Flexible hours and remote working conditions will attract more young Emiratis to join the private sector, a senior banking executive said on Wednesday.
Abdulla Qassem, group chief operating officer with Emirates NBD, said one of the main hurdles to enticing Emiratis from the public sector was the perception of longer working hours and inflexibility - but that's changing.
The success of remote working has seen the many firms continue to offer a hybrid working model, with staff in the office for part of the week and operating from home for the remainder.
“I would say the biggest challenge we have in attracting Emiratis to work in the private sector is the working hours,” Mr Qassem told The National.
One thing the private sector has done well recently is in offering more flexibility to work remotely. That’s making private companies more appealing
Abdulla Qassem,
Emirates NBD
“However, one thing the private sector has done well recently is in offering more flexibility to work remotely.
“That’s making private companies more appealing. Another factor is there are many opportunities for promotions and advancement in the private sector.”
Flexible working is seen as a major factor in attracting and retaining talent. In May, tech firm Cisco found 61 per cent of UAE professionals would be less likely to look for a new job if they could split their work between the office and home.
Skills to match needs
Mr Qassem was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the National Digital Talent Programme at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.
The scheme aims to help Emirati interns over the next four years to be versed in future technologies, to bolster the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.
The goal of the project is to create a generation of Emiratis who are skilled in AI-related technologies.
“The number of Emiratis working in the private sector is still comparatively low,” said Mr Qassem.
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What an Emirati should earn in the private sector: scroll through the slides
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“But schemes like this one will help encourage Emiratis to look at jobs outside the public sector and bridge those gaps.”
The programme will see a number of Emirati students taking up paid internship positions with Emirates NBD and work in the bank’s digital and IT departments.
Finding talent with the necessary skills to adapt to the ever-evolving technology used in artificial intelligence is a common challenge, one not just confined to the UAE, Mr Qassem said.
“Finding digital talent that meets a company’s needs is a global challenge, it’s not just a UAE-specific problem,” he said.
“There will be a lot of collaborations between organisations and universities to make sure graduates have the skills to match a company’s needs by the time they enter the workplace.”
The UAE government launched a major recruitment drive in 2020 to ensure at least 10 per cent of the private workforce was Emirati by 2026.
The Nafis programme was created with the goal of helping 75,000 Emiratis to join the private sector.
Enabled by technology
Speaking at the same event, Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Digital Economy, AI and Remote Work Applications, said technology is changing many well-established industries.
“We have seen throughout the years that certain sectors have been completely transformed because of technology,” he said.
“Sectors like aviation, automobiles and transport are becoming technology-driven.”
Rather than being replaced by the increased use of artificial intelligence, he said workers will be empowered by advancements in technology.
“We do not believe in the UAE that humans are going to be replaced by technology,” he said.
“What we do believe is that humans are going to find themselves enabled by technology to create the future we want to live in,” Mr Al Olama said.
He said the UAE government is striving to develop talented citizens by enabling them to learn and train with leading companies, to enhance their ability to work and lead various sectors and raise the level of the nation’s digital economy.
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
