DUBAI // Emiratis should not be deterred from working in the hospitality industry by concerns about alcohol and other issues, the hotels group Jumeirah says.
Nationals have tended to avoid the industry and other parts of the private sector that are seen as unsuitable, with most preferring government jobs.
But there are many roles that do not bring staff into contact with alcohol, said Sumaya Khalfan, the corporate communications manager of Dubai’s Jumeirah Group, which runs the Burj Al Arab and a string of other luxury properties.
“Hospitality is not all about alcohol or reception,” Ms Khalfan said. “There are a lot of different departments within Jumeirah – IT, HR, marketing and other sections.”
In 2010, Jumeirah launched its national development management programme and the first seven graduates, all women, took up positions with the group last year. The second batch, including men, joined the programme in September.
“This is changing a little bit attitudes towards nationals, especially women, working in the hospitality sector,” Ms Khalfan said.
“This year is really important for us as we’re targeting to increase the number of Emiratis by 3 per cent on last year. Dubai is about hospitality. It is part of our life and culture.”
One of the first seven graduates was Ahlam Bolooki, 22, of Dubai.
“I’m very pleased with my career choice as I’m a people person,” Ms Bolooki said. “I work in Jumeirah Restaurants as assistant marketing manager.
“I would really recommend other nationals to come into this sector because it’s really growing and tourism is a big part of the GDP of the country. Jumeirah as a company is growing globally on a huge scale in the next few years and it would be a shame if Emiratis weren’t part of that growth.”
Staff have opportunities to spend time working in the group’s hotels abroad.
“Because it’s a local company, I know for me, my family would feel more comfortable about me travelling through Jumeirah rather than travelling on my own to find a job somewhere,” Ms Bolooki said.
Ms Khalfan and Ms Bolooki were on the Jumeirah stand at Careers UAE, a recruitment fair for nationals that opened yesterday at Dubai International Convention Centre, alongside the HR Leaders Forum.
Essa Al Mulla, the executive director of the Emirates Nationals Development Programme, told the forum that the number of Emiratis in the hotel industry was almost zero.
“In the hotel industry there is no long-term care for Emiratis,” Mr Al Mulla said. “We don’t have an existing plan to get more nationals to engage with the hotel industry.”
But he said the answer was not for the Government to impose quotas as the industry was not ready for it.
One job seeker at the fair was Shaikha Al Suwaidi, 23, who had just graduated from Dubai Women’s College where she studied subjects including tourism and event management. Despite this, Ms Al Suwaidi said she would not consider working in hospitality.
“I don’t like hospitality, though I like event management,” she said.
More than 100 private companies, government departments and universities are taking part in the 12th Careers UAE, being held to support the Emiratisation programme.
The electronics and electrical-engineering giant Siemens is calling for applications for 189 vacancies in the UAE, and hopes to fill as many posts as possible with Emiratis.
Most of the jobs are in energy, industry and infrastructure and require an engineering background.
“Having local employees from the UAE in our set-up means, first of all, that we have a better understanding of the business, the Government and the people here,” said Dietmar Siersdorfer, the chief executive of Siemens’s energy division for the Middle East.
“Secondly, we have a longer perspective because they can grow here in the organisation, they can take management posts. Some will, at the end of the day, reach the higher ranks and work in management posts in other parts of the world.”
Careers UAE continues tomorrow.
csimpson@thenational.ae
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
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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
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
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MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5