Most notably, the government bears part of the salaries and allowances, and the reduction of hotel establishment fees

Experts identify a set of incentives to increase localization in "tourism"

  • A proposal to enact laws providing for the localization of some jobs, such as reception in hotels.

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Experts have identified a set of main incentives to increase Emiratisation in the tourism sector, which is witnessing a decline in the Emiratisation rate, which has reached 0.07%.

They explained to "Emirates Today" that among these incentives: the government bears part of the salaries of citizens working in the sector, in addition to bearing part of the job benefits related to retirement, health insurance and allowances, and providing incentives for companies and hotels that employ Emiratis, such as reducing government fees, and establishing a national institute Training for free or at reasonable prices, developing a plan to raise awareness of the importance of the sector, coordinating between government departments, and developing a comprehensive plan for Emiratisation.

Offer incentives

The Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Tour Guides Association, Jassem Al Bastaki, suggested that the government provide a set of incentives to increase the percentage of Emiratisation in the tourism sector, such as bearing part of the salaries of citizens working in the sector, as well as bearing part of the benefits associated with jobs related to retirement and health insurance. .

He added that the tourism sector is one of the most challenging sectors in terms of Emiratisation, but it is one of the best sectors in which citizens must be present, as they are the best representatives of their country, and the best who make a true impression of the UAE.

Al Bastaki also called for providing incentives for companies and hotels that employ citizens, such as reducing government fees for establishments that achieve high Emiratisation rates, especially the fees of the Ministry of Labor, and linking the fee reduction to an increase in Emiratisation rates.

He stressed the importance of enacting laws that provide for the localization of some jobs at rates of up to 50%, for example, such as the departments of security, finance, procurement, government events, government relations, and reception.

Al-Bastaki also suggested the establishment of a national institute for training in the tourism sector, which would provide training programs for citizens for free or at reduced prices, pointing out that the existing tourism institutes impose very high prices.

Al Bastaki attributed the low rates of Emiratisation in the tourism and hospitality sector to several factors, most notably the discouraging or unmotivating salaries in the sector, especially with the nature and long working hours in the sector, which may extend long hours associated with receiving tourist delegations according to flights, in addition to that most The hotels are owned by international management companies and foreign investors, it is better for them to employ expatriate workers with lower salaries.

He pointed out that some hotel establishments run by national companies consider "profitability" in the first place as well, like their foreign counterparts.

coordination and training

For his part, the Emirati tourism expert, Saeed Al Hammadi, called for coordination between government and private departments and agencies working in the tourism sector in each emirate, to motivate citizens and develop a comprehensive long-term plan for Emiratisation that meets the needs of the citizen and the sector at the same time.

He also suggested providing intensive training programs for Emirati citizens, with international standards, to work in the tourism and hospitality sector, providing them with high skills and achieving great competitiveness in the labor market, stressing the need for this to coincide with a comprehensive plan to raise awareness of the importance of working in this sector for Emiratis.

Al Hammadi said that UAE nationals are best suited to lead the tourism sector, especially as it is a promising sector with great potential, at a time when it is expected to attract more jobs, achieve more growth, and rely on it as a major sector in leading the non-oil transformation in the coming years.

Al Hammadi attributed the citizens’ lack of enthusiasm to work in the tourism sector to special circumstances with salaries and benefits, which requires an organized and codified government intervention, to make it more attractive, especially since citizens are accepting several jobs in the private sector, after the saturation of the government sector.

Exemption from fees

The CEO of "Jewan" Hotel Management Company, Ahmed Haseeb, agreed that the government should bear part of the citizens' salaries, in addition to the benefits they receive in the tourism sector, to be close to what they receive in the government sector.

He said that the current levels of profit for many hotel establishments, in front of the expenses they incur, do not enable them to grant attractive salaries to Emiratis to encourage them to work in them.

Haseeb suggested exempting tourist establishments from some government fees, according to the percentage of localization they have achieved, noting that this trend will support localization and contribute to raising its percentage in the sector.

He believed that high salaries in the government sector, fixed working hours, and predetermined vacations, as well as some advantages that are not available in the tourism sector, such as housing allowances, education and transportation, prevent a great deal of interest in working in the tourism sector, expressing his confidence that the tourism sector And the hotel will be attractive to work in, and will witness a turnout from the citizens.

• The tourism sector is witnessing a decline in the Emiratisation rate, which amounted to 0.07%.


• Providing incentives for companies and hotels that employ Emiratis, such as reducing government fees.

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