Private schools have intensified recruitment efforts to meet the UAE's Emiratisation targets, but securing Emirati teachers remains a challenge for some smaller institutions.
From January 1, 2023, private companies with more than 50 employees must ensure that 2 per cent of staff members are Emirati.
This figure will rise to 4 per cent by the end of this year, 6 per cent in 2024 and 8 per cent in 2025.
The policy was introduced by the government, as part of a major push to ensure 10 per cent of the private sector workforce is Emirati by 2026.
Organisations operating in free zones are exempt from the requirements.
Figures released on Wednesday showed that 28,700 Emiratis have taken jobs at private companies since the launch of the Nafis employment programme about a year ago.
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Abdulla Galadari, an Emirati lawyer and senior partner at Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Abir Araki, Emiratisation and nationalisation manager at Cigna Insurance Middle East in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
UAE National Career Fair, World Trade Centre, Downtown, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Young men at the Dubai Islamic Bank stand during the National Career Exhibition in Sharjah. Satish Kumar / The National -
Emiratis at the Armed Services stand at a job fair at Adnec. Silvia Razgova / The National -
Emirati job seekers and students at the RAK Career Fair in Ras Al Khaimah. Satish Kumar / The National -
Young Emiratis at a jobs fair in Fujairah trying to get a foot on the career ladder. Satish Kumar / The National
Shiny Davison, principal at the Indian Academy in Dubai, said the school had hired two Emirati staff members, one of whom would be working at the reception and the other remotely in data.
Ms Davison said that before January the school, which has 135 employees, had no Emirati staff — although officials did try to hire Emiratis to teach Arabic.
“We try to look for Emiratis, but rarely get [applicants],” said Ms Davison.
“As a person who has lived in this country for 26 years, I totally support this programme. It's a positive move and I think it's essential.
“As the government introduces this there should be a little more clarity and availability of resources about where we can go for help to get people on board.
“If the government can provide us with the resource bank of people who are willing to work for different categories, it would be easy.”
Dr Beno Kurien, principal at International Indian School — Abu Dhabi, said their school had 55 staff members and had hired two Emiratis, one of whom would work as an Arabic-speaking secretary to engage with parents.
Dr Kurien said finding and hiring Emiratis had not proven a financial burden.
“As a whole, it is not a burden so far as it is at two per cent right now. If it goes beyond 10 per cent, it will be a challenge for sure,” said Dr Kurien.
“Finding Emirati teachers is hard as they prefer the government schools because of pay levels.
“Secondly, for teaching, there are prescribed qualifications, otherwise the person would have to work as an assistant teacher.”
He said that due to a shortage of Emirati teachers, many schools preferred to hire Emiratis for administrative work.
Employers urged to support drive
On Thursday, Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, urged employers to expand efforts to meet next year's Emiratisation target.
Authorities said that while more than two thirds of companies hit the January 1 target, many firms had not taken the requirements seriously enough.
“Educational institutes have thousands of jobs, not only for teachers,” said Mr Al Awar.
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Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed chair the National Competitiveness Council. New figures show 50,000 Emiratis now work in the UAE's private sector - a rise of more than 28,000 in one year. Photo: UAE Government Media Office -
As of January 2023, companies in the UAE must ensure that 2 per cent of their workforce is Emirati. This will rise by 1 per cent every six months until it is 10 per cent. Freezone companies are exempt. Christopher Pike / Bloomberg -
Semi-government owned companies such as Strata, which makes aircraft parts, are major employers of Emiratis. The government wants more privately-owned companies to hire Emiratis. Photo: Mubadala -
Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said a greater mix of Emiratis and foreign talent will make the country more competitive. Victor Besa / The National -
Young Emiratis are being urged to look to the private sector for opportunities and away from traditional jobs in government. Satish Kumar / The National
“If they claim there aren't enough Emirati teachers, then they can hire Emiratis in other jobs in their institutes.
“We have meetings with many institutes and we heard many excuses. However, some brought Emiratis and trained them to teach some topics like Arabic, Islamic and social studies.”
Taaleem, one of the UAE's largest private education providers, now employs 204 Emiratis out of a workforce of more than 3,000.
Talat Goldie, human resources director at Taaleem, said the school group had hired Emirati teachers and learning assistants, and also took on citizens in their administrative, finance and human resources teams.
She said their schools had been hiring Emiratis over the course of the past three years and they did not struggle to meet targets.
“We weren't in a tough position the way a lot of other companies were,” said Ms Goldie.
“If you take all of 2022, I'd say we've hired about 30 to 35 Emiratis. But, before that we still had a good number which is way over the 2 per cent minimum we need to have.”
Gems Education launched Emiratisation Open Days for UAE citizens in October and were able to increase the number of Emiratis in the staff by 70 per cent between October and January.
The Gems Education initiative began with a special Emiratisation Open Day held on October 8 at Gems Dubai American Academy.
Attended by highly skilled Emiratis including Gems Education Alumni, parents and staff as well as university students, the event was an opportunity for jobseekers to network with education leaders, keynote speakers and hiring managers.
Fatima AlShamsi, head of Emiratisation at Gems Education, said: “The number of our Emirati [staff] increased by 70 per cent.
“For Arabic and Islamic teachers, we were able to recruit 13 for on-the-job training.
“Also, we were very successful in getting many Emiratis for teaching assistant positions and as teachers.”
As part of their Emiratisation strategy, Gems Education hired staff in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah but Ms AlShamsi said they were most successful in hiring Emiratis in Abu Dhabi.
