Global Talent Attraction and Retention Committee Convenes Tenth Meeting to Review Progress on Talent Strategy 2031

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 25 June 2026: The Global Talent Attraction and Retention Committee held its tenth meeting today under the chairmanship of His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister Responsible for Attracting and Retaining Global Talent.

The meeting included a review of changes to the committee’s composition, with the Federal Council for Demographics formally admitted as a member. The addition reflects the government’s commitment to institutional integration and to aligning talent attraction and retention policies with national demographic priorities, in support of sustainable and comprehensive development.

The committee received an update on the implementation of the second phase of the Talent Strategy (2024–2027), which encompasses 17 national initiatives, with 24% of those initiatives already having been completed. The remaining 76% are progressing in line with approved timelines, demonstrating the accelerated pace at which the strategy’s objectives are being delivered.

The committee reviewed a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the UAE’s appeal as a destination for top-tier talent. These included the introduction of new visa and residency categories targeting specialists in high-demand fields. Among them is a dedicated visa for artificial intelligence professionals, alongside new visit visas designed to attract international expertise. The committee also discussed developments related to the voluntary savings scheme as an alternative to end-of-service gratuity, which is intended to enhance workforce stability and bolster the competitiveness of the UAE labour market.

Within the framework of the performance measurement system, the committee reviewed strategic objectives and key performance indicators aligned with the UAE’s 2031 targets. Members examined international best practices in measuring talent competitiveness, with a view to strengthening the evaluation framework and advancing the country’s position in global talent indices.

The committee was also briefed on the ‘UAE Skills Platform’ initiative, launched jointly by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The platform is designed to support future skills planning and strengthen labour market readiness in response to ongoing economic and technological transformation.

Members received a presentation on the key findings of the LinkedIn Global Talent Trends Report for 2026, including its analysis of labour market developments and future skills requirements. The committee noted the report’s value in informing national policy and reinforcing the UAE’s standing as a preferred destination for global talent.

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to deepening coordination between federal and local entities and to accelerating the delivery of talent strategy initiatives, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive national ecosystem for attracting and retaining world-class talent in line with international best practices.

HE Al Zeyoudi said: “Investing in people is the cornerstone of the UAE’s economic development and reflects the vision of the wise leadership to build a competitive economy based on knowledge and innovation. The UAE continues to develop an integrated system for attracting and retaining the world’s best talent, in support of the objectives of the Talent Strategy and the vision of We the UAE 2031.”

He added: “The committee works in close partnership with federal and local authorities to monitor the implementation of the strategy’s initiatives and to develop policies that strengthen the UAE’s work and residency environment, in line with international best practices, and that cement the country’s position as a premier destination to live, work and innovate.”

He continued: “We are committed to drawing on leading global indicators in the talent space to inform national policy, enhance the performance measurement framework, and sharpen the UAE’s ability to attract competencies in priority sectors, all in support of sustainable economic growth and the UAE’s continued leadership on the world stage.”

The UAE National Strategy for Attracting and Retaining Talent aims to secure the world’s brightest minds across strategic sectors and to create conditions that position the country among the leading nations in global talent competitiveness rankings. The strategy operates through an integrated governance framework designed to ensure the availability of talent and skills capable of supporting the UAE’s ambitions and its drive to build a prominent role in specialised scientific fields as part of its preparation for the next fifty years.