London // The UAE reached out to a world of bright young talent on Saturday, looking for Emirati and foreign students who could provide skills and leadership needed for the country’s next phase of development.
A careers fair opened in London to provide graduates and undergraduates with introductions to a wide range of opportunities.
About 800 young people signed up for the event, with more arriving to register as the exhibition opened.
In the keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Noura Al Kaabi, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi media zone authority twofour54, said: “There has never been a more exciting time to work in the UAE.”
A member of the FNC who has been recognised as one of the Arab world’s most influential women, Ms Al Kaabi spoke of openings for young people to join the “passionate, energetic, talented individuals and entrepreneurs” working in UAE media and entertainment.
But she said the Government’s economic plans would also “benefit a cross-section of industries and are a reflection of a relevant, substantive long-term vision”.
In media, Ms Al Kaabi said, the vision would be achieved by fresh and creative young recruits, with women increasingly playing an important role.
It was estimated that by 2030, 40 per cent of those working in the sector would be Emirati women, she said.
The UAE-UK Pioneers Forum has been organised by the UAE embassy in London in partnership with major employers Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and BP.
It was described as the first careers fair of its kind to enable Emirati and British students to meet business leaders and decision-makers.
Hailing the bond between the UAE and UK, Ms Al Kaabi said: “The [two countries’] first pioneers worked together to explore for natural resources that changed the way we live.
“But the UAE-UK Pioneers Forum also showcases the UAE’s leading role as a creative hub in the region, so that today’s students can become pioneers in the arts, media and culture industries.”
The sector would grow by 5.6 per cent in the coming five years, she said, and 16 per cent in the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
“The region is home to a population of over 360 million, with 60 per cent under the age of 25,” Ms Al Kaabi said. “In the UAE itself, 50 per cent of the population is under the age of 20.
“Although cultures differ from one country to another, all speak the same language and consume Arabic content, providing a market that is bigger than the US’s.”
Ali Al Jarwan, chief executive of Adnoc, said the aim of the fair was to connect the UAE’s most competitive businesses with ambitious, gifted students – the “best and brightest of the next generation”.
Mr Al Jarwan said the country was already leading the world in sustainable energy, Dubai had won the right to host Expo 2020, and Sharjah was established as a regional centre for arts, culture and education.
BP’s chief representative in the UAE, Abdulkarim Al Mazmi, said young people had a chance to work with a “fantastic diversity” of people making a significant contribution to future development.
Dr Abdulla Zamzam, assistant secretary general of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, said recruits to the authority would be joining a body striving for sustainable development to the benefit of the environment.
Dr Zamzam quoted a call by the founding President, Sheikh Zayed, to “leave the world as good as, or better than we found it”.
Abdulrahman Al Mutaiwee , the UAE ambassador to the UK, said: “After Dubai’s winning bid to host Expo 2020, it is a particularly opportune moment for both Emirati and British students to consider a career in the UAE.
“Our economy is diversifying and the UAE is the most developed country in the Arab world, which is why over 100,000 Britons already live and work there.”
A series of workshops and symposiums over the weekend featured presentations by companies and bodies covering a wide range of business, financial, media and public-service employers.
Sunday’s final session will be a workshop on the new era of media hosted by Abu Dhabi Media’s executive director of digital media, Abdul Hadi Al Sheikh, and executive director of publishing, Martin Newland.
Abu Dhabi Media is the publisher of The National.
crandall@thenational.ae