Page 26 - EHRDC PR REPORT - AUGUST 2025

8/22/25, 1:31 PM Ethraa Career Fair attracts more than 1000 Emirati job seekers in its ninth edition
The fair witnessed strong engagement from national talent, attracting more than 1000 Emirati job
seekers. It provided them with direct employment opportunities through over 2,000 job interviews,

in addition to skill-development workshops and a dedicated career guidance zone that recorded
significant interaction from both male and female participants.

Held under the umbrella of 'Ethraa' initiative, the event supports the UAE's Emiratisation strategy in
the financial, banking, and insurance sectors, aiming to create over 10,000 job opportunities for
Emiratis by 2027. The initiative further seeks to empower young Emiratis to actively shape the

future of vital economic sectors and contribute to the country's long-term development objectives.

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Financial Operations and Support Services at the
Central Bank of the UAE, and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Emirates Institute of Finance,
said, "Ethraa Career Fair represents a strategic milestone within the national efforts to build a
specialised Emirati human capital capable of keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the

financial sector, particularly in light of the ongoing shift toward digitisation and innovation. At the
Central Bank and the Emirates Institute of Finance, we remain committed to developing a
comprehensive training and qualification framework that aligns with the needs of the next phase and
enhances the readiness of national talent ultimately driving quality Emiratisation and reinforcing the

UAE's position as a leading regional and global financial hub."

Dr. Faisal Al Ayyan, President & CEO of the Higher Colleges of Technology, said, "Empowering
Emirati youth to lead in key sectors like finance and banking is central to our mission. By
participating in initiatives such as the Ethraa Career Fair, we reinforce our role in preparing future-
ready graduates through applied learning and strategic industry collaboration. These efforts
contribute directly to the UAE's Emiratisation goals and long-term economic vision."

The event witnessed the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Emirates

Institute of Finance and both the Rochester Institute of Technology and Al-Futtaim Group.

These MoUs come as part of the Emirates Institute of Finance's strategy to train national talent and
implement Emiratisation plans in the country's financial sector. They also align with the objectives
of the "Ethraa" programme for Emiratisation in the financial sector, which is part of the Central
Bank of the UAE's initiative to empower human resources in the financial industry.

Raghda Fatme, HR Director at Al-Futtaim Real Estate and Head of Emiratisation at Al-Futtaim,

said, "For over ninety years, Al-Futtaim has been committed to being a key partner in supporting
Emiratisation efforts across its various business sectors. Our participation in the Ethraa Career Fair
represents an important opportunity to engage with young Emirati talent, offering them
opportunities, career guidance, and clear pathways for growth and success. Today, we invest in

national talents with the aim of seeing them distinguished leaders in the future within our group or in
other organisations, contributing to the UAE's global competitiveness and leadership. At Al-Futtaim,

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