The Federal Cabinet's new resolutions establish benchmarks on Emirati employment by 2030, monitor balanced development and regulate the recruitment of unskilled labour. They carry a sense of urgency - to develop the skills of Emiratis and address the population imbalance.
The need is obvious: currently, Emiratis stand at 11.5 per cent of the population. Although I acknowledge the role foreign labour plays in the nation's development, finding an Emirati in the workforce is too often like playing a game of "Where's Waldo?" That sort of ratio is in no country's best interest.
The first resolution aims to develop a national workforce capable of filling the professional and technical jobs of the future. Various government entities have taken steps towards training, with one of the best examples being the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC). The Abu Dhabi-sponsored company is engaged in developing the semiconductor and technology sectors in the UAE.
But before a corporation can foster an industry that will employ thousands of people, there must be a massive project of skill development. Current programmes include scholarships, international work placement for young nationals in Germany and Singapore, and awareness programmes in high schools across the country.
The last programme really hits it home for me. When I was in high school there was no awareness at all of professions in semiconductors, a nuclear power station or a national railway. Companies and schools are both responsible for keeping young people informed of the labour market they will face. This will help pupils research job options, study for their preferred careers and meet the 2030 benchmarks set by the Government.
Emiratisation in the private sector is also in the interest of a balanced development which increases the presence of Emiratis. One of the significant developments to tackle this issue can be seen in the Khalifa Fund, which provides subsidies to private companies to bridge the gap in pay between the private and public sectors.
But there are issues that can be addressed only by the private companies themselves by providing attractive career prospects, management advancement and development programmes. Unfortunately, the private sector in this country is not performing this function. The fear is that subsidies will simply be used to raise Emiratis' pay, while ignoring the skill development that can make a long-term difference.
The final point raised by the resolutions is limiting the recruitment of unskilled workers. While the contributions of many have to be recognised, I think the authorities have hit the nail on the head. We have all seen labourers apparently assigned to no job at all, waving a random flag or shovelling dirt next to an unused bulldozer.
The construction industry has to be taken back in hand. Too many companies tried to ride the boom by importing labour without incorporating best-available technology.
An old friend from university recently posed the crucial question: "Why don't nationals take up these jobs?" The thought of a young Emirati wielding a shovel on a construction site seems a bit of a stretch. When you have a cash-rich Government implementing Emiratisation quotas in the public and private sectors, however, there will be other opportunities.
But will these opportunities be around forever? Who knows. In our families, we are taught to prove ourselves, take every opportunity and be the best that we can be.
By 2030, my son will be 21 and just about to enter the job market. What will the professional world he steps into look like? Will the same opportunities and scholarships be available then? How dominant will Emiratis be in the local workforce and how will they be viewed?
I don't have the answers to those questions. One thing I do know: if young Emiratis follow their ambitions, none of those questions should matter.
Khalid al Ameri is an associate at an Abu Dhabi development company
Honeymoonish
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
