Major UAE employers building their future on the back of a strong Emirati workforce – including Etihad, Etisalat, Du and Adnoc – will be out in force at next month’s Al Ain Education and Career Fair, said the organisers.

The fair, being held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, Education and Career Fair, will run from May 2 to 4 at the Al Khabisi Wedding Celebration Hall.

Supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), and strategically located in Al Ain due to its large population of Emiratis and university graduates, the exhibition focuses on career, training and education opportunities in the UAE for young Emiratis contemplating their future career direction and educational aspirations.

The leading UAE firms are set to take advantage of an important recruitment platform presented by the career fair to recruit Emirati talent.

"Thousands of graduates and school leavers will be visiting the event in the hope of identifying career opportunities at a time when 23.1 per cent of young Emiratis between the ages of 18 and 23 are currently out of work," the organisers said.

"The good news for many is that they will have face-to-face opportunities to impress leading UAE employers looking to recruit the brightest young local talent and fulfil emiratisation quotas," they added.

The event is also supported by Emirates National Development Programme, with ershaad.ae – the online job portal dedicated for UAE nationals – the official emiratisation partner.

In addition to supporting the event on an official basis, Etihad Airways, Etisalat, and Du, all gold sponsors of the fair, and silver sponsors Adnoc, are among the exhibitors who will be offering a number of current job openings, as well as future career opportunities to young Emiratis.

“Emirati nationals have a critical and vital role to play in the on-going development and running of Etihad Airways”, said Najla Al Naqbi, the airline’s marketing manager.

“Their unique experience and insight into the culture and traditions of the UAE is a key ingredient in our future success”.

Among the other major exhibitors using the event as part of their long-term emiratisation plans are Al Futtaim Group, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Emirates NBD and Ernst & Young, one of the largest professional services consultancy firms, with over 4,000 employees spread across 15 countries in the Middle East.

Organised by Informa Exhibitions, who acquired the event in January, the career Fair attracts more than 5,000 visitors, including students, parents, and jobseekers.

“Al Ain is home to 400,000 people, and has the largest UAE national population of all the emirates, providing the ideal platform for organisations and educational institutions to spotlight different career opportunities for UAE national job-seekers and students,” said exhibition manager, Khurram Saeed.-TradeArabia News Service