Dubai: The current global financial crisis is a challenge for Emiratisation of the private sector this year as many companies are not expanding, said the chairman of the Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP).
Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer, chairman of ENDP, said during a press conference releasing the annual ENDP report - which outlines the number of Emiratis recruited in the last year - that: "In the light of the slowdown in different economic activities and the restructuring of some companies there is no doubt that Emiratis will also be affected and we are currently reviewing the different sectors as well as our policies and targets to be more equipped in facing the challenges ahead."
However, Al Tayer believes that there are still some promising sectors which could accommodate a large number of Emiratis such as the trade and health sectors.
"It is not logical that the private sector can accommodate thousands of the expatriate workforce and is not able to provide jobs for UAE Emiratis," he said.
The current global crisis has also highlighted the importance of employing Emiratis in the private sector to ensure a strong economy as they will enhance the economic cycle, according to Al Tayer.
The programme managed to employ more than 1,800 Emiratis in different fields within the private sector last year, according to ENDP annual report.
The highest employment was achieved in the banking sector followed by trade sector. The lowest employment occurred in the insurance sector, according to the report.
Currently there are some more than 13,500 unemployed Emiratis registered with ENDP.
