The banking and finance sector in the UAE is increasingly prioritizing the hiring of Emirati nationals with technical skills, especially those proficient in Artificial Intelligence (AI), risk management, and IT-related fields. Industry insiders say that young Emiratis are being snapped up rapidly whenever they express interest or participate in recruitment opportunities.
Ethraa Careers Fair: A Case in Point
A recent example of this trend was the Ethraa Careers Fair held at Sharjah Expo Centre, which hosted over 100 banking and financial institutions. Hundreds of Emirati jobseekers (from secondary school graduates up to degree holders) attended with hopes of securing roles in sectors including finance, accounting, economics, insurance, management, and IT.
Arab Bank alone offered about 20 graduate roles at the fair, spanning financial-asset management and risk management, among others.
Employers report stiff competition among banks to attract young Emiratis who are showing up at such fairs. In many cases, hiring happens quickly when candidates with relevant technical capabilities are identified.
Skills in High Demand
The skills that seem especially prized include:
AI / Machine Learning skills: Candidates who can contribute to AI-related functions are often given preference.
IT / Cybersecurity / Forensics: Young graduates with backgrounds in IT security, cybersecurity, and digital forensics have reported high interest from banks. For example, a 23-year-old graduate from Ajman with IT/security/forensics qualifications expressed optimism about job opportunities.
Government Policies & Emiratisation
This increased demand is in line with broader national policy goals:
The Nafis programme, launched in 2021, aims to ensure that Emiratis make up 10% of the private sector workforce by end-2026/2027. Under Nafis, companies must increase their Emirati staffing by about 1% every six months.
As part of this push, the requirement that employers with at least 50 staff meet certain percentages of Emiratisation has been enforced in previous years.
Challenges & Employer Strategies
Hiring Emiratis in tech roles presents both opportunities and challenges:
Banks are trying to ensure they offer competitive salaries, training, and career development paths so that the roles are attractive.
Because many of these tech-skilled young Emiratis are in demand, institutions are reaching out proactively to universities, attending career fairs, etc., to secure talent early.
Implication for Job Seekers
For Emiratis or those helping them (universities, training providers):
Emphasizing AI, cybersecurity, data skills offers a strong advantage.
Attending fairs like Ethraa gives direct access to employers who may fast-track people with the right skillsets.
Those with technical backgrounds are likely to be more competitive even for finance roles, risk management, asset management, etc.
Reference:
Banking industry shows rising interest in Emiratis with tech talent, expert says — The National The National
