Read also: Projects of the 50 - plan to get 75,000 Emiratis into private sector
Private sector employers across the UAE must ensure 10 per cent of their workforce is Emirati in the next five years.
The requirement was among a package of 13 projects and decrees designed to boost the number of Emiratis in the private sector by 75,000 in the next half-decade.
We will work together with the private sector in order to achieve this percentage
Ghannam Al Mazrouei,
Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council
These included paid training programmes, subsidies for Emiratis working in the private sector and support for local entrepreneurs looking to leave the public sector and start up their own companies.
The latest effort will aim to have Emiratis fill 10 per cent of skilled roles in private companies within five years.
Ghannam Al Mazrouei, general secretary of the newly formed Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, said the government had consulted with private companies, federal entities, young people and experts in human resources to come up with a national programme to achieve the 10 per cent target.
"We will work together with the private sector in order to achieve this percentage," Mr Al Mazrouei said.
"Unskilled labourers will not be counted, only the skilled labour will be within in our target.
"There will be lots of collaboration, meetings and workshops to help identify what the challenges are, and how we can help them to accelerate our highly talented UAE nationals into the private sector, in order to add value to the economy."
The government will support the cost of training citizens in the private sector for up to a year, with a monthly salary of Dh8,000 for university fees.
Separately, funding of Dh1.25bn has been allocated to train Emiratis and prepare them for specialised private sector roles, in partnership with the CFA Institute, Google Awards and the International Association of Business Analytics Certification.
Meanwhile practical training will be organised by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Bonuses for low-income Emiratis
The new plans also included strategies to encourage more Emiratis to choose the private over the public sector, where the vast majority work.
Financial incentives were announced by Mr Al Mazrouei, who said, "We want to motivate UAE nationals to work in the private sector."
"What we have seen in the last 50 years is that the private sector has contributed a lot, and now what we want is the private sector to lead the economy for the next 50 years, and to deploy more UAE nationals," he said.
These bonuses included a Dh5,000 monthly top-up for a period of five years for Emirati university graduates who take a role in a privately-owned company.
An allowance of Dh800 per child per month will also be paid to Emirati parents, up to a maximum amount of Dh3,200 per family, for people on salaries under Dh20,000.
Pensions for those in lower paid jobs will also be supplemented by government funds for the next five years.
If an Emirati should lose their job in the private sector, they will be supported by the state for up to six months, while they look for a new role.
Meanwhile, Emirati nationals working in specialised fields in the private sector, such as programmers, nurses, accountants, and others will receive a fixed bonus of Dh5,000 per month above their salary for a period of five years.
Nevin Lewis, the chief executive of Black and Grey Human Resources in the UAE, said the salary supplements would make all the difference.
“Now the bonus from the government acts as an equaliser, Emirati jobseekers would be open to positions that offer learning and growth opportunities,” said Mr Lewis.
A head start for entrepreneurs
Emiratis in public sector employment, and those nearing retirement were also encouraged to leave their current jobs, and set up their own companies.
As of next year, federal government employees can take a six or 12-month sabbatical on 50 per cent pay so as to start their own business, and employees aged over 50 can take early retirement to do the same.
Enterprising graduates will also be supported by the government, in partnership with local universities, said Mr Al Mazrouei.
"The leadership have assigned Dh1billion to be allocated for young entrepreneurs. This is a signal from the leadership that we will support all of these young entrepreneurs so they can add value to the local economy."
These 13 policies were the second batch from the UAE's 50 Projects for the future, which was first announced on September 2.
Business leaders invited to the launch praised the initiative. Alain Bejjani, the CEO of the mall operator, Majid Al Futtaim, which employs thousands of staff in the UAE described the initiatives as "thoroughly thought-out and well-prepared".
"We believe that localisation brings a competitive advantage for private sector, and the private sector has not just a role to play, but actually a benefit to gain out of localisation and this is why at Majid Al Futtaim, we've always been going down that road," said Mr Bejjani, who is from Lebanon.
Emiratis looking to find out more about the new incentives can visit the Nafis website. The next collection of policies are due to be launched on Sunday.
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'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying
Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
WHAT%20ARE%20THE%20PRODUCTS%20WITHIN%20THE%20THREE%20MAJOR%20CATEGORIES%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20materials%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20specifically%20engineered%20to%20exhibit%20novel%20or%20enhanced%20properties%2C%20that%20confer%20superior%20performance%20relative%20to%20conventional%20materials%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20components%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20semiconductor%20components%2C%20such%20as%20microprocessors%20and%20other%20computer%20chips%2C%20and%20computer%20vision%20components%20such%20as%20lenses%20and%20image%20sensors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20products%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20personal%20electronics%2C%20smart%20home%20devices%20and%20space%20technologies%2C%20along%20with%20industry-enabling%20products%20such%20as%20robots%2C%203D%20printing%20equipment%20and%20exoskeletons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Strategy%26amp%3B%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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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
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.
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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
