UAE to offer 3,500 jobs to Emiratis

The UAE is set to offer 3,500 jobs to Emiratis over the next 100 days under the second phase of a direct employment programme, state news agency WAM reported on Saturday.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said the openings would be made available through 13 memorandums with federal and local government entities.

They comprise 2,000 jobs in retail and tourism, 1,000 jobs in the financial and banking sector and 500 in insurance.

“These MoUs laid the groundwork for a strategic partnership between the ministry and federal and local government departments as well as with companies operating in these sectors in order to accelerate the pace of Emiratisation,” said minister of human resources and Emiratisation Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli.

The first phase of the Emiratisation programme saw 5,740 Emiratis secure jobs in aviation, transport, ICT and real estate and services, exceeding the target by 47 per cent.

Under a new policy brought in earlier this year, private sector firms in the UAE will not be forced to take UAE nationals on but must at least give them an interview that otherwise may not have been granted.

Should the company consider the candidate unsuitable they must explain to the ministry why.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation wants to provide 15,000 job opportunities this year through the scheme compared to 6,862 roles secured for nationals in 2017.

Read: UAE council members seek expansion of Emiratisation programme

In May, Al Hamli issued new regulation tightening oversight of Emirati employees in the private sector.

Among the changes are the addition of a follow-up mechanism to keep track of Emirati employees after they have joined a company and handle any complaints they may have.

Read: UAE tightens oversight of Emiratis in the private sector