More Emirati graduates say they are choosing to enter the private-sector workforce straight from university in a bid to gain real-world experience.
As private sector firms continue to receive help from the government to hire more local talent, dozens of companies have opened up hundreds of roles ready to be filled by Emiratis.
Speaking to The National at the Career UAE jobs fair on Tuesday, young Emiratis said they were increasingly inclined to look for work in the private sector due to greater opportunities.
university student
Many said flexible working and support to develop skills were more important than salary when starting out in their careers.
Salem Al Shamsi, 21, is studying cybersecurity at Dubai University. He said working in the private sector would allow him to develop his skills at a quicker pace by shadowing more experienced workers.
“I’m searching for opportunities in the cybersecurity and ethical hacking sector,” he said.
“I don’t mind working in the private sector as my main target is work environment.” He said it wasn't about salary.
“I want to have my own cybersecurity consultancy company in the future,” he said.
Fellow jobseeker Buti Al Ameemi said the old view among some locals was to join the government sector as it offers “less work hours and better salaries”.
But nowadays, he said, young Emiratis crave experience over money, which is something the private sector offers.
“Some job seekers think about the salary and work conditions. I want to gain real-world experience first,” he said.
“Then maybe later I will look at finding a job in the government sector.”
Exhibiting at the three-day career fair this year was the Emirates Group, which is looking to fill up to 500 roles with Emirati candidates.
Enoc Group also reiterated its commitment to supporting Emiratisation careers fair by offering more than 80 jobs across downstream and corporate divisions within the company. The group said this year it achieved 50 per cent Emiratisation.
Shamsa Yousef, a human resources graduate from the Higher Colleges of Technology, has been searching for work since 2020.
She attended the fair in the past but was unable to secure a role.
“I had put my resume into some government and private sector companies but I only managed to get a temporary summer job,” she said.
“Today, I applied for many with the hopes of getting an interview.”
With the sweeping programme of reforms and financial incentives to drive private sector opportunities for both young and experienced Emiratis in the UAE, Ms Yousef said she was optimistic about finding employment.
“Before, I wanted to work in the government sector due to working hours, but now working hours became kind of the same across the board,” she said.
“The environment in the private sector is better as they provide training to develop our skills. I just applied for a job with Emirates Airline.”
The fair, which is being held from September 20-22 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, is themed 'The Future of Work’.
It features more than 100 exhibitors in an attempt to draw more UAE citizens to the private sector by displaying a variety of roles on offer.
Shama Al Marzooqi, an Emirati engineer, has been working with Ducab Group, a semi-government manufacturer, for three years.
She was studying electromechanical engineering at Abu Dhabi Polytechnic when she visited the fair in 2019 and was subsequently offered a scholarship with Ducab.
“They offered me a scholarship and gave me the opportunity to develop my skills and implement what I learnt,” she said.
“I’m studying to get my master's degree in engineering management now.”
Mona Fekri, chief human capital officer, said the Group employs 74 Emirati engineers, and Emiratis occupy 60 per cent of the Group’s executive positions.
“They are playing a significant role in Ducab’s success, while 37 per cent of all positions at the company are now eligible for Emiratisation,” she said.
“Ducab is committed to supporting national talents by offering more job opportunities.
“We have training programmes and are offering grants to enlist promising and talented young Emiratis, prepare them to work in the industrial sector, and support them to develop their knowledge and skills.”
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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.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
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Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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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
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
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Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Starring: Alaa Meqdad
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
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• Could the UAE drive India's economy?
• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it
• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
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Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
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Torque: 530Nm
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RESULTS
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
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