The UAE Ministry of Economy, in collaboration with Integra Seven, a notable public policy research and consulting firm, hosted the ‘Future of Jobs’ workshop in Dubai. This event gathered senior representatives from 14 significant economic entities and companies across the nation, focusing on strategies aimed at empowering, attracting, and retaining talented individuals to align with the UAE’s vision for economic diversification and innovation.

Participants at the workshop received an exclusive preview of the upcoming UAE Future Tech Talent Report 2024, which is set to be released in October. Engaging in discussions were business leaders and talent experts from organizations such as Fragomen, Du, Amazon Web Services, Coffeee.io, DP World, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dulsco Group, e&, HSBC, MCG Talent, Nabta Health, Standard Chartered, and Stripe. The discussions revolved around the latest trends in tech talent and the policy-driven strategies necessary to enhance the UAE’s standing as a global hub for skilled professionals.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Global Talent Attraction and Retention, highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in shaping the national economic agenda. He noted that public-private dialogue is essential for developing the national economic agenda and emphasized that the roundtable on talent attraction forms part of a series of discussions supporting the broader vision to create policies that ensure ongoing growth and diversification, advancing the goal of fostering an economy centered on knowledge and innovation.

The roundtable discussions tackled various critical policy areas, particularly the growing global competition for tech talent. Participants examined the role of the UAE’s national brand in attracting global talent and acknowledged the need to refine strategies to maintain access to specialized skills that support the nation’s economic ambitions.

Natalia Sycheva, Managing Director of Integra Seven, pointed out the importance of the insights from the forthcoming UAE Future Tech Talent Report 2024, which builds on the findings of the previous year’s report. She explained that while the 2023 report identified key trends that have been reinforced, the 2024 edition reveals several new and sometimes unexpected developments that will be crucial for business leaders and policymakers to consider as they strategize for the future.

As the discussions continued, senior executives explored methods to close skills gaps, promote collaboration between educational institutions and industry, and facilitate the integration of both local and international talent into the UAE workforce. The roundtable underscored the necessity for an agile, future-oriented approach to workforce development, ensuring that the UAE remains a leader in the global tech talent competition.

The upcoming UAE Future Tech Talent Report 2024, set to be published in October, is designed to provide comprehensive insights and actionable recommendations for businesses and policymakers. This initiative highlights the UAE’s commitment to fostering a knowledge-based economy and reinforcing its position as a global incubator for skilled professionals.