[UAE] Reassurance for expats as Emirati employment support programme announced

According to leading industry experts, recruitment of UAE nationals in the private sector is already booming, according to leading industry experts. This week’s government announcement to support the employment of Emiratis in the private sector is expected to fuel that even further but this will not come at the expense of expat jobs, Arabian Business reports.

Muna Mohamed - business manager, Emiratisation, Hays - told Arabian Business, “Already, we are seeing a growing number of private employers establishing learning and development programmes dedicated to Emirati hires and anticipate many more to follow suit.

“For expats, we expect job opportunities to remain much the same as today, if not increase. UAE nationals account for only a very small proportion of the country’s overall population and, thanks to the added foreign direct investment being attracted to the UAE, job opportunities will increase for nationals and expats alike.”

It was announced on Septermber 12 that the UAE will spend AED24 billion ($6.5bn) on a package of benefits and subsidies designed to reduce citizen unemployment by making private sector jobs more attractive.

This was the second instalment of initiatives revealed as part of the country’s ‘Projects of the 50’ campaign, the measures are intended to help close the gap between the public and private sectors as the government aims to absorb 75,000 citizens into private sector jobs over the next five years.

It follows the creation of the Emirati Human Resources Development Council earlier this year and will see Emiratisation targets for the private sector. These begin with 2 per cent of Emiratis in skilled roles, rising in scale to a 10 per cent Emirati contribution over the next five years.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan - UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council - said the latest initiative will lead to building a new generation of talented national competencies characterised by competitiveness, flexibility and diversity of professional experiences.

He said, "The private sector is a partner in the development process, and makes up a large share of the country’s economic output. Hence, enhancing citizens' participation in the private sector means boosting their contribution to the economy, as well as their productivity and skills, and expanding their scientific and knowledge perceptions.

"In the coming years, we can reach a more dynamic development model in which citizens play a key role in all economic sectors in the country."

The new announcements reportedly include grants for students and new graduates to take up private sector roles, an AED1bn graduate business development fund, a government-backed new private-sector child allowance and unemployment benefit, as well as career break and early retirement schemes for Federal government employees starting new businesses.

Unemployment rose to 5 per cent in 2020 from 2.2 per cent a year earlier, according to the latest estimates from the World Bank, which didn’t separate out citizen joblessness.

The first instalment of the UAE’s ‘Projects of the 50’ campaign, aimed at establishing the UAE’s regional and international status as a major economic hub and a champion of excellence, with a competitive business environment that will attract investors, innovators, entrepreneurs and talents from across the world, included plans to deepen its trade ties in fast-growing economies in Asia and Africa and to draw $150 billion in foreign investment primarily from older partners to reposition itself as a global hub for business and finance.

Additionally, the UAE has previously announced a new class of visas that will allow expatriates to apply for work without being sponsored by an employer. The government will allow people who have lost their jobs to remain in the country for up to 180 days; a significant change in a country where most workers are foreigners and visas are often tied to employment.

Source: Arabian Business

(Links via original reporting)

According to leading industry experts, recruitment of UAE nationals in the private sector is already booming, according to leading industry experts. This week’s government announcement to support the employment of Emiratis in the private sector is expected to fuel that even further but this will not come at the expense of expat jobs, Arabian Business reports.

Muna Mohamed - business manager, Emiratisation, Hays - told Arabian Business, “Already, we are seeing a growing number of private employers establishing learning and development programmes dedicated to Emirati hires and anticipate many more to follow suit.

“For expats, we expect job opportunities to remain much the same as today, if not increase. UAE nationals account for only a very small proportion of the country’s overall population and, thanks to the added foreign direct investment being attracted to the UAE, job opportunities will increase for nationals and expats alike.”

It was announced on Septermber 12 that the UAE will spend AED24 billion ($6.5bn) on a package of benefits and subsidies designed to reduce citizen unemployment by making private sector jobs more attractive.

This was the second instalment of initiatives revealed as part of the country’s ‘Projects of the 50’ campaign, the measures are intended to help close the gap between the public and private sectors as the government aims to absorb 75,000 citizens into private sector jobs over the next five years.

It follows the creation of the Emirati Human Resources Development Council earlier this year and will see Emiratisation targets for the private sector. These begin with 2 per cent of Emiratis in skilled roles, rising in scale to a 10 per cent Emirati contribution over the next five years.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan - UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council - said the latest initiative will lead to building a new generation of talented national competencies characterised by competitiveness, flexibility and diversity of professional experiences.

He said, "The private sector is a partner in the development process, and makes up a large share of the country’s economic output. Hence, enhancing citizens' participation in the private sector means boosting their contribution to the economy, as well as their productivity and skills, and expanding their scientific and knowledge perceptions.

"In the coming years, we can reach a more dynamic development model in which citizens play a key role in all economic sectors in the country."

The new announcements reportedly include grants for students and new graduates to take up private sector roles, an AED1bn graduate business development fund, a government-backed new private-sector child allowance and unemployment benefit, as well as career break and early retirement schemes for Federal government employees starting new businesses.

Unemployment rose to 5 per cent in 2020 from 2.2 per cent a year earlier, according to the latest estimates from the World Bank, which didn’t separate out citizen joblessness.

The first instalment of the UAE’s ‘Projects of the 50’ campaign, aimed at establishing the UAE’s regional and international status as a major economic hub and a champion of excellence, with a competitive business environment that will attract investors, innovators, entrepreneurs and talents from across the world, included plans to deepen its trade ties in fast-growing economies in Asia and Africa and to draw $150 billion in foreign investment primarily from older partners to reposition itself as a global hub for business and finance.

Additionally, the UAE has previously announced a new class of visas that will allow expatriates to apply for work without being sponsored by an employer. The government will allow people who have lost their jobs to remain in the country for up to 180 days; a significant change in a country where most workers are foreigners and visas are often tied to employment.

Source: Arabian Business

(Links via original reporting)