The pace of Emiratisation in the booming tourism industry has picked up further momentum, with 30 more UAE nationals – 17 males and 13 females – taking up various jobs with five-star hotels in the emirate under the Maharat   job-linked training programme conducted by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).  

The DTCM Manager Human Resources and Chairman of Emiratisation Task Force for Tourism (ETFT), Mr. Ibrahim Yaqoot, said the number of UAE nationals pursuing hospitality careers has substantially increased in the past two years and presently stands at 620, largely as the result of  the nine-week Maharat scheme. There were only 15 UAE nationals working with Dubai hotels in 2002.

Presently, 20 hotels of international chains are participating in the programme which is also supported by the TANMIA, Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP) and Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM).  

The graduation ceremony of the first batch of Maharat for the year 2007 received their certificates at a ceremony held EAHM in Dubai . The ceremony was attended by Mr. Ahmed Al Tayer, Chairman of ENDP Board of Trustees and Dr. Azzah Al Sharhan, ENDP Director, among others.    

Mr. Ahmed Al Tayer underscored the need for creating more job opportunities for the UAE nationals and attracting talented youngsters to jobs in tourism, which has been identified as the core strength of the economy in the Dubai Strategic Plan (DSF-2015). 

Mr. Ibrahim said the Maharat programme has not only been attracting young nationals for the hotel jobs but also helping clear misconceptions about the crucial tourism industry jobs.

The programme contents included English language programme; hotel business communication, hotel interpersonal and team skills workshops, introduction to the hospitality industry; core hospitality industry workplace skills, introduction to hotel departments, job categories and job competencies.