His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has presented du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) with the MOHRE Emiratization Award for the second consecutive year at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
The ceremony was attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Fahad Al Hassawi, Deputy CEO – Telco Services, received the award on behalf of EITC.
The telco won the award across all Semi Government categories for implementing notable policies to promote Emiratization and support UAE national employees. The award for this category is presented to an enterprise or company that meets several criteria within its institutional operating system, including the internal work environment, innovation rates, employee development and training programs.
Commenting on the win, Al Hassawi said: “We are deeply honoured to receive the MOHRE Emiratization Award for the second consecutive year, which is a testament to our transformative Emiratisation strategy –an integral part of the company’s focus towards providing career development for Emirati leaders and the aspiring national talent of tomorrow. As a driving force in the UAE’s telecommunications sector, EITC’s Emiratisation framework is an encouraging illustration of the formative feats that can be achieved by invigorating workforces and unlocking the full potential of homegrown talent.”
He added: “As the UAE leaders have reiterated time and time again, the country’s human capital is the most valuable resource towards achieving the future progress of the UAE, which is why we are honoured to be acknowledged for driving a talent pipeline that is fostering the economic imperatives of our knowledge-based economy.”
As a result of its outstanding Emiratization policies, EITC has doubled the number of UAE nationals employed since 2006. Emirati employees form 35.91% of the total workforce (48% females and 52% males). In addition, 60% of UAE nationals hold leadership positions across all departments in the telco. du’s Fujairah Contact Centre is staffed by 100% Emiratis employees with 90% females.
Ehab Hassan, Chief Executive Officer, Human Resources and Administration, EITC, said: “It is a remarkable milestone to have won the MOHRE Emiratization Award again, a result of our teamwork and various initiatives to attract, recruit and strengthen Emirati talent. Since our establishment, we have proudly reiterated our commitment to our strategic goal of increasing the Emiratisation rate within the ICT sector. This will enable us to position ourselves among the leading companies in this field and contribute to supporting the direction and vision of our wise leadership towards instituting a knowledge-based economy centered on Emirati nationals.”
Through its numerous initiatives, training and professional development programs, EITC is one of the most successful Emiratization companies in the industry. The company’s strategy focuses on recruiting young Emiratis and attracting talent through its ongoing participation in various recruitment fairs across the UAE and open recruitment through universities and academic institutions.
The company’s professional learning and development team gives priority to training UAE nationals and enhances their skills through the Leadership Academy, which has witnessed the graduation of more than 200 UAE national employees so far from different levels of the company. In addition, EITC has registered its highly qualified Emirati employees with outstanding executive programs such as INSEAD and the Women Leaders Program at the University of Ashridge, UK.
EITC is one of the main supporters of the Government Accelerators programme, an initiative run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, by employing 37 citizens of the United Arab Emirates across all departments of the company.
The Emiratisation Award honors enterprises in the Private, High-Tech and Semi Government sectors. It also recognizes and presents accolades to the Best Supporter of Emiratisation and The Best National Employee in multiple areas. In 2018, EITC won the Emiratization Award in the High-Tech category for its efforts to make progress on the national key performance indicators, policies and services.