More than 150 exhibitors are participating at the ongoing Careers UAE Exhibition 2013, which has seen significant turnout on the first day, allowing Emiratis to explore job opportunities, academic programmes and training courses.

For female job seekers, who constituted at least half of the attendees, the most popular segment was the Emirati Women Leaders Panel, which held a special women-only session during which young Emiratis gained valuable lessons about career paths and life as a working professional, a statement from an official said.

The members of the panel included Dr Mariam Matar, founder and board chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association; Fatma Mohammed Salem Al Khaqaq, senior vice president, commercial unit, Economic Zones World, Jafza; and Hessa Al Ghurair, head of human resources at Tanfeeth.

“It is vital to educate young Emirati women on the place of leadership we can hold in the community and the labour market,” Dr Matar said. “Our priority should be to transform ambition and talent into leadership, and to understand and respect the difference in strength and skills in men and women.”

“My work involves growth of all kinds; of commercial products and services, and of partner loyalty. But the growth I believe in most is that of women’s leadership. If Emirati women let their ambition and drive lead them, they can have a stronghold on the labour market and a pathway towards great things,” Al Khaqaq said.

Samar Badri, regional director of HR at Jumeirah Group, said: “Our female visitors have been delighted to learn that positions which they previously perceived as male-oriented – such as head of butler services – are actually occupied by women in our organisation.”

“The Emirati culture is renowned for its warm hospitality, and this has contributed to us receiving over 200 applications on the first day alone and this is due to young Emiratis’ keen interest in the hospitality industry.”

Yasmine Rasool, space project director at Brownbook, said: “Visitors who are targeting careers in other fields have been thrilled to learn that they can still participate in our part-time creative programmes. We have been touring several universities to engage students, but now Careers UAE Exhibition is bringing the students to us.”

The event, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will come to a close today.  – TradeArabia News Service