Project Abu Dhabi: Emiratisation

Programmes such as Absher will create thousands of jobs for UAE nationals over the next five years.

Young Emiratis talking to representatives from different industries at the Al Gharbia Careers Fair at the Higher Colleges of Technology campus in Ruwais.
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With a high unemployment rate among UAE nationals, the Government is making

a priority for the country.

The Absher programme has been set up to create thousands of new jobs for Emiratis in the public and private sector every year for the next five years.

Overall, 20,405 new jobs will be created in more than 20 entities, including airlines, oil companies and ministries.

Other companies, including banks and hotels, have expressed their intention to hire more nationals.

Most of the positions will be in leadership, management, technical, professional and supervisory roles.

Companies that take part in the Absher programme have been promised discounts on labour cards and other rewards by the Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghobash.

"The file of Emiratisation has become one of the most important files in the country," he said at a session of the Federal National Council this week.

"Therefore we are sure and confident that Emiratisation in the next year will be successful at the ministry."

Mr Ghobash said low salaries, long working hours and limited annual leave were some of the obstacles companies needed to overcome to help nationals enter the private sector.

Of the four million people currently employed in the private sector, only 20,000 of them are nationals - with 65 per cent of them men.

While some Emiratis have expressed disappointment that no laws enforce Emiratisation, Mr Ghobash said a ruling requiring recruitment agencies be headed by a local has resulted in more nationals entering the workplace.

To further aid Emiratisation, the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council has created a programme in which, after an eight-month training period, nationals must be given a permanent position at a company.

This will be monitored by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

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