Three quarters of young Emiratis seeking higher education in business, engineering and human resources 18.04.2012: Career development and job security more important than salary for Emirati job seekers, survey reveals ahead of Al Ain Education and Career Fair

Career development and job security more important than salary for Emirati job seekers, survey reveals ahead of Al Ain Education and Career Fair



Caption:    UAE Nationals at the Al Ain Education and Career Fair – Al Ain’s annual showcase event for universities and training institutes seeking students and job seekers.

Just over three quarters of UAE Nationals between the ages of 18 and 30 are currently studying or have completed degrees in business administration, human resource management, and engineering, a recent higher education study has revealed.


A survey conducted on 237 UAE Nationals asked which areas of education respondents were looking to study or have studied.  The results showed that a third (31 per cent) of respondents indicated a preference toward business administration and management.


Human resource management (25%) and engineering, applied science and technology (21%) followed closely behind, while 16 per cent of respondents indicated they preferred IT and telecommunications as their higher education topic of choice.


The results of the survey, which was answered by 87 men and 150 women, have been released by Informa Exhibitions, organisers of Al Ain Education and Career Fair, which takes place from 30 April to 2 May at the Al Khabisi Wedding Celebration Hall.


Other areas of study proved far less popular for young UAE Nationals; only 10% of respondents are choosing to study accounting and finance, 7% opting for social sciences, philosophy, and marketing and communications, and 6% favouring tourism and hospitality.


However, even these subjects still fared much better than media and journalism (4%), law (3%), and architecture and interior design (2%).


Meanwhile, the survey also showed that UAE National respondents rated career development and job security as more important than salary considerations when job hunting.  When asked what job attributes were most important to them when looking for a job, 65% chose career development and job security ahead of salary as being most important.


Thousands of job seekers and school leavers alike will be able to find out what career and education opportunities await them them as they make the next big step in their future when they descend upon the Al Ain Education and Career Fair later this month.



Providing a dual platform for education providers and employers in the UAE, the exhibition is Al Ain’s annual showcase event for universities and training institutes seeking students, and for leading employers searching for talented UAE National job seekers.


Dozens of universities will be highlighting their latest programmes at the event including University of Wollongong in Dubai, Kaplan University USA, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, University of Lincoln UK and RIT Dubai, along with University of Jazeera, Al Hosn University, University of Sharjah, and Al Ghurair University.


At the same time, the event’s organisers, Informa Exhibitions have signed up major employers from a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, telecommunications, healthcare, industrial and manufacturing, hospitality and insurance.


The UAE Presidential Guard – Diamond Sponsor of the event – and Gold Sponsors Etihad Airways, ADNOC, Etihad Rail, and Etisalat, will all have a number of positions available for UAE nationals as they look to keep their Emiratisation targets for the remainder of 2012 well in their sights. 


Other major employers include the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), Mubadala Aerospace, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi Farmers Services Centre, and the industrial conglomerate General Holding Corporation (GHC), which among its holdings include Ducab, Emirates Steel, Arkan, Agthia and the National Petroleum Construction Company.


Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, Al Ain Education and Career Fair attracted more than 7,000 visitors in 2011 and returns this year with regular show features, the AIESEC Psychometric Assessment Centre, and the Advice Clinic, where qualified Emirati counsellors will be on hand to provide advice and guidance to visitors on the career paths.


Supported by the Emirates National Development Programme, and now in its fourth edition, Al Ain Education and Career Fair has also signed on UAE University and Higher Colleges of Technology as Official Education Partners. The three-day fair is partnered with NAJAH Education, Training and Careers, taking place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 16-18 October 2012.





- Total Communications Dubai also photos