AL AIN // Women are urging employers to expand their operations in Al Ain, saying they have trouble finding jobs in one of the most traditional Emirati cities.
A study released this week by Ain Al Mustaqbal, a partnership between the Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group and the Emirates Foundation's Tawteen programme to help nationals find jobs, confirmed that employment opportunities for women in the city were scarce. Among the reasons, it said, were a shortage of attractive jobs, a lack of experience, cultural limitations and family responsibilities.
The study also found that, in 2005, Al Ain contributed only 11 per cent to the emirate's gross domestic product, the most common measure of economic ouput, even though it had 33 per cent of its population.
The year before, Al Ain residents had an average monthly income of Dh4,600 (US$1,250) while Abu Dhabi residents averaged Dh6,300. The study further revealed that 70 per cent of young women from Al Ain in the Tawteen database are recorded as never having been employed, because they lack experience.
Noor Kamali, 20, represented UAE young people at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, and was president of the student council at the local branch of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) from 2007 to 2008. She has looked for work the past four months and has not received a response.
"I have a strong CV and a very high grade point average of 3.76 but am still unable to find work," Ms Kamali said.
"I may be getting turned down due to the fact that I have no paid work experience, or maybe it's that there simply aren't enough jobs here, I just don't know."
Ghada al Nuemi, 21, who has been looking for a job since June, said: "It is easier to get a job in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, but I cannot leave my family and move out there. In our society women stay at home with their families until they marry. Moving out is just not done."
Ms al Nuemi, who obtained a business and technology degree from HCT with a grade point average of 3.69, also has not found work despite applying to dozens of companies and government agencies in Al Ain.
"I am putting myself out there - applying to companies with branches in Al Ain - but no one ever calls back," she said. "I have gone to career fairs, applied online and in person and am really trying but it seems like there aren't enough jobs here."
Ms al Nuemi said that in Al Ain, 'wasta', (influential connections), seems to be needed to get a job with an acceptable salary.
"Wasta is a big problem in Al Ain," she said. "Those who have connections or friends and family with wasta use them to get jobs. Al Ain is a small city and everyone knows someone who can use influence to get them a job. Even my family has wasta but I don't want to use it. I want to be hired based on my own abilities, I want employers to choose me for me."
Ms al Nuemi said her older sister remained unemployed for two years until she found a job as a teacher.
"I will not wait at home for that long," she said. "If I don't get a paying job soon, I will go back to school. People who sit at home doing nothing begin to forget what they learned. I am eager to apply what I learned."
The objective of Ain Al Mustaqbal is to define and implement programmes and measures overcome factors that contribute to female unemployment in Al Ain. These measures include matching jobs and potential employees with one another, as well as encouraging and facilitating Abu Dhabi entities to create jobs in Al Ain.
"I challenge employers to invest in Al Ain itself and its students," Ms Kamali said. "We are just as capable as the women of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We want to be given the opportunity to show that we do have as much as they do to contribute."
Mouza al Bert, 20, obtained a degree in business management from HCT last summer.
"I have been looking for a job since [then] and have applied in person and online, but have only received one call-back," she said. "I was told that there was a job for me but then was told that the company was experiencing problems and could not hire me at the time.
"I was told that when the problems were resolved, I would be hired. That was back in June. Maybe they will call back or maybe they won't but I do know that I have met their requirements and am qualified to do the job.
"Companies need to expand to Al Ain to provide residents here with opportunities. Companies need to train people here or take on interns to try them out. This happens in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but it doesn't happen as much here in Al Ain because the companies prefer to train people at their head offices.
"If companies understand that Al Ain has an employment problem and invest in the city, residents will reward them by frequenting their businesses. They will find that there are very strong candidates here. There is a high rate of unemployment here, and companies should take on the responsibility of reducing that.
"There is a quote from Bill Clinton that I keep in my mind all the time. Mr Clinton once said, 'I do not believe we can repair the basic fabric of society until people who are willing to work have work. Work organises life. It gives structure and discipline to life'."
ealghalib@thenational.ae
The view from The National
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
THE SPECS
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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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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Price: Dh289,000
The five pillars of Islam
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
.
BABYLON
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
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Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
