Sweden's ambassador to the UAE, Fredrik Floren, said his country's pavilion at a jobs fair for UAE citizens showed its commitment to Emiratisation.
The nation's embassy used the Tawdheef X Zaheb event in Abu Dhabi to promote Swedish companies in the UAE as potential workplaces for Emiratis. Swedish companies represented at the event included Ikea, aerospace company Saab, agricultural manufacturing company Alfa Laval and industrial manufacturer Atlas Copco.
Mr Floren told The National that his country's presence at the fair reflected its long-standing commitment to the region. "There are more than 200 [Swedish] companies in the country who have been here since the 1960s," he said.
He has visited 45 Swedish companies in the UAE since taking on his current role late last year. He has seen first-hand the vital contribution Emiratis are making in the workplace, he added.
Opportunity knocks
The fair, which runs until November 21 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, represented an opportunity for companies to find the best Emirati talent, said Vinod Jayan, managing director of Al Futtaim-Ikea.
"We want to hire Emiratis because they know the culture the best and are the future of this country," he said. "It's a symbol of commitment to the country I operate in. All we can tell them [Emiratis] is, come with an open mind and a passion for learning in a collaborative environment, and be humble, which is very much part of Emirati culture."
The UAE's Emiratisation drive aims to increase the number of citizens working in the private sector. Under the drive, companies have until December 30 to take the total workforce representation to 6 per cent. First introduced in September 2022, the targets increase by 1 per cent increase every six months. The goal is for a 2 per cent annual increase to reach 10 per cent by the end of 2026. Smaller businesses with 20 to 49 employees must hire at least one Emirati in a skilled position by the end of this year and another by next year.
Helene Bittmann, managing director of Saab Middle East, spoke about the opportunities available to young UAE citizens. There is a need for talent in the engineering sector, as well as business development, finance and HR, she said.
"The Emiratis that I've been working with so far have shown a strong interest to learn more and are very open minded, they see the bigger picture and they are very ambitious."
Emirati experiences
Sameera Al Hosani, customer service manager in Ikea, who started out in a sales position 12 years ago, said there were not many Emiratis working in the private sector when she first joined the company.
“I really wanted to prove that I could work and perform anywhere as an Emirati," she said. “I was handed mornings shifts, but I wanted to break the routine so I took different shifts, including the closing shift. Anyone who works on themselves can develop and lead fulfilling roles with effort and perseverance."
Mariam Al Tameemi, an engineer at Alfa Laval, said she was immediately made to feel at home at the company. "Ever since I joined, I felt safe and the energy in the company was very co-operative, they welcomed me then as their first Emirati employee," she added.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Haemoglobin disorders explained
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Teaching in coronavirus times
