50 UAE nationals enrol for Maharat programme

The training session started at a formal ceremony held at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), one of the organizations helping the department in the Emiratisation of the hospitality industry along with National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (TANMIA) and Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP).

The DTCM Executive Director Human Resources and Training Solutions, Mr. Ibrahim Yaqoot, said the response to the hospitality skills training programme has been highly encouraging with more and more UAE national males and females enrolling for the scheme.

As many as 30 UAE nationals graduated under the seventh batch of Maharat. The Maharat programme was launched in the year 2005 to draw Emirati job-seekers take up a variety of positions in five-star hotels in the emirate's booming hospitality industry.

Mr. Ibrahim Yaqoot said the Maharat programme plays a crucial role in finding suitable employment for the UAE nationals interested in hospitality careers. Describing tourism as a key component of the emirate's economy, he said the Dubai Strategic Plan -2015 has emphasized on tourism being an area of focused growth in the years ahead.

He said the Maharat programme has been successful in attracting more UAE nationals towards the hotel industry. There are plenty of job opportunities in the hospitality industry which has been witnessing fast growth in Dubai and beyond.

The number of Emiratis pursuing careers with Dubai's five-star hotels presently stands at 650, largely as the result of a job-linked training scheme.

The department has been receiving requests from several organizations within Dubai and other emirates expressing interest in the Maharat programme given its success within a short span of time. As many as 26 top-end Dubai hotels are participating in the programme. These properties are members of the DTCM's Emiratisation Task Force for Tourism (ETFT) headed by Mr. Ibrahim Yaqoot.

The properties participating in the programme include Accor, Dusit, Taj Palace Dubai, Ajman Kempinski, Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah, Jebel Ali International, InterContinental, Hilton, Hyatt International, Le Royal Meridien, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, Rotana, Fairmont, Sheraton and Wafi/MKM.

Ms. Jihan Abdullah Al Balooshi, Project Coordinator and Trainer, said the participants will be briefed about the various aspects of the hospitality industry, different jobs available with the hotels and the opportunities available for training within the industry.

Ms. Mariam Obaid Annan, a Maharat programme participant, said the students were briefed about the career streams available in five and four star hotels in the emirate Participants look forward to gaining hands-on experience in hotels as part of the training programme.