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The Tawteen Council of Abu Dhabi began a new recruitment program in the area to open up positions and train up to 215 nationals set to work in the bank sector, an essential economic area in the UAE.

The program was a joint innovation between the council and a collection of national Abu Dhabi banks such as the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Al Hilal Bank and the Abu Dhabi National Bank.  Called “Dirasati,” the program was also put into place with the help of the Emirates Institute for Financial and Banking Studies (EIFBS).

Signatures on the agreement included the Director General of Tawteen, Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki, and Jamal Al Jasmi representing the EIFBS.  Also the Head of Recruitment and Manpower Planning for the Abu Dhabi Commerical Bank, Mrs. Manal Sayegh and the senior VP of HR at Abu Dhabi National Bank, Ms. Ruwaida Saeed Shahbal.  Tirad Mahmoud, the CEO of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Mohammed Jamil Berro, the CEO of Al Hilal Bank, also signed the document.

An advanced academic program put out by the EIFBS, “Dirasati” was offered with the consultation of the participants looking to rise to the demands of the banking sector in the UAE.  In the program, nationals who are registered will have the opportunity to accept immediate contracts of employment, including monthly financial incentives and further rewards for exceptional performance over 90%.  Graduating students will be hired with an opening salary of AED 12,000.  And practical training sessions will be offered in branches throughout Abu Dhabi, as well as options as to which department the new hires would like to join, according to that bank’s needs.

As long as their high school scores are over 60%, both male and female registered nationals can be nominated by Tawteen for the program.  The Council will choose 215 nationals from Al Ain and Abu Dhabi to join both the Islamic Banking and the traditional banking diploma and attain accreditation by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.  Studies should last 4 to 5 semesters with an additional 8 weeks of practical training over the summer.  Each week will contain 25 hours of study.

Tawteen will also plan an opportunity for students to meet representatives and recruitment consultants of the participating banks at EIBFS, going over information about the program and outlining the benefits offered.

Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki, Director General of the Tawteen Council, commented that this program enjoys the full support of the nation’s leaders looking to provide prosperity to their citizens.  Al Darmaki also noted that the UAE’s leaders are encouraging national workers to become employed in the private sector to help drive the current boom.

He stated that the banking sector is essential to support economic growth and development across the region.  According to the National Center of Statistics, banking provided 4 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil domestic production in 2008.  Leadership support has created more operating banks within the UAE, bumping the total to 51 as stated by central bank stats, and including over 911 branches throughout the emirates.

Al Darmaki also stated that Tawteen was willing to work with Abu Dhabi’s national banks to increase the emiratization, as per the 34.4 per cent jump by 2009, aided by the strong support of the Abu Dhabi government.

He noted that Tawteen will be striving to open up sustainable employment for UAE nationals in both the private and public sectors.  The “Dirasati” program is expected to bump the percentage of nationals within the banking sector by 0.8 per cent.  They currently amount to 10 per cent of the 25,269 workers in the financial sector.

The General Manager of the EIBFS, Jamal Al Jasmi, stated that he wished more banks would step up and join the program, keeping up the emiratization vision for the region.