Out of the box

The relationship of qualification to Emiratisation... the real estate sector as a model

Ismail Al Hammadi

June 21 2022

Qualification and resettlement, and what is the relationship of the first to the second?

Each has its own opinion and point of view on the matter, but if we look from a logical angle, if qualification is available, then Emiratisation must follow, in order to complete the strategy guiding the policy of raising the percentage of Emiratisation in the private sector, because “qualification” is prior preparation and training on the basics of the target job or profession. Emiratisation is when a national cadre assumes a job position.

I will not go into the matter at length, but I can raise it and clarify it from another important angle in the private sector, which is the real estate sector, as voices often rose and we had a special topic in previous issues about the scarcity of the national cadre in the real estate sector, and the weakness of the Emiratisation mechanism in the sector. Opening many initiatives and doors to qualify Emirati youth to work in the sector, but what remains on the table so far is: Is qualification and training alone sufficient to bridge the Emiratisation gap in the real estate sector?

Meaning that you train 20 young Emiratis, and in the end you give them a certificate...and "Bye bye"!!

From my own point of view, this is not enough, as the trainee must obtain a recommendation and guidance for a real estate company for employment, in order to complete the task successfully. Mediation to direct the rest.

Meaning: I advise company owners to develop a well-studied plan of objectives before offering training and rehabilitation initiatives for young citizens, to establish effective contribution bases to support the Emiratisation strategy, especially that the real estate sector has become today multi-activity and facilities, as official statistics recently issued indicate that about 3,287 establishments are in the development and construction sector Targeted Emiratisation, therefore, it is necessary to develop a well-thought-out plan to achieve the goals.

I recall that in 2019, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, in cooperation with the Dubai Real Estate Institute at the time, which was canceled at the end of 2020, launched the “Emirati Real Estate” project, an academic program within a package of initiatives to develop the skills of national cadres, enhance their professional capabilities in the real estate sector, and qualify citizens Job seekers, encouraging and attracting them to enter the real estate market as entrepreneurs, through intensive courses aimed at meeting the sector’s functional needs for qualified nationals, and raising the percentage of Emiratisation in the pioneering real estate business.

It was a good initiative, but we have not heard of any similar initiatives since!

There are many rehabilitation and training initiatives, but the issues of “integration” and “employment” remain vague, and this is what we seek to refer to through this topic. Every company or entrepreneur, or any party in the real estate sector, should launch a special initiative to rehabilitate and train Emirati youth Not to neglect the integration and employment aspect, or mediate for that, to support the national strategy for Emiratisation.

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