Dubai Ambition Initiative Empowers Emirati Talent Through Cross-sector Partnerships

The Emirati Human Resources Development Council has launched the ‘Dubai Ambition’ initiative, aligned with the Dubai Emiratisation Forum theme ‘Solid Partnerships for Sustainable Development’. The programme is designed to build Emirati skills, link them with private-sector needs and structure clear pathways from study to long-term employment across Dubai’s economy.

Through a unified framework, ‘Dubai Ambition’ connects government bodies, universities, training providers and private companies within one ecosystem. The initiative targets Emirati students and graduates, supports smoother entry into the labour market and aims to strengthen human capital in line with Dubai’s wider sustainable development and Emiratisation objectives.

The initiative sets specific targets to be achieved by 2026. The programme aims to raise awareness of private-sector opportunities among 10,000 Emirati students, offer work-based training to another 10,000 students and graduates, and support the hiring of 5,000 Emirati citizens in private enterprises, creating more predictable and structured career journeys.

Key quantitative goals of the ‘Dubai Ambition’ initiative are summarised below, reflecting its focus on large-scale participation and measurable impact on Emirati inclusion in the private labour market by 2026.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Emirati Human Resources Development Council, stated that the initiative reflects the Council’s long-term plan to design integrated routes for talent. These routes start with early guidance, continue with strong on-the-job training experiences and end with sustainable roles in private companies across many sectors.

He also stated, "At EHRDC, we believe that strategic partnerships are the key to realising our goals and nurturing capable national talents who can keep pace with economic transformations, while contributing to strengthening Dubai’s competitiveness and knowledge-based economy. We believe that this launch marks a significant achievement in advancing Dubai’s Emiratisation ecosystem, enhancing human development objectives and establishing a sustainable model of cooperation between the public and private sectors."

The ‘Dubai Ambition’ initiative was introduced with the involvement of 20 participating entities from varied industries in the Emirate. This broad representation supports collaboration between education and employment, and aligns the initiative with the ‘Dubai Economic Agenda’ (D33) and ‘UAE Centennial 2071’, which both place people and skills at the centre of long-term economic and social planning.

By combining early awareness, structured training and job placement within a single system, the ‘Dubai Ambition’ initiative is intended to enhance the Emiratisation ecosystem. The programme links educational outcomes with labour-market needs, supports Dubai’s competitiveness and provides a clearer route for Emirati nationals who want to build sustainable careers in the private sector.

With inputs from WAM