Abu Dhabi: Emiratisation, which includes efforts to increase the presence and skill level of Emiratis and employ them in meaningful positions, has been a key focus of most government and private entities across the UAE.

Hosted by the Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group (ADUKG), the fifth annual Emiratisation forum welcomed prominent decision makers and human resources experts to discuss innovative Emiratisation strategies and non-traditional career options for Emiratis in the capital yesterday.

“As 2013 has been labelled the year of Emiratisation, the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council (ADTC) has adopted many strategies to increase the number of employees from the UAE national population in both public and private sectors alike,” said Essam Al Sayed, corporate communication director at ADTC.

“Emiratisation is an essential obligation. The council will provide unique services to UAE job seekers that match their qualifications and skills. We want to ensure that Emiratis are qualified and well prepared for the labour market and education is the only way to achieve this goal,” he added.

The two-day forum has also seen more than 160 professionals and experts, who highlighted the various initiatives and successful models in the application of Emiratisation strategies within various institutions and government entities.

Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Ahmad Al Hashemi, project manager at Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), said: “We have developed services to provide job opportunities for Emiratis, elevate their living standards and support Emiratisation in the UAE.”

As part of the Centre’s social responsibility, several initiatives have been improved such as the e-citizen programme and Jobsabudhabi.ae.

“The e-citzen programme trains residents of the emirate on the basics of using computers and the internet, which enable them to use e-government services that are provided through the Abu Dhabi Portal (www.abudhabi.ae). It will also help them communicate effectively with individuals, groups and access information, products and services,” he added.

“While Jobsabudhabi.ae has proved its worth in the online recruitment services in Abu Dhabi by adding more than 870 employers, 400,000 job seekers — of which 82,000 are Emiratis — 53,000 CVs, seven million visits, and over 35,000 job opportunities, of which 45 per cent are in the public sector and 55 per cent in the private sector,” Al Hashemi said.

Out of 20,000 job seekers, 60 per cent of the UAE national population has been hired, according to a recent study conducted by ADSIC in January.

“Through the website, public and private sector employers in Abu Dhabi can interact with national and global talent via the Career-e-Fair, the latest edition of the emirate’s leading online recruitment exhibition.

“It is a three-day e-Fair, which is held annually and set to provide employers and job seekers an easy, convenient and real-time platform. The website is available in Arabic, English and French,” he added.

Additionally, a new service, which gives the applicant some tips in building an eye-catching resume and fix strategic mistakes that could derail your CV from getting the fullest attention, will be launched by the end of this year by ADSIC.

Mansour Bel Saleh, head of UAE talent development at Etihad Airways, has also highlighted the company’s approach to implement Emiratisation strategies as a business priority to drive success.

“Around 516 Emiratis were hired at Etihad Airways in 2012 and they have increased dramatically to reach 1,400 this year. Another 750 Emiratis are enrolled in some training programmes to fulfil the requirements of their jobs,” he said.

Etihad Airways has also launched a new website titled Ana Emirati to showcase success stories of Emiratis, develop career options and provide online training.

The two-day forum addressed some social and cultural obstacles that can hamper self-development.

“There is a huge gap between communication and cultural norms. Therefore, team coaching can be a unique method to value cultural and social differences among Emiratis and other nationalities. It provides the tool and language to inspire participants, motivate them and retain their talents,” said Jane Samson, managing partner at True Evolution.

“Research shows that the most successful teams have the means and will take action through streamlined business pathways. They will be able to build effective and productive work environments,” she added.