Traditionally government jobs have been seen as the preferred choice for young Emiratis due to security and salaries. But now a mentoring programme is challenging this and giving them the confidence and skills to become future private sector leaders
While most other people in the Emirates are enjoying their weekend, a group of young Emiratis are taking part in workshops to help shape their futures.
The aim of the Emirates Foundation leadership programme is to encourage and enable Emiratis to step out their comfort zone and play a bigger role in the private sector.
By the end of the year, the Kafa'at Youth Leadership Programme (Kafa'at translates as competencies) hopes to have helped more than 650 citizens feel confident and empowered enough to take on a job in a non-government company. The project, which started in March, targets university students and school dropouts, as well as people between the ages of 18 and 35 who are already employed in either the public or private sector.
It focuses on developing interpersonal skills and self-confidence, in an effort to help participants bridge the gap between academia and the workplace.
The programme's activities range from outdoor team building-exercises to presentations from successful Emirati role models, and exercises to develop their use of English and management terminology.
With a nationwide push to boost Emiratisation in all fields, the foundation also hopes to dispels some of the myths surrounding private sector jobs.
At the most recent workshop, participants voiced concerns about job security, career development, salaries and overtime.
One of the people helping to dispel some of the myths is Khalfan Juma, who has been working the private sector for the last seven years.
"In the private sector they have flexibility of work where you can state your opinions and be heard and create a change," he says.
"You also know more about the happenings of the world and its direct relation with your concentration.
"In the governmental sector there is a very structured system and orders come from the board."
The public sector has long been the preferred choice for young Emiratis, who see it as offering better training, job security and career development, as well as higher salaries and a good pension. Mr Juma, who is currently doing a PhD at Khalifa University, says that although university gives students a very good academic foundation, it can sometimes do little to help them develop as people. "The education level we get from Khalifa University is very solid of engineering background," he says. "It is solid enough to push the nationals into all the different paths, from being a fresh graduate, to a trainee, all the way to a CEO.
"If you prepare yourself with the scientific knowledge and nurture your leadership skills, you create a strong background for all job challenges at the managerial level, whether private or governmental."
After he has completed the course, which takes place over three consecutive weekends, Mr Juma will then be asked to return to speak to the next group of delegates.
Another participant, Thabya Al Dosary, who is in her last year at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, heard about the programme through a volunteering club at the university.
She is now halfway through the programme and already keen on embarking on a career in the private sector. "I have started to consider the private sector more," she says. "It's not only about the money, but the promotion and the development. You can get promoted in a year whereas in the government it takes up to three years."
Her generation, she adds, wants more than a just a job: they want a career. "In some of the government jobs, I wouldn't say it's boring, but it can be more of a routine.
"I see a lot of jobs are taking only foreigners, and Emiratis cannot only do them, but excel in them.
"Stereotyping is a problem everywhere, and it is felt even here. There are a lot of stereotypes from other nationalities about us. They say Emiratis are lazy, Emiratis just want a desk to sit at and drink coffee, Emiratis don't work enough. I don't think this is at all true. Not our generation."
Ms Al Dosary also stressed the importance of promotions - a notion which is often lost in translation.
"We had a private company that came to the university for lectures. Among them was a local spokesperson and he explained how he got promoted from an worker to a manager, and he was good.
"And this is what counts, appreciation of your skills. When you are a worker anyone can take the credit and put it under their name, but when you are a manager, you come with the initiative and you get recognised for it."
At the March launch of the Emirates Foundation programme, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, spoke about the importance of creating forums for young people and the business community to mix.
"Never before has the issue of talent been so critical for both the public and the private sector. Work readiness seems to be at the top of everyone's agenda."
Mohamed Al Hosani, a senior manager of leadership and empowerment at the Emirates Foundation, says Emiratis have the full ability to compete in the workplace, despite the stereotypes.
"The decision makers and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed are increasingly encouraging locals to take part in the private sector. We only nourish their skills, the behaviour, and the sustainability of them staying in this sector.
"We are at the second level of the programme and a group will be extracted to go to the next level, and they would be our next coaches. The skills taught in our current campaign are mainly interpersonal skills which builds the personality of every person to be a leader and to be competitive with all nationalities."
Each course is designed and based on up-to-date information about the job market. "We evaluate the needs of the private sector and upon it we structure the leadership camp," says Mr Al Hosani.
There are many steps to the programme, of which the leadership camp is the first. "The second step is a mentorship programme, where every group of five would be in direct contact with one of the local managers in the private sector across the UAE for guidance and support."
"Emiratis should move a step out of their comfort zone."