UAE launches new job portal to prioritise emiratisation

A new job portal has been launched in the UAE to prioritise emiratisation.

The ‘UAE Jobs Bank’ will encourage UAE nationals to apply directly for employment opportunities offered by the public and private sector, giving them priority in select professions, a statement said.

The number of targeted professions – in which Emiratisation is to be prioritised – totals 160. These professions include 5,000 jobs titles, the statement said.

The first phase of the e-government platform is to commence in November 2019, in which 160 entities – government and semi-government entities, federal and local organisations, public shareholding companies and national banks – will be directed to post job opportunities though the portal.

The second phase will begin in Q2 2020, which will include all government entities, semi-government and the private sector, the statement added.

The mechanism has been jointly implemented by the ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, and Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, the statement said.

Employers will conduct interviews with Emirati applicants whose qualifications match the job criteria. Employers will need to submit reasons for rejecting applicants.

Emiratisation has been a long-standing priority for the UAE government. In 2018, the localisation of jobs grew by 200 per cent.

Read: Emiratisation of jobs in the UAE rises by 200% in 2018, set to grow further in 2019

Mubarak Rashid Al-Mansouri, governor of the UAE Central Bank said that the country aims to offer at least 40 per cent of banking jobs to its nationals. Currently, Emiratis constitute 26.1 per cent of the country’s banking workforce.

Read more: Emiratis to secure 40% banking jobs in UAE

Earlier this year, the UAE also launched a Dhs300m fund to train 18,000 graduates to enter the workforce. A part of (value-added-tax) VAT revenues were also allocated to train and employ 8,000 Emiratis.