Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council (ADTC) to further enhance the airline’s recruitment strategy for UAE nationals.
The partnership will provide UAE nationals with a wide range of job opportunities and career development programs with Etihad. Emirati job seekers will now be able to access career opportunities within Etihad through ADTC’s database.
According to the agreement, ADTC will support Etihad in its efforts to build successful future careers for UAE nationals in the field of aviation by promoting job opportunities on ADTC’s database and providing training for job seekers in order to meet employment standards in the various Emiratisation programs offered at Etihad.
James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “I am delighted to partner up with ADTC, a leading organisation focused on achieving full sustainable employment and development of the UAE national workforce.
“As the national airline of the UAE, it is our duty and our privilege to provide the very best career opportunities within our airline through our Emiratisation program. This partnership will allow us to expand our reach to UAE nationals across the country so that we may bring their unique experiences and understanding of the region to Etihad.”
Etihad’s Emiratisation program has attracted more than 327 UAE national trainees deployed across the airline over the last three years, including 143 cadet pilots, 58 graduate managers, 80 call centre agents and 46 technical engineers.
The total percentage of UAE nationals working for Etihad Airways is currently 13 per cent of the measured workforce.
His Excellency Ali Rashid Al Ketbi, ADTC Chairman, said: “Through this agreement with Etihad Airways, we seek to lay the foundations of partnership and cooperation, and together play a pivotal role in the development of UAE nationals. We are committed to providing sustainable job opportunities to support the aviation industry with local qualifications and cadres. We appreciate Etihad Airways’ prominent efforts to attract UAE nationals and create the right opportunity for them to join the national employees currently working at Etihad.”
Al Ketbi noted that the agreement would pave the way for high quality partnerships and ongoing collaboration with Etihad Airways in the future and contribute effectively in meeting the industry’s local professionals who can consolidate its national identity in this sector that witnesses rapid growth and strong competition locally and globally.
“In cooperation with Etihad Airways, we will form a working group to improve and strengthen the quality and quantity of employment opportunities available at Etihad Airways. The group will also provide proposals and solutions to ensure the successful continuation of this cooperation. The two parties will continue their efforts to fully support and develop Emiratisation efforts through a five-year plan, which will clarify the ADTC course and promote its initiatives at Etihad Airways,” he concluded.
The Etihad Airways Emiratisation Program continues to grow with an increasing number of Emiratis working across the airline’s expanding network.
The program offers a wide range of training opportunities for UAE nationals, including a cadet pilot scheme, a technical engineering development program, a graduate management development program and a call centre development program recently launched and operated by only UAE national female staff.
