Mansour Bin Zayed Chairs Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council Meeting And Honours Nafis Award Winners
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, led the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. During this session, the Council approved its strategic indicators for 2026 and a new strategic plan. Sheikh Mansour commended the Council's initiatives to support Emirati talent in the private sector.
He highlighted that the Nafis programme reflects the UAE leadership's vision to empower citizens for future challenges. Over four years, it has shown that investing in national talent is crucial for enhancing UAE's regional and global competitiveness. "National talent will remain at the heart of the country's priorities," he stated.
The meeting reviewed key achievements of the Nafis programme since its inception. Approximately 154,000 Emiratis are now employed in the private sector, with over 136,000 joining since Nafis began. The number of companies hiring Emiratis has grown to nearly 30,000, showcasing significant progress in workforce integration.
Following the meeting, Sheikh Mansour honoured winners of the third cycle (2024–2025) of the Nafis Award at a ceremony held at Qasr Al Watan. He expressed gratitude to awardees and partners who helped achieve the Council’s goals. The Nafis Award embodies UAE leadership’s vision to boost Emirati workforce participation and promote excellence.
The award serves as a platform to acknowledge outstanding individuals and institutions excelling in Emiratisation. It inspires more Emiratis to join the nation's development journey. Sheikh Mansour emphasised that honouring winners reflects UAE’s dedication to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in workplaces.
He praised institutions' roles in supporting Emiratisation by creating attractive work environments for Emirati professionals. This enables them to develop skills and contribute effectively across various sectors. Investing in national talent is seen as a pillar of sustainable development and a knowledge-based economy.
Award Ceremony Highlights
The ceremony celebrated 33 Emiratis who secured first place across 11 subcategories under individual categories like leadership, supervisory roles, medical fields, healthcare, banking, finance, insurance, future jobs, administrative tasks, technical roles, engineering positions, retail services, and customer service.
Additionally, 54 establishments were recognised under companies supporting Emiratisation across 13 vital sectors such as business services, manufacturing, trade and repair services, real estate and construction projects, health and social work initiatives, hospitality and entertainment industries.
The event was attended by several ministers along with board members of ETCC. Members of the judging committee and strategic partners of Nafis programme were also present at this significant occasion.
With inputs from WAM
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