Foreign resources

In April last year, concerns over the loss of Emirati national identity in a country peopled by an overwhelming majority of foreigners from 150 nations saw level heads prevail with a call to “strike a balance to maintain an open and tolerant society''. On February 2, august minds will gather at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi to discuss and find appropriate solutions to the myriad challenges that the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) face in relation to human resources in their societies.

As a foreigner living and working in a number of GCC states over the last 30 years, it may not be my place to discuss national identity and the nationalisation of the work force. However, having guided and trained a number of GCC nationals and especially empowering young Gulf women, I can safely report that there are 14.5 million people like me in the region.

National population

A huge number when compared to the indigenous population of these Gulf states and quite naturally the national population will have concerns about an annual nine per cent loss in GDP because of the estimated $30 million (Dh110 million) in money transfers by workers to countries outside of the Gulf. Other concerns include unemployment, the waning interest in the Arabic language and the assault on Islamic and Arab traditions.

But, I am assured that level heads will prevail again.
Gulf officials, academics and businessmen are fully aware of the realities on the ground; that in the GCC countries the foreign workforce far outnumbers nationals and it will be impossible to replace all of them.

Figures show expats comprise 90 per cent of the workforce in the UAE, 83 in Qatar, 82 in Kuwait, 72 per cent in Saudi Arabia, 55 in Bahrain and 54 in Oman. “Where will the nationals come from?'' as so poignantly asked by the UAE's Dr Khalid Al Khazraji in our cover story.

It is not an impossible task to ensure that every Emirati in the UAE be gainfully and successfully employed, the good doctor says; however, it would be economically unsustainable to believe that 12,000 Emirati job seekers every year will fill a million job opportunities.

In Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Abdullah Fahid Al Shakrah of Al Hanoo Holding has pointed out that despite the current recession, it would be a wise move for GCC companies to hold on to their expatriate employees and adopt a wait and see attitude to the market. After all, if every foreign worker was sent home for either political or economical reasons then who will run the services, build and maintain the towers, clean the streets, educate the children, treat the sick… the list is endless. The number of nationals is few and the job at hand is huge.