Abu Dhabi unveils new talent program to meet job demand

ABU DHABI / WAM

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added) has unveiled Industrial Talent Programme to develop, attract, and upskill human capital in the industrial sector to meet the rising demand for knowledge-based jobs.
The announcement was made by Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of Added at the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Talent Majlis, which brought together over 100 top executives from manufacturing companies, education and training institutions, and representatives of young talents, to address major topics and factors contributing to talent development and job market efficiencies.
The “Industrial Talent Majlis” was established to serve as a collaborative platform for addressing the sector’s talent objectives. The Industrial Talent Programme — launched by Added’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) to act on Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (Adis) objectives — aims to develop and attract needed talents as well as upskilling the existing  workforce in Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector as it is experiencing exponential changes with the transition to advanced manufacturing methods and techniques.
The initiative will include a series of activities over the next 5 years to match supply and demand in the job market by qualifying highly specialised talents in the industrial sector. These initiatives will include awareness sessions for students and employers, funded and co-funded training for the incoming and existing workforce, in addition to incentives and talent attraction programmes.
IDB is leading the ‘Industrial Talent Programme’ in collaboration with key partners including the Abu Dhabi Human Resources Authority, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Abu Dhabi Residents Office (Adro), the Added’s arm to support the emirate’s thriving international community and position Abu Dhabi as a top destination for global talent, and Abu Dhabi Youth Council. Additionally, IDB will be working closely with manufacturers to ensure successful execution during the next period. Adis emphasises the role of talent as a strategic pillar in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as the most competitive industrial hub in the region. Talent development is one of the six transformational programmes in which Abu Dhabi is investing AED10 billion to deliver Adis ambitious objectives including doubling the size of manufacturing sector to AED172 billion, creating more than 13,600 skilled jobs, and increasing non-oil exports to AED178.8 billion by 2031.
The talent development’s initiatives are key to maximise the benefits of other Adis’s programmes; namely Industry 4.0, Circular Economy, Ecosystem Enablement, Homegrown Supply Chain, and Value Chain Development. With technological advancement in the industrial sector and the transition to industry 4.0 approaches, methods, and techniques, it is imperative to develop and upskill the industrial talent to keep pace with the requirements of the digital and technological transformation.
In line with Adis targeted sub-sectors, the Industrial Talent Programme will initially invest in developing, attracting, and upskilling the Emirati and international talents in food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machineries, electrical and electronic products, and transportation.
The programme is designed to equip talent with technical and soft skills including the basics of technological advancements such as automation, Internet-of-Things, big data, digital and intelligent technologies, analytical thinking, and adaptive flexibility.
Arafat Al Yafei, Executive Director of IDB, said, “Abu Dhabi continues to cement its status as the most competitive industrial hub in the region, with special focus on human development, sustainability, and smart economy.”