Here’s a tip: If you are an Emirati looking to transition into a private sector career in the United Arab Emirates private sector, attend a job fair showcasing UAE national careers.
A UAE national career fair targets Emirati job seekers. It’s a place where companies in the country participate and exhibit to gain exposure among UAE citizens looking to get a job in the private sector, a natural outcome of the UAE government Emiratisation initiative.
Emiratisation: What Is It?
The objective of the government’s Emiratisation initiative in the UAE is to increase employment rates among its citizens. One of its key pillars is increasing private-sector employment among UAE nationals.
It uses a dual approach to achieve this: compelling private enterprises to employ Emiratis and encouraging Emiratis to apply for private-sector posts.
Private Sector Emirati Employment Quotas
The government requires UAE enterprises in 14 economic sectors — including real estate, construction, education, and health care — to meet Emirati employment targets.
Companies with 20-49 employees are required to hire at least one Emirati in 2024 and another in the following year.
For enterprises with at least 50 employees to be compliant, Emiratis must comprise at least 3% of their workforce by 7 July 2023. Additionally, these UAE nationals must occupy skilled positions.
The Emirati employment rate must increase by 1% every six months so that by the end of 2026, private companies will have a 10% Emirati employment rate. Non-compliance means steep fines.
Note: Free zone companies are exempt from Emirati employment quotas.
Emirati Employee Salary Top-Ups and Benefits
Traditionally, Emiratis prefer government jobs. To encourage them to opt for private sector jobs, the UAE government awards Emiratis in the private sector an AED 7,000 monthly salary top-up. Additional benefits are given for UAE nationals with children: AED 800 per child per month and up to AED 3,200 per family.
Career Fairs for UAE Nationals
Now that the government has made it compulsory for private companies to meet Emirati employment targets and has successfully made private-sector employment more attractive to UAE nationals, there is a need to help private-sector employers meet prospective employees.
This is what an Emiratisation career fair is all about. It provides a venue or platform for UAE enterprises to exhibit their companies to job-seeking Emiratis as prospective employers.
It accomplishes two things: It helps UAE private companies meet their employment quotas and makes it easier for Emiratis to find and land private-sector jobs.
Are you an Emirati looking for a position in the private sector? Are you looking to boost your career, refine your skills or connect with top private-sector employers?
A career fair for UAE nationals is an essential platform for achieving these goals, and here’s what you stand to gain by attending.
1. Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired
Exhibitors at Emiratisation career fairs are looking specifically for Emiratis to fill skilled posts so they can comply with government employment targets. Put another way, exhibitors in these fairs are looking for you.
Attending an Emiratisation-focused career fair significantly improves your chances of getting hired because you satisfy the minimum requirement exhibitors have for their would-be employees: UAE citizenship.
2. Enhance Your Professional Skills
Career fairs present plenty of opportunities for learning and growth.
- Keynote speeches from successful professionals who have accomplished what you dream of doing will inspire you. They will provide valuable insights you can take home and apply in your career.
- Career workshop activities will improve your competitiveness in the job market. They will make you look at your resume with fresh eyes and give you tips on how to improve it for maximum impact. They will provide interview pointers so you can brush up on your job interview skills.
- Professional networking workshops will guide you in developing and applying effective networking strategies. Use these to enhance your ability to forge connections and apply the techniques you learned (like following up on the relationships made) to maximise the value of networking.
3. Elevate Your Career Prospects
Imagine a space where job opportunities are actively displayed. Your next big break could be just a conversation or an exhibit away.
At career fairs, you can get to know companies you would not have even considered as potential employers if they had not been exhibitors at such events.
Yes, most companies post their vacancies online. That said, many do not publish their updated list of job openings on their websites or social media platforms. You can be sure, however, that the positions they advertise in their career exhibits are the latest and most current ones. By attending career fairs, you can get a company’s up-to-date list of the vacant roles they need to fill.
Attending job fairs broadens your career horizons and improves your career prospects. It lets you find employers whose values are aligned with yours.
4. Explore Trending Jobs and Industries
Intrigued by new career avenues or emerging sectors?
Career fairs provide a comprehensive snapshot of the latest job trends and in-demand professions. Engage with representatives from various fields and learn what it takes to excel in the contemporary job market.
5. Engage With Peers and Top Employers
Networking at a career fair goes beyond exchanging business cards. You can gain valuable professional connections and meet peers in your current or target industry. They can alert you to job prospects you might like or that may suit your expertise and experience.
You can also talk to hiring managers and executives from companies in your preferred industry. They will let you know if they have a position they think might be a good fit for you. They may even interview you on the spot.
Engaging with peers, recruiters, HR professionals, and industry leaders looking to discover talent like you can pave the way for new positions and career advancement.
6. Empower Yourself to Succeed
The exhibits, educational sessions, people you’ll meet and talk to — all of these will open your eyes to the wealth of opportunities available to you. They will inspire you to act and strive towards reaching your full potential.
Ultimately, they will induce you to believe in yourself and turn your professional dreams into attainable goals.
7. Experience the Local Business Culture
Understanding the local business culture is vital for professional growth.
Career fairs offer unique opportunities to immerse yourself in the nuances of working within the UAE corporate landscape. You can gain first-hand industry knowledge and position yourself confidently in your desired profession.
Attend an Emiratisation Career Fair in the UAE
Emiratisation requires private companies to employ Emiratis, and these companies are looking for you.
To find employment with them, attend Emiratisation-focused career fairs and improve your chances of getting your dream job in the private sector.
