• New joiners increase number of young UAE Nationals working at EGA to over 840
• EGA has a decades-long commitment to developing local talent, and one of the highest like-for-like Emiratisation rates of any major company

United Arab Emirates: Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced that its Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Abdulla Kalban, has welcomed 70 young UAE National recruits on their first day at work as the company accelerates its Emiratisation drive.

The new joiners increase to more than 840 the number of UAE Nationals under the age of 35 working at EGA.

EGA has a commitment to developing local talent that stretches back decades, and on a like-for-like basis one of the highest Emiratisation rates of any major company.

The new recruits are joining EGA’s national trainee development programmes, which train young UAE Nationals for operational and technical roles in the company.

Abdulla Kalban said: “The development of local talent has been a foundation of EGA’s success for the past 40 years, and we are fully committed to the ‘UAE Vision 2021’ goal of harnessing the full potential of national human capital. I am delighted to welcome these young people today who I am sure will each play a valuable role in EGA’s continuing success in the decades ahead. I am reminded of the day 34 years ago when I was myself a young recruit joining our company.”

Dr Ali Alzarouni, EGA’s Executive Vice President Midstream, said: “We are focused on developing the technical and leadership capabilities of young Emiratis to enable them to take on challenging and fulfilling roles in our organisation and contribute to the industrialisation and economic diversification of the UAE. Our rigorous training programmes are also in line with the UAE’s shift to a knowledge-based economy as we equip the workforce with the tools needed to drive forward our industry.”

More than 1,100 UAE Nationals work at EGA in total, including over 500 in roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics related fields.

More than half of EGA’s Executive Committee, including Mr Kalban, originally joined the company as fresh graduates. Today, EGA typically has over 100 graduate trainees at any time on its 18-month graduate training programme.
EGA provides management and technical training to thousands of employees every year. The company’s technical training programmes are recognised and accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
So far in 2019, EGA has recruited some 140 UAE Nationals in total, including both experienced hires and trainees.
EGA is targeting 39 per cent Emiratisation of in-focus positions by the end of 2019. EGA finished 2018 with 38.5 per cent Emiratisation of in-focus positions, the company’s highest ever level.