Hundreds of Emirati job seekers are flocking to Abu Dhabi for the first Industrialist Career Fair, with many taking the opportunity to interview for roles on offer.
More than 500 jobs at 73 private and semi-government companies are available to Emiratis at the three-day event, which finishes on Thursday, at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.
The event, which had more than 1,000 visitors on day one, is the first to showcase job opportunities for Emiratis in the industry and advanced technology sectors.
Salama Al Awadhi, Director of National In-Country Value Programme at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), told The National: “Hundreds of Emiratis are coming on the second day and we are still counting.
“It is a professional job fair and there are real job opportunities for Emiratis in private and semi-government sector. It will be an annual event.
“There are direct interviews and jobs on the spot for Emiratis.”
Ms Al Awadhi said during preparations for the event they spoke to manufacturers across the country to make sure there would be real job opportunities.
“We asked companies to come free of charge, just if they have real jobs for Emiratis. We have companies specialised in finance, accounting, auditing, and other fields,” she added.
The companies are also offering on-the-job training for those seeking career advancement.
“The fair aims to attract Emiratis with bachelor and diploma degrees as well as fresh graduates from high schools,” Ms Awadhi said.
“The on-job training programmes will be in different fields such as oil and gas, safety and food and beverage [suppliers].
“The companies select the candidates based on specialised training programmes.”
Several well-known companies in the technology and industrial sectors are participating in the careers fair, including Adnoc, Strata, Al Rawabi, Spinneys, Al Gharbia pipe company, Jotun and Fujairah Building Industries.
On-the-spot interviews
Mohammed Al Hamadi, 33, from Abu Dhabi, said he visited the job fair after leaving a position in the oil and gas industry with a semi-government company.
“The fair has given me an excellent opportunity to explore careers in advanced technology, which is the driving force behind global progress,” said Mr Al Hamadi, who has a degree related to the oil and gas sector.
“I took a tour exploring companies and applied to two companies. The good thing about this fair is the on-spot interviews. They asked me to do another interview next week.”
More than 50,000 Emiratis were employed in the private sector last year, with thousands set to join following a boost in job opportunities thanks to the government's Nafis scheme, which provides a monthly salary top-up of Dh5,000 to Dh7,000.
Mr Al Hamadi said it was Nafis that encouraged him to join the private sector.
“Such programmes helped to attract us more to private sector companies. Emiratis are capable of playing a significant role in this sector,” he added.
Mariam Al Marri, a new graduate in Mass Communication from UAE University came from Al Ain with her mother, seeking a job in public relations.
“I want to gain experience and I am open to any job offers as I want to pursue my passion [for] media,” Ms Al Marri said.
“I want to work in the private sector as there is less competition to get a job among Emiratis. We have determination and skills to thrive in the private sector.”
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is leading a nationwide push to bolster local participation in the private sector, viewed as a big driver of the economy.
Companies must increase their Emirati workforce by 1 per cent every six months under the Emiratisation drive.
Employers in the UAE with at least 50 members of staff are expected to meet a 4 per cent target by the end of the year.
The Emirati employment rate will increase to 6 per cent by the end of next year, 8 per cent in 2025 and 10 per cent in 2026.
In March, the UAE launched the Industrialist Programme, designed to increase Emiratisation in the industrial sector, upskill national graduates and help them gain skilled jobs in the private sector.
The move to train Emiratis for industrial jobs comes after the UAE launched Operation 300bn in early 2021 which aims to positioning the UAE as a global industrial hub by 2031.
The 10-year plan focuses on increasing the industrial sector's contribution to gross domestic product to Dh300 billion ($81.68 billion) in 2031 from Dh133 billion in 2021.
Operation 300bn aims to support 13,500 small and medium enterprises and create 25,000 jobs. It also includes an in-country value programme to direct spending towards local products and suppliers.
