UK forum aims to attract Emirati graduates back to UAE
20 January 2014
Employers based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) want young Emiratis armed with degrees earned at UK universities to return home to build their nation’s economy, and knowledge and skills base.
Mon, 20 Jan 2014 | By DeeDee DokeEmployers based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) want young Emiratis armed with degrees earned at UK universities to return home to build their nation’s economy, and knowledge and skills base.
More than 1,000 Emirati graduates and undergraduates were expected to attend the inaugural UAE-UK Pioneers Forum held Saturday and Sunday [18-19 January] in London to meet interested employers including BP, Etihad Airways, Serco, Standard Chartered Bank, and a variety of UAE defence, healthcare, infrastructure and utility organisations.
“Never has there been a more exciting time to work in the UAE,” said Noura Al Kaabi, a member of the UAE’s parliamentary advisory body, the Federal National Council, and chief executive office of twofour54, Abu Dhabi’s media and entertainment ‘free zone’. Al Kaabi spoke at the opening ceremony on Saturday 18 January, the day Recruiter attended the event.
Organised by the UAE Embassy in London, the two-day event featured an exhibition, workshops and talks by leading UAE business people about career development opportunities in major industries such as oil & gas and media.
Also speaking on Saturday in an unannounced appearance was Shaikh Mohamed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, a member of the UAE’s ruling royal family and first secretary at the London embassy. Shaikh Mohamed said it was hoped the careers forum would become an annual event “that nurtures the best and brightest young talent”.
The event was billed as being aimed at students of all nationalities. However, three British master’s degree students from the University of Central Lancashire who attended on Saturday told Recruiter that exhibitors on careers stands had said they were only interested in Emiratis.
Student Alexander Booth, Ethan Knight and Daniel Peddell, who are studying counter-terrorism at Preston University’s School of Forensic and Investigative Science, said they believed their knowledge and skills would be useful in the Middle East in key industries.
They said they had travelled down from the North of England to explore opportunities because meeting potential employers in person was preferable to selling themselves on CV, and jokingly noted that “the weather” was a big selling point for them in seeking work in the UAE.
Read more about the forum in the February issue of Recruiter.
More than 1,000 Emirati graduates and undergraduates were expected to attend the inaugural UAE-UK Pioneers Forum held Saturday and Sunday [18-19 January] in London to meet interested employers including BP, Etihad Airways, Serco, Standard Chartered Bank, and a variety of UAE defence, healthcare, infrastructure and utility organisations.
“Never has there been a more exciting time to work in the UAE,” said Noura Al Kaabi, a member of the UAE’s parliamentary advisory body, the Federal National Council, and chief executive office of twofour54, Abu Dhabi’s media and entertainment ‘free zone’. Al Kaabi spoke at the opening ceremony on Saturday 18 January, the day Recruiter attended the event.
Organised by the UAE Embassy in London, the two-day event featured an exhibition, workshops and talks by leading UAE business people about career development opportunities in major industries such as oil & gas and media.
Also speaking on Saturday in an unannounced appearance was Shaikh Mohamed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, a member of the UAE’s ruling royal family and first secretary at the London embassy. Shaikh Mohamed said it was hoped the careers forum would become an annual event “that nurtures the best and brightest young talent”.
The event was billed as being aimed at students of all nationalities. However, three British master’s degree students from the University of Central Lancashire who attended on Saturday told Recruiter that exhibitors on careers stands had said they were only interested in Emiratis.
Student Alexander Booth, Ethan Knight and Daniel Peddell, who are studying counter-terrorism at Preston University’s School of Forensic and Investigative Science, said they believed their knowledge and skills would be useful in the Middle East in key industries.
They said they had travelled down from the North of England to explore opportunities because meeting potential employers in person was preferable to selling themselves on CV, and jokingly noted that “the weather” was a big selling point for them in seeking work in the UAE.
Read more about the forum in the February issue of Recruiter.
