5,000, which may increase depending on their academic qualifications.
