DUBAI – Finding jobs for United Arab Emirates citizens is one of the government's top priorities, the prime minister told hundreds of state officials on Monday during a forum to discuss his economic policies. The unusual event underlined the urgency with which leaders in the UAE and other Gulf states are trying to boost employment among their citizens, to avert political discontent and prepare for any future downturn in oil prices. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum addressed some 1,700 government employees at the two-hour forum, pacing the stage and sometimes calling on ministers to respond to particular points. The public could pose questions to the prime minister through a website. “It's a priority of the entire leadership. We are pressing ahead with this,” Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Dubai's ruler, said in answer to a question about employment policy. “We are facing different challenges but this will remain unchanged.” Sheikh Mohammed said the government was working on a project to employ 120,000 UAE nationals, but did not give details. He also urged private companies to hire more UAE citizens, but did not announce new incentives or requirements for them to do so. “I call on my colleagues in the private sector that have benefited greatly from this country to extend a helping hand in the process of Emiratization, even in a tiny percentage, to make a contribution to growth of this country,” he said. – Reuters
