Young Emiratis are most motivated by ‘helping the country’, a report said, adding that ‘challenge’, ‘development’ and ‘contributing to society’ also count among the most important motivators.

Oxford Strategic Consulting and BP presented the results of the research initiative on Emirati talent during the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development’s second Business Breakfast today (September 22) at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi. The report captures groundbreaking insights from young Emiratis preparing to enter the UAE workforce.

Professor William Scott-Jackson of Oxford Strategic Consulting said: “The private sector, especially, is in a great position to attract and retain great Emirati talent; however, employers must understand the motivations and attitudes of young Emiratis in order to attract the best talent. Our research identifies these key motivations and aspirations.”

The report found that young Emiratis are most motivated by ‘helping the country’ (41 per cent). While both students and employers admit that money is an important motivator, employers significantly overstate its importance (at 63 per cent), whereas only 38 per cent of students believe money to be a key motivator. ‘Challenge’, ‘development’ and ‘contributing to society’ also serve as important motivators for young Emiratis (at 37 per cent, 36 per cent and 33 per cent respectively).

The report focuses on maximising the development of Emirati talent in engineering, with a specific focus on the Oil and Gas sector. BP, a major employer in the UAE’s energy sector, commissioned the report as part of its commitment to prepare young Emiratis for vital technical and leadership roles within the industry.

“The research provides valuable lessons for ourselves in recruitment and human resource development and we hope the findings are helpful also for our host governments, our partners and the oil and gas sector in general,” said AbdulKarim AlMazim, president and general manager of BP UAE.

The report also found that many Emirati students in high school, college and university felt that developing a sense of responsibility was the most important skill required for the work place.

The in-depth interviews conducted by Oxford Strategic Consulting suggest that respondents understood that work-life was very different from student-life, but they lacked sufficient preparation—not least in the obligations and duties of the workplace. – TradeArabia News Service