Ethraa Career Fair 2023 Engages Over 1000 Emirati Job Seekers With Employment Opportunities

The ninth Ethraa Career Fair, organised by the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) alongside the Central Bank of the UAE and other key partners, concluded in Dubai. The event attracted 61 federal and local government entities, banks, insurance firms, exchange houses, and financial institutions. Over 1,000 Emirati job seekers attended, engaging in more than 2,000 job interviews and participating in skill-development workshops.

The Ethraa initiative supports the UAE's Emiratisation strategy within the financial sector. It aims to create over 10,000 jobs for Emiratis by 2027. This initiative empowers young Emiratis to shape vital economic sectors and contribute to long-term national development goals. The fair also included a career guidance zone with significant interaction from both male and female participants.

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri from the Central Bank of the UAE highlighted the fair's strategic importance. He stated that it is a milestone in building specialised Emirati human capital. "Ethraa Career Fair represents a strategic milestone within the national efforts to build a specialised Emirati human capital capable of keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the financial sector," he said.

The event saw Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between EIF and both Rochester Institute of Technology and Al-Futtaim Group. These MoUs align with EIF's strategy to train national talent and implement Emiratisation plans in finance. They support the objectives of the "Ethraa" programme under the Central Bank's initiative to empower human resources in finance.

Dr Faisal Al Ayyan from Higher Colleges of Technology emphasised empowering youth in finance. "Empowering Emirati youth to lead in key sectors like finance and banking is central to our mission," he noted. Participation in initiatives like Ethraa helps prepare future-ready graduates through applied learning and industry collaboration.

Commitment to Local Talent

Raghda Fatme from Al-Futtaim Real Estate expressed pride in supporting Emiratisation for over ninety years. "Our participation in the Ethraa Career Fair represents an important opportunity to engage with young Emirati talent," she said. Al-Futtaim invests in national talents aiming for them to become distinguished leaders within or outside their group.

Dr Yousef Al Assaf from RIT Dubai spoke about their partnership with EIF as forward-looking. "Today’s signing with the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) marks the start of a practical and forward-looking partnership," he stated. This collaboration aims to strengthen an adaptable ecosystem for shaping finance's future.

The Ethraa Career Fair aligns with national efforts to invest in youth potential, supporting their role in shaping key sectors crucial for UAE's knowledge economy and sustainable development agenda.

With inputs from WAM