As part of its unfaltering drive in attracting and training UAE nationals for a variety of jobs in the expanding tourism industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing participated in the 10th edition of Careers Fair at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

DTCM sets Emiratisation of jobs at 85 per cent by 2012.

Held in conjunction with TANMIA, Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and UAE University, the three-day annual event concluded on Tuesday.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the job fair and visited DTCM Stand during the tour of the exhibition.
 
He was briefed about the DTCM's Emiratisation programme and various initiatives launched to train the Emiratis to take up challenging positions in the booming tourism sector, especially with major hotel chains.
 
In their endeavors to attract UAE nationals to take up employment with them, eight organizations including six hotels joined DTCM at its stand at the careers fair.  These organizations are: City Seasons, Jebel Ali International Hotels, Jumeirah Group, Emaar Hospitality, Accor Hotels, Shangrila Hotel, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM) and Hospitality.com.
 
The DTCM Director of Human Resources, Ms. Mariam Al Maeeni, said the department's continued participation in Careers Fair was the result of its long-term commitment to attract UAE nationals, both male and females, to join the tourism sector in the emirate.
 
She briefed H.H Sheikh Hamdan about various employment and training initiatives taken up by the DTCM to motivate Emiratis join the tourism industry, including Maharat, a job-linked training programme.
 
It has been disclosed that the Emiratisation drive at the department, which presently stands at 79 per cent, will be increased to 85 per cent by the year 2010 in line with the objectives of Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.
 
As a result of initiatives taken up by the DTCM, the number of Emiratis working in the tourism domain has increased. Presently, 91 tour guides working in the emirate are UAE nationals.
 
 
At the DTCM Stand, interested UAE nationals were given the opportunity to register with the department for working in the industry or taking up vocational training in the hospitality sector.
 
A strong supporter of DTCM's Emiratisation drive, Jebel Ali International Hotels, which presently has 51 Emirati employees on its pay rolls, is offering employment opportunities in for the UAE nationals in various disciplines including financial, procurement, marketing and customer services.
 
DTCM officials held discussions with the officials of Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and other participants at DTCM Stand on ways and means to create awareness about employment opportunities for Emiratis in the tourism industry. DTCM staff manning the stand also provided information about the training programmes to hordes of visitors who made their way to the DTCM stand.