Nationalization at DUBAL gains momentum

Fulfilling the vision of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, and Chairman of DUBAL, to stimulate the social and economic development of the UAE through increased participation of Emirati citizens in the job market, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (DUBAL) has developed and implemented a Nationalization Strategy designed to improve the employability and career prospects of young UAE Nationals. This strategy, which is co-ordinated by DUBAL’s dedicated National Programmes & Development department, targets individuals with the talent and potential to fulfil the company’s operational needs.

One of the numerous ongoing initiatives in this area is DUBAL’s Pre-Employment Course (PEC) Smelter Programme, which is an entry-level opportunity for young Emirati school-leavers to join the company’s Smelter Operations area. The programme caters for DUBAL’s manpower needs at operator level; and serves as a talent pool for other specialized areas within the organization. Inherently successful, the PEC Smelter Course has been DUBAL’s most prolific Nationalization initiative to date – not only has it yielded the greatest number of National employees for the company’s operations area but also many of those recruited to DUBAL through the PEC Smelter Programme have excelled and risen through the ranks to management level.

Understandably, much energy is expended in recruiting enrolees for the PEC Smelter Programme. In the first quarter of 2011, DUBAL’s Recruitment and National Programmes & Development departments have attended various career fairs and open days with the view to attracting candidates. The efforts have borne fruit: a group of 15 trainees enrolled for and commenced the PEC Smelter Programme on 27 March 2011 – this being the 24^th batch of enrolees for the training.

The programme began with an official opening ceremony, attended by Mohammad Ali Al Owais, Manager, Organisation Development, Marwan A Mohammad, Head of Recruitment, Mohammed Al Sabri, Acting Head of National Programmes & Development, Nahed Ebrahim, Head of Training Services and Mohammad Al Bastaki, Superintendent: Training & Development.

In his opening remarks, Al Owais highlighted the key features of the PEC Smelter Programme and encouraged the trainees to make the most of the opportunity to develop their careers with the view to becoming prominent members of DUBAL’s family. The ceremony also included presentations on DUBAL’s Rules & Regulations; the role that PEC Smelter Programme graduates play at DUBAL; the company’s promotions policy; the importance of safety; and the further study opportunities provided to employees.

An entirely state-owned enterprise, whose Jebel Ali operation ranks among the world’s largest single-site primary aluminium smelters, DUBAL currently employs approximately 3,900 people. The proportional Emirati representation is about 15 per cent, rising to above 70 per cent at senior management level.