HCNME POINT OF VIEW
Get ready for (more) home-made talent Turning the UAE into an exporter of qualified professionals rather than an importer
MARTIN KUBLER CHIEF SLOTH AT THE GLUTTONOUS SLOTH, HORECA CONSULTING WITH ATTITUDE
R
ecent months brought us news of the latest UAE visa reforms. Golden visas aside, we now have green visas and a host of other residencyrelated initiatives, which open new possibilities to attract and retain talent. Recruitment for our industries in Dubai always had its challenges – the costs and time requirements of recruiting from abroad perhaps being one of the biggest ones. Reading through the latest residency initiatives, it is clear that the focus is on retaining talent in the country, but – if you read a little between the lines – it’s also obvious that “creating talent” in the country is seen as very desirable (and not just regarding the very important aspect of Emiratisation). Green visa holders do not have to be attached to a specific employer and can sponsor their sons until they’re 25. Add to that the other changes for visas for students above the age of 15 who want to work and you have a welcome maturation of the local labour market. Even better, the new laws, which will come into effect in February 2022, also finally properly define and regulate part-time and temporary work, both of which are great for our industries. I currently personally know two young expats who, after finishing school in Dubai, chose not to go on to university, but decided to start working in Dubai – one in hotels, the other one in another, related, industry – there must be many more. If you laugh at the (admittedly low) number, I suggest you ask a few Dubai “old-timers” how many such people there were in say, 2004 or 2010. The answer is probably even fewer if any at all. In other words, Dubai’s growing up – the city always had a knack for taking the best from abroad and tweaking it, so it fits the region. Take, for example, Dubai International Financial Centre and its related legal frameworks. If you look at countries abroad, you’ll find that in many, there is a wide range of what school leavers do. A good percentage, of
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“I firmly believe that a suitably structured and certified apprenticeship in a hotel or restaurant in Dubai could prove to be an equally long key for our local school leavers.” course, does go on to study, either locally or abroad. Others take a gap year or start an apprenticeship. My own home country of Germany has done very well with its apprenticeship scheme, which is well established and run. Looking then at the latest residency changes and latest trends, should we start preparing for “apprentice-style” employees in Dubai? I think, it is time to consider this seriously. If, say, a 16-year-old student can work part-time in a hotel or a restaurant, we would do well to make sure that he or she learns the tools of the trade so that, once school’s over, we might gain a fully trained full-time employee. The larger companies in our industries often already have elevator-style programs in place, but these are geared towards university graduates. What we’re looking at here is City & Guilds-style training programs, structured, layered, flexible, and KHDA certified, which will allow all of us to start developing and, hopefully, retaining talent locally. Dubai already has several great hospitality universities and academic institutions including the Dubai College of Tourism. It’s time then for employers and academic institutions to cooperate more and, perhaps, come up with a “Dubai Apprenticeship” scheme, which would offer young people an alternative way into our industries. I remember the owner of the family-owned luxury hotel in Munich I did my apprenticeship in many moons ago, telling us on our last day that an apprenticeship in his hotel is “a very long key that opens many doors”. I firmly believe that a suitably structured and certified apprenticeship in a hotel or restaurant in Dubai could prove to be an equally long key for our local school leavers, whether expats or Emiratis, reflect positively on Dubai as a knowledge/talent hub, and help us turn the country into an exporter of qualified professionals in our industry rather than an importer.