The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) is focusing on matching the skills of Emirati national talents with the needs of the job market and industrial companies. Salama Al Awadhi, the director of National Value Added at MoIAT, highlighted the need for skilled individuals in various sectors such as agricultural technologies, electric vehicles, and construction. To achieve this, the ministry is providing various programs and initiatives like Pioneers 4.0 and Industrialists Career Exhibition to empower and upskill Emirati youth.
The second edition of the Industrialists Career Exhibition saw over 4,200 Emirati youth participating and receiving more than 10,000 immediate interviews with 83 companies in the national advanced industry and technology sector. The exhibition, held in Abu Dhabi, provided 800 job opportunities, including 150 positions for Emirati people of determination in private companies. The emphasis was on promoting STEM education and vocational training to drive Emirati participation in the private sector.
Al Awadhi stressed the importance of STEM education in the UAE’s national strategy for industry and advanced technology. The ministry is encouraging youth, especially women, to pursue STEM subjects and vocational training through initiatives like the Industrialists Career Exhibition. The aim is to provide more than 1,000 job opportunities by the end of the year and equip participants with new skills to succeed in future industries.
Challenges in finding the right talent lie in matching the skills needed for future industries. However, the education system in the UAE is evolving to teach future skills in sectors like AI and quantum physics. Training programs offered under the Industrialists Career Exhibition are specifically designed to provide talent with skills that align with future industry needs, ensuring the sustainability and long-term prospects of the country’s industrial sector.
Al Awadhi expressed optimism about the increasing participation of Emirati women in the private sector, particularly in advanced sectors. She credited robust empowerment initiatives for the rise in women’s participation in the labor market and their determination to pursue technical and specialist jobs. The competitiveness of Emirati women in the labor market is seen as vital for supporting the sustainability of the industrial sector, which relies on a strong pipeline of local talent.
