Fresh concerns are being raised about the UAE's shortage of skilled workers as economic activity in the country continues to improve.
About 250,000 skilled, qualified workers were needed to keep the economy growing in the UAE before the financial crisis hit, according to a forecast conducted by Manpower, a global employment services company.
"[Today] my forecast for that is almost exactly the same," said David Arkless, the president of corporate and government affairs at Manpower.
But he and other experts warn the country is falling well short of this goal. "Have we got a talent shortage in the UAE? We absolutely have," Mr Arkless said.As the region continues to diversify its reliance on non-energy industries such as financial services, logistics and information technology, its need for talented labour will only "accelerate", he said.
Last week, the IMF said the UAE's "economic recovery is gaining strength". It also noted that non-oil GDP growth was projected to accelerate to 3.25 per cent this year, up from 2 per cent last year.
Some experts say the UAE's economy may also benefit from the influx of capital from investors who are seeking a safe haven from neighbouring countries beset with unrest. Beyond that, there are also "pretty ambitious plans for development" in the UAE, said Sherif el Diwany, the senior director of the Mena region for the World Economic Forum, an organisation that works with business, academic and political leaders in shaping regional industry agendas.
Mr el Diwany said business owners in the UAE "are not satisfied with the supply of skills in the market. This applies across the region but also includes the UAE".
Unlike in the past, when the demand for lower-skilled labourers such as construction workers and hospitality staff was particularly high, companies are now increasingly looking for a different set of skills as they try to fill vacancies with medical personnel, engineers and other professionals.
"They don't have to do with technical skills, but a soft set of skills" such as independent problem solving and organisational leadership, said Mr el Diwany. "The new job market is completely different."
The Government has recently tried to improve the situation by providing businesses with new incentives including discounted labour cards to encourage the hiring of more skilled workers and Emiratis. But some companies are also expected to create their own strategies.
At next month's Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards in Dubai, a forum of executives is scheduled to address the need for developing and maintaining human capital in this region.
"The chief objective is to help in the development and training of the region's new breed of business leaders," said Shahul Hameed, the group chief executive for My Events International, which stages the event.
Yet some opportunities for hiring workers from the UAE may have already been lost, along with potential investments from new businesses.
Mercury Healthcare, a consultancy based in the US, was recently looking to expand into the UAE and Mena region. One challenge, however, was running into "disparities in roles, skills and training" of local employees who applied for positions, said Maria Todd, the chief executive of Mercury Healthcare. "A nurse is not a nurse by the same standards as here in the US, even after two years' training.
"They [the Emirates] have a nursing shortage and import from elsewhere such as Malaysia. English-language fluency of clerical staff is harder to find than I envisaged."
For these reasons, as well as the unrest in other areas of the region, Ms Todd said the company had decided to postpone its expansion plans in the UAE and elsewhere in the Mena region for at least six months.
nparmar@thenational.ae
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
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IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
Madrid Open schedule
Men's semi-finals
Novak Djokovic (1) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 6pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11pm
Women's final
Simona Halep (3) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 8.30pm
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft
(Source: Colliers)
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Company%20Profile
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Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
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England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
The%20specs
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What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
SPECS
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The%20specs
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WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
