DAFZA to increase its Emiratisation rate by 80 per cent within the next three years

UAE – April 29, 2015 – The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) has announced the strong turnout at its pavilion included in the 15th edition of Careers UAE being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, from April 28 to 30, 2015 at Dubai World Trade Centre. DAFZA’s plans to increase the number of Emirati employees across all its sectors by 80 per cent in the next three years will be boosted by its participation in the major job fair which gathers leading government authorities, academic organizations and UAE-based international companies under one roof. DAFZA’s presence in the largest recruitment, training and education event for UAE Nationals complements its commitment to support the Emiratisation initiative forming a key part of the UAE Vision 2021 agenda to ‘build a diversified and flexible knowledge-based economy that is powered by skilled Emiratis”.

Careers UAE 2015 offers an ideal opportunity for DAFZA to explore new prospects for developing its personnel by attracting well-qualified National talents capable of contributing to its efforts to consolidate Dubai’s position as an international centre for business and investment and drive national economic growth. Through its specialized pavilion, DAFZA is showcasing job vacancies for Nationals eager to build a successful career in the industry.

Yousuf Ali Behzad, Assistant Director General – People growth and strategy, DAFZA, said that the freezone’s participation in Careers UAE 2015 is a response to the directives of the wise leadership to optimally invest in creative local talents and prepare them to lead the overall march to development and steer the economy towards greater heights. Behzad pointed out that investment in human resources is one of the core institutional values of "DAFZA" and is at the forefront of its strategic priorities and national responsibilities. He referred to DAFZA’s related achievements such as the localization of senior management positions by 100 per cent. He said that Emiratis now form 76.1 per cent of medium-sized departments, while the percentage of Nationals currently pursuing their studies has reached 10 per cent of the freezone’s total employee population.

Behzad added: “DAFZA was among the first enterprises to support the ‘Absher’ initiative. Our efforts in this regard have culminated with the employment of 33 Emiratis within the free zone. We have made advanced steps in terms of strategically building a generation of local leaders capable of upholding the UAE’s global economic status map and enhancing DAFZA’s standing as one of the most advanced free zones in the world. We have also achieved remarkable progress in empowering Emirati women as we have a 33 per cent ratio of women leaders.”

“Careers UAE is an important platform which enabled us to communicate with elite locals and attract them to DAFZA in which we can provide them with vocational training and career development programs to help them improve their capabilities further. This complements our aim of making UAE Nationals form up to 80 per cent of our workforce in the next three years,” Behzad concluded.

Careers UAE is an ideal platform for providing UAE Nationals with access to better education and training as well as employment opportunities from governmental agencies, private companies, and educational institutions.