DUBAI // Auditors are checking recruitment procedures to ensure that government bodies and businesses are not offering jobs to people who benefit from the form of favouritism known as wasta.
The Arabic word wasta refers to the practice of gaining advantages because of one's influence or connections rather than through merit, and is similar to the western concept of "who you know".
Recruitment is one of the areas examined by internal auditors, specialists employed to check all aspects of how an organisation is run.
"People think auditors are attached to finance," said Abdulqader Obaid Ali, president of the board of the UAE Internal Audit Association. "That is not the case with internal auditors; finance is only 20 per cent of our work. We look from A to Z in the organisation, we look into all different processes and we audit them.
"One of the things we prevent is wasta," he added. "There is a process you have to look into. If you know him and just because you know him you give him a job - no. If he has the right qualifications there's no problem, but he must meet the criteria of the job. We ensure there is no wasta."
The UAE Internal Audit Association, a non-profit professional body, was formed in 1995 and provides members with support, training and other benefits. It has more than 1,700 members across the Emirates and is affiliated to the Institute of Internal Auditors, a global body with members in 165 countries.
Nearly 10 per cent of the association's members are Emiratis, and an initiative is about to be launched to attract more to the profession.
"We as an association have the know-how to train and certify nationals, and we know where they can go to work as well," said Mr Ali. "There is a big gap, almost all audit departments are looking for nationals.
"The idea is we're going to take some national graduates who have the right attitude for audit work, we're going to put them through six to nine months of intensive training - theoretical and practical.
"When they finish they'll be placed into a position. We're looking at putting 40 nationals into this programme - 20 men and 20 women - and we're hoping to launch it by September."
Unlike external auditors, who are brought in to inspect the books, internal auditors are employed by the company or government department concerned, and their remit goes beyond financial matters.
"We look into recruiting, we ensure there is good governance in recruiting," said Mr Ali. "Something we've learnt is, please, please recruit the right person for the right job. What makes a company is the people in it, and how you recruit these people is pivotal to your success. It's up to you as a company to bring in the right calibre to make sure you can excel and compete in this world. To me this is vitally important."
One of the key roles of internal auditors is to report cases of fraud and corruption. "Wherever you have people, unfortunately you're going to have fraud, it's there. It's in our mandate to raise the alarm when we detect it."
Information provided by whistle-blowers is an important element in the war on corruption, and Mr Ali said an increasing number of UAE companies were introducing schemes to encourage employees to come forward.
"We've seen a lot of whistle-blower systems coming up, a lot of companies have started installing them. People [who notice fraud] are saying, 'What do I do about this guy?' One of the best ways is to put in a good whistle-blowing scheme. There is some work to be done on protection for whistle-blowers and all that, but things are moving in the right direction, which is very positive."
The association will host the 14th Annual Regional Audit Conference in Abu Dhabi from April 15 to 17.
csimpson@thenational.ae
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Company%20Profile
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England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
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 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
UFC%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
Company%20Profile
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Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
2007 Roger Federer
2008 Rafael Nadal
2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
2011 Novak Djokovic
2012 Novak Djokovic
2013 Rafael Nadal
2014 Novak Djokovic
2015 Novak Djokovic
2016 Andy Murray
2017 Rafael Nadal
2018 Novak Djokovic
2019 Rafael Nadal
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now