Injaz Al Arab, a non-profit organisation focused on business education for the youth, and technology major Microsoft are teaming up to help more than 200,000 North African youth boost their digital skills in line with the evolving job market.
The initiative's model will be tailored to meet the needs of youth populations in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania and Libya, using Microsoft-backed Injaz Al Arab programmes that will take place throughout the academic year.
The scheme will be administered, through strategic partnerships and academic institutions, at middle school and up to post-graduate level, aiming at age groups of 12-24 years, in addition to low-income workers and female-based start-ups within the region.
“This educational initiative embodies our core values of empowering the youth of today. Since our inception we are proud to have reached over 4 million youth, and as digitalisation continues to transform the world we live in, it is imperative that our youth develop the necessary skillsets to create future impact," said Akef Aqrabawi, president and chief executive of Injaz Al Arab.
Youth unemployment is one of the biggest challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, with the jobless rate for young people aged 15-24 in the region hovering at almost 30 per cent, one of the highest in the world and has persisted for more than a decade, according to the World Bank's International Finance Corporation
According to Injaz, youth under the age of 25 account for 50 per cent of the Mena region's population. Of that population 29 per cent are unemployed, roughly equivalent to 50 million individuals who are unable to access the labour market and drive economic prosperity in the region.
The IFC predicts that more than 230 million jobs in Africa will require digital skills by 2030. Digitally training people has the potential to contribute significantly to the global economy in a significant way. Programmes meant for this could boost global gross domestic product by $6.5 trillion and create 5.3 million net jobs by 2030, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The collaboration between Injaz Al Arab and Microsoft falls under the latter's global initiative that aims to help 25 million people worldwide acquire the digital skills needed. It will help North African youth enhance their employability and entrepreneurship skills, which in turn would help them secure in-demand jobs.
Most in-demand jobs for 2021 can be carried out remotely,, according to the World Economic Forum and professional services network LinkedIn. About 150 million new technology jobs will be created in the next five years, with 84 per cent of employers planning to expand remote working, according to the WEF.
Unprecedented digital transformation coupled with global unprecedented situations are rapidly reshaping the way we work and live. We are committed to supporting people at every stage in life to achieve more by skilling, upskilling and reskilling them and leading a better quality of life
Ghada Khalifa,
regional director of Microsoft Philanthropies
“Unprecedented digital transformation coupled with global unprecedented situations are rapidly reshaping the way we work and live. We are committed to supporting people at every stage in life – whether students in schools, youth in and out of college, or today’s IT professionals – to achieve more by skilling, upskilling and reskilling them and leading a better quality of life," said Ghada Khalifa, regional director of Microsoft Philanthropies.
The Injaz training programmes will be offered in a hybrid model, either as a supplementary material to existing ones or as stand-alone training.
Additionally, participants will have access to Injaz Learn, a new online learning platform being developed through the partnership that will serve as an educational one-stop-shop for digital, entrepreneurship and employability skills.
Injaz Al Arab was founded in 1999 by Soraya Salti and became a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, one of the largest non-government organisations serving youth globally, in 2004, becoming the regional operating centre for the Mena region.
It operates in 13 countries, has more than 88,000 volunteers and has forged partnerships with thousands of schools and 13 ministries of education. It has also become the largest non-profit organisation dedicated to overcoming unemployment in the region.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
