Khaleej Times - 19/4/2006

Careers UAE 2006, the country's largest recruitment, training and education show to be held from April 23-25 has registered 32 per cent increase in net space over last year.


This was stated by Saeed Al Marri, DWTC Director-General and show organiser, at a Press conference yesterday.

The sixth and largest-ever edition of the show, dedicated to unearthing and harnessing the best of young Emirati talent, will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and will occupy 4,909 sq-m as opposed to 3,704 last year.

Al Marri pointed out that the event has attracted a large number of exhibitors from across the spectrum of business sectors which is indicative of heightened interest in emiratisation across all sectors of trade and industry. “This year exhibitor numbers have grown by 20 per cent, up from 125 last year to 150 this year.”

"With over 50 companies taking part for the first time, interest in Careers UAE as the ideal platform to source talent and identify future leaders has been generated across all sectors of commerce and industry, with over 50 per cent of the exhibitors being drawn from the private sector," Al Marri said, adding that the event will provide the national workforce networking opportunity with prospective employers and industry leaders and offer an indepth understanding of the labour market requirement as well as help in their career planning.

"The purpose of the show is not finding jobs for our nationals," he said, explaining it is a 'value-added' event.

With the exhibition expecting over 15,000 visitors over three days this year, the event has been re-sectorised for an enhanced exhibitor and visitor experience. The exhibition will be divided into nine zones featuring financial services, insurance, oil and gas, transportation and aviation, commerce and trade, training institutions, education, recruitment agencies and hospitality and tourism establishments.

Financial services will form the largest zone in Careers UAE 2006 with 23 represented at the exhibition, including HSBC, Standard Chartered, National Bank of Dubai and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank to name a few. The commerce and trade zone is the next biggest with 20 exhibitors, 14 of which are taking part for the first time. Leading participants from the trade sector include Majid Al Futtaim Group, Al Tayer, Al Naboodah, Gargash Enterprises and Al Shaya Group.

In addition, the event will focus on job opportunities available for nationals in the Free zone companies in the UAE.

“By end of next year UAE will see around 20 Free Zones giving rise to ample job opportunities to UAE nationals. Currently, UAE national graduates have very little awareness about career opportunities in the Free zone companies,” a Tanmia official disclosed.

Meanwhile, Dubai Civil Aviation (DCA) had a strong participation in the Career Fair 2006 with the promotion of 1,080 vacancies for national job seekers.

Thani bin Jersh, Director of the Human Resources Department, said that the participation of DCA was in implementation of its plans and strategies that aim to develop national human resources.