A new poll exploring the attitudes of young Emiratis towards working in the private sector sheds some light on the changing attitudes of young people and calls for attention to the role that the “overseas experience” can play in the Emiratisation process.
As The National reported yesterday, international job opportunities were cited as the main reason young people would want to join private businesses, followed by packages, salaries and benefits, in a poll announced by Tawdheef, the Emirati careers and recruitment organisation.
The results send a message to private sector employers, who want to engage with the local community in the development of their businesses. As AbdulMuttalib Al Hashimi, managing director of a consultancy that helps companies with Emiratisation, told The National: the numbers provide “great information for employers to understand” what young Emiratis look for in their future careers.
Working abroad has a romantic lure that appeals to the young worldwide. Gaining overseas experience can broaden their horizons, making them see things differently, and give them an awareness of other cultures and how to deal with them.
Time overseas could also familiarise these employees with different leadership styles and international business practices and standards. These people would return to the country and put their knowledge and expertise to use, benefiting the UAE workforce and aiding the development of local businesses.
This is particularly the case in sectors where the leading companies are geographically clustered, such as the tech industries in Silicon Valley or Berlin. Two years spent working in the heart of these industries would bring Emiratis invaluable experience.
When it comes to engagement, learning and development opportunity, the private sector has more to offer to young UAE nationals. For companies, which can sometimes struggle to attract and retain nationals, overseas experience is one more weapon in their arsenal. For young Emiratis, it is a positive development that many recognise the benefits of the private sector and see broadening their horizons as more important than earning the biggest salary of their friends.
