UAE | Employment
Companies keen to hit emiratisation targets
Companies at the Careers UAE 2007 said yesterday that they are keen on hiring Emiratis and training them for the job market.
- By Reema Saffarini, Staff Reporter
- Published: 01:07 July 12, 2007
- Image Credit: Vazhisojan/Gulf News
- Careers UAE 2007 ended yesterday, after being held for three days at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Dubai: Companies at the Careers UAE 2007 said yesterday that they are keen on hiring Emiratis and training them for the job market.
More than 179 companies took part in the seventh annual career event held at the International Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre for three days.
"So far we have collected more than 5,000 resumes during the fair. We have allocated 50 per cent of our budget this year for the employment of UAE nationals," said Reem Al Awabed, manager of human capital at Tecom Investments.
She added that the percentage of Emiratis working for Tecom has reached 30 per cent.
Al Futtaim Group was one of the organisations that has almost hit its emiratisation target for this year. "Six per cent of those we hired this year are required to be UAE nationals. We have already hit 5 per cent and we are still in the first quarter," said Fatima Al Haddad, emiratisation manager at Al Futtaim.
She added that they have received 5,000 resumes this year compared to last year's 3,000.
"We have noticed a great interest from UAE nationals. The issue between private organisations and Emiratis is trust ... a lot of Emiratis shy away from the sector because of the perception that UAE nationals are lazy and just want high salaries. It's all about restoring the trust," said Al Haddad.
Targets
Dubal Aluminium Company Limited said they are targeting to hire 220 new employees this year.
"Emiratis make up 24 per cent of our workforce. We are getting a lot of response from Emirati students and job seekers. UAE nationals no longer look at the salaries, but they seek careers," said Mohammad Al Owais, head of national programmes and development at Dubal.
Companies at the fair said that training UAE nationals and preparing them as "future leaders" was also a target.
Nasser Bin Kherbash, senior vice-president of the commercial operations, Africa, at Emirates Airlines, told Gulf News that chances of growing professionally and developing are open to all UAE nationals. "All you need is to be patient and a hard worker," he said.
After going through the two-year and a half training programme at the company, Bin Kherbash started as a trainee, after which he gradually climbed the organisational ladder until he landed his current position.
He added that Emiratis make up 42 per cent of the company's employees.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will be funding a trip to Japan for 20 students from Sharjah Women's College.
The students met Shaikh Mohammad at Careers UAE 2007 where they approached him and asked for his assistance.
"It was like a dream come true when he said he would help us. He made up his mind so quickly and told his aide to get our contact details," said student Mariam Bin Khadem.
"Within less than 30 minutes the aide was on the phone asking us for a detailed proposal from the college," she added.
Over 17,000 visitors attend exhibition
Attendance at the Careers UAE 2007 surpassed the expected 17,000 people, said exhibition organisers on the last day of the event yesterday.
The three-day event held at the International Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together 179 companies from the financial services, hospitality and tourism, oil and gas and training and education sectors.
Asma Mohammad Al Sharif, project manager of Careers UAE Exhibitions, told Gulf News that the response this year from people has been "amazing."
She said, "The number of people who registered with us was 13,000. Add to that the number of students from the different colleges and we have surpassed the expected attendance," said Al Sharif. She added that one of the successful event features was a visit from Dubai schools to the fair.
"We brought four government and private schools from Dubai to take part as an experiment. They attended a workshop organised by the National Admissions and Placement office from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research followed by a tour to some exhibiting companies," Al Sharif said.
She said the visit was so successful that next year the event will also be open to high school students in their final year.
Latest news
- Dubai Police deny reports of Burj Khalifa fire
- New road eases traffic problems in Dubai
- Abu Dhabi hosts strong man contest
- Farmers to be taught techniques to improve yield
- Keep recycling bins open
- UAE's first home-grown unmanned aerial vehicle
- Telling stories with sand
- President of Wollongong varsity about his plans
- Challenging role in Libya
- Parachuting event promises rich fare
- UAE ministry backs efficacy of Tas'heel system
- UAE students on research trip to Antarctica
- Brothers held in Sharjah for possessing heroin
- Fund drive for displaced Syrians launched
- FNC has kept pace with development — Al Murr
Community Reports
-
Keep recycling bins open
People should be allowed to do their part as the world moves towards a greener future
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
