More than 17,000 Emirati job seekers will tap into thousands of new employment avenues at the 16th edition of Careers UAE, the country’s leading recruitment, training and education exhibition for UAE nationals, next month, in Dubai, UAE.

The event will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and will take place from May 16 to 18, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

With companies of all shapes and sizes across dozens of related industries ramping up recruitment to leverage the trickle-down effect of Expo 2020 Dubai, Careers UAE 2016 – held in conjunction with Tanmia, Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University – boasts a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in floor-space compared to last year, said a statement.

A strategic platform to facilitate successful engagement between public and private sector organisations with UAE national candidates at all levels of qualification, the event will welcome more than 110 exhibitors this year – with 58 per cent from the private sector and 42 per cent from the public sector, it added.

According to the ‘Emirati Employment Report’ published by Oxford Strategic Consultant last year, 54 per cent of Emiratis polled stated a preference to work in the public sector. In terms of industry selection, the defence and security sector led the way polling at 35 per cent, banking and finance and oil and gas both snared 20 per cent of polled votes, with telecommunications favoured by 14 per cent of those polled and aviation coming in at 11 per cent, it said.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, exhibitions and events management, DWTC, said: “As the UAE is considered a boiling pot of cultures and the country accommodates expatriate workers from every corner of the globe.”

“At a national employment level, the event provides a great opportunity for talented Emiratis - especially fresh graduates - to seize jobs across a plethora of organisations in different sectors,” she said.

“As we approach Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE nationals will benefit from enhanced employment prospects across multiple industries and the exhibition provides the essential educational and industry networking platform for bright, talented and energetic job hunters to seek opportunities with potential employers,” she added. – TradeArabia News service