Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) on Monday inaugurated the third Industrialists Career Exhibition at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, designed to match Emiratis with job opportunities in industrial and advanced technology fields.
The three-day event, running until Wednesday, aligns with the UAE's Emiratisation goals and features possibilities from 93 private sector firms, offering over 900 new careers, including 100+ positions specifically for people of determination.
Notably, the event provides female National Service candidates access to training and job opportunities through the "Hama" initiative, launched by the Government Development and the Future Office in partnership with the National Service and Reserve Authority.
The "Hama" initiative aims to develop skills in industries with high demand. The exhibition, a collaborative effort by MoIAT, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Nafis, and ADNOC Group, supports national talent development and workforce inclusion by being in line with the UAE's Projects of the 50's National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the event, Salama Al Awadhi, director of the ICV Programme at the MoIAT, highlighted the programme's significance in fostering sustainable employment for Emiratis.
Al Awadhi noted that a significant collaboration took shape in March 2023 when they signed a memorandum of understanding with Nafis, enabling them to organise this exhibition.
The programme, designed to upscale training and create sustainable jobs, has already led to three editions of the exhibition.
The first in October 2023 offering around 500 jobs, followed by 800 in April. More than 90 participating companies offer over 900 job openings in this most recent edition.
Al Awadhi acknowledged the initiative's emphasis on people of determination as a means of promoting inclusivity.
"This year we added about 100 jobs for them, and we created more than 150 jobs in the previous edition," she said.
In addition, a QR system has been integrated into the exhibition to replace the manual technique and expedite the matching process between manufacturers and job seekers.
"If we want to have a strong industrial sector and a sustainable economy, we need to have our Emiratis there," Al Awadhi said.
Also speaking to Aletihad Salem Bafaraj, VP of In-Country Value (ICV) & Industrial Development at ADNOC, pointed out ADNOC, through its successful In-Country value programme is proud to partner with MoIAT, MoHRE, and Nafis for the third edition of the Industrialists Career Exhibition, which provides an important platform for leading companies in the private sector to recruit talented UAE nationals and offer them pathways to build successful careers.
Bafaraj noted the importance of providing a platform for Emirati job seekers, to showcase their skills and capabilities across various sectors, especially in the energy, technology, and industrial fields.
To enhance the experience for people of determination, Bafaraj highlighted their collaboration with the Zayed Higher Organization, aiming to improve the interview process and create a better platform for candidates to showcase their abilities.
Ahmed Al-Ghafli, a senior project manager at the Ministry of Community Development, and a person of determination, highlighted the Ministry's commitment to promoting their employment at the Industrialists Career Exhibition.
"This participation provides guidance on the appropriate job level, work environment, and specific requirements based on different disabilities," he said.
He underlined the cooperation with the ZHO and the MoIAT, two essential partners in enabling people of determination to achieve national policy objectives.
Al-Ghafli stressed the significance of offering more than 100 private sector employment options to people of determination, indicating, "This opens doors to overcome the challenges they face in employment. The private sector offers an opportunity to hone skills and discover one's potential, paving the way to self-employment."
Opportunities Galore
Abdulla AlKhoori, an IT coordinator at Mannesmann Energy and a person on the autism spectrum, told Aletihad that he joined the programme since the previous edition to find work after post-graduation.
"I find this programme very useful in connecting with companies looking for employees and giving me options on where I want to work," AlKhoori said.
Moza Al Hammadi, an SLB field engineer, told Aletihad that their participation is aimed at showcasing the company's commitment to hiring Emirati talent through training and development, which fosters a skilled workforce that drives innovation.
Also speaking to Aletihad, Mariam Almarzooqi, HR & Emiratisation Lead Business Partner at Weatherford International, said, "This is our third time participating in the exhibition. We are offering over 10 positions in technical and administrative roles, aiming to hire on the spot."
Almarzooqi advised Emirati job seekers to "grab the opportunity, attend the exhibition, and take advantage of live interviews for immediate job offers".
