Less than 1% of tourism jobs filled by Emiratis

DUBAI ICON: Few UAE nationals work in the tourism industry. (Getty Images)

Less than one percent of the UAE’s tourism jobs are filled by Emiratis despite major investment in the leisure sector, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

Tourism is expected to account for almost one third of the economy by 2030 as the UAE moves away from its dependence on oil revenues, the National reports on Tuesday.

However, holidaymakers, during their stay, will spend most of their time being served by Indian and Filipino hotel staff or tour guides with little contact of UAE nationals.

Some 12,000 Emiratis are currently listed as looking for full-time work, yet few are pursuing positions in the tourism sector, officials say.

“They think like this: ‘Why should I work six days for less salary when in the government they pay more for less time?’” Nasser Saif al Reyami, the director of the ADTA’s standards division, told the paper.

Low wages and prestige are the major obstacles to overcome, as well as a lack of understanding of the different jobs available in the industry, Atef Abdulla al Bastaki, the ADTA’s senior executive in charge of Emiratisation in the tourism industry, said.

“Parents don’t want their kids to be involved in a hotel where they’re serving alcohol, or in a nightclub. The first thing that comes to mind is that he’s going to be a bartender. They don’t know about the different sections in the hotel,” he told the paper.

By 2015, Dubai is estimated to have more than 15 million visitors a year, while neighbouring Abu Dhabi is investing millions in cultural projects, like the Louvre and Guggenheim museums.

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READERS' COMMENTS

1% Tourism Jobs held by Emiratis
Posted by Caroline, Dubai, UAE on Monday 21 December 2009 at 12:36 UAE time


the 70% pay increase for Emiratis in Government sectors just announced will certainly encourage them to work in the tourism sector! what does it have going for it? long hours, low pay supplemented by perks such as labour-camp type accommodation which no Emirati wants, no public holiday compensation, the list goes on! Even Emiratis without jobs do not want to join the tourism sector, and why should they?!

Jobs
Posted by Philip, Dubai on Saturday 5 December 2009 at 12:01 UAE time
Edited by ArabianBusiness.com

I know some very qualified ,intelligent and hard working nationals but they are the exception to the rule. The majority are not qualified to do the high end jobs and do not wish to do the hours. You cannot blame them. Why should they do the low end jobs when they can be paid for doing next to nothing and not have to be qualified to any international standards.
Oman has had the foresight to ensure its population has a good work ethic and not encourage the population to look always for the easy option.

1% tourism jobs held by Emiratis
Posted by Kumdhar, Sharjah, UAE on Thursday 3 December 2009 at 20:31 UAE time


Emiratis will not understand the UAE job market until the expats work in all the corners of the country. There should be a severe economic downturn where expacts of middle class leave the country, to make them understand this.
Omanis also are Muslims. But UAE nationals cannot work on these sectors !

1% tourism jobs held by Emiratis
Posted by bewildered of dubai, dubai, u.a.e on Tuesday 1 December 2009 at 22:16 UAE time
Edited by ArabianBusiness.com

and it wont change. Unlike Oman where locals are prepared to work in the industry and serve the guests, this culture has not taken in the UAE. It wont either until things get so bad economically that they will have to work in a competitive scenario.

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