Welcome to the Beautiful Destinations Academy, powered by Dubai
Post Views: 87
The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), in partnership with Beautiful Destinations, has launched the Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai – a pioneering professional development initiative aimed at setting new, global benchmarks for travel content creation and meeting the rising demand for skilled marketing talent within the tourism sector. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), said: 'The launch of this innovative programme with Beautiful Destinations is a testament to our commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in the tourism sector. By providing a dedicated space for content creators, we aim to amplify Dubai's global appeal and further solidify our position as the best city to visit, live, and work in. 'This aligns perfectly with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and our vision to make Dubai a leading global city for business and leisure. Thanks to a diverse range of offerings and experiences, Dubai provides an unrivalled platform for capturing creative, engaging content, and we look forward to working with Beautiful Destinations and content creators from around the world to amplify their storytelling globally.' 'Dubai is a leading innovator in tourism marketing – a likeminded partner that shares our future-focussed vision' comments Jeremy Jauncey, CEO and Founder, Beautiful Destinations. 'The travel industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in how destinations attract visitors. Leading research shows that 76% of travel decisions are now influenced by social media content , yet only 24% of tourism and hospitality brands have in-house teams capable of creating the calibre of content that drives engagement. The Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai directly addresses this gap by cultivating a new generation of specialised talent.' Addressing tourism's digital transformation With digital content now central to travel decision-making, the Beautiful Destinations Academy addresses the sector's strong demand for the specialist skills needed to create high-impact, platform-native content required to influence today's travellers.
The partnership strengthens Dubai's position as a global hub for the growing creator economy, which, according to Goldman Sachs could approach half-a-trillion dollars by 2027 , and aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which is cementing Dubai's status as the world's best city to visit, live, and work in.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai gaming ecosystem expands rapidly with 350+ companies
More than 60 new gaming companies have set up shop in Dubai since the emirate launched its Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 'DPG33' in November 2023, marking a growth rate of 16.6 per cent since the launch of the programme, data showed Overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 'DPG33', has announced that Dubai is home to more than 350 companies, with 260 of them categorised as specialised game developers, contributing overall to a global industry valued at $200 billion globally. The gaming industry has emerged as one of Dubai's most promising economic sectors in recent years. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said: 'The recent achievements in the Dubai's gaming industry reflects the success of the city's vision for its future economy — one built on economic diversification and the proactive investment in current and future development opportunities. The gaming sector holds unprecedented economic potential, and Dubai was — and will remain — a land of opportunity and a destination for innovators and creators. The industry offers a wealth of unprecedented opportunities thanks to the supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovative ideas in advanced technology sectors, particularly game development, which is a key driver in enhancing Dubai's global competitiveness and in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).' DPG33 aims to position Dubai among the world's top 10 global gaming hubs over the next decade, with 30,000 new jobs and a $1 billion boost to GDP by 2033. It focuses on nurturing talent and entrepreneurship, embracing technological advancements, and fostering digital content development, while creating training and employment opportunities with leading global firms and academic institutions, and leads a variety of local and international events, exhibitions, and partnerships that strengthen collaboration between individuals, businesses, and regulatory bodies in Dubai and beyond.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
Dubai gaming ecosystem expands rapidly with over 350 companies
The Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033 'DPG33', overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), has announced that Dubai is home to more than 350 companies, with 260 of them categorised as specialised game developers, contributing overall to a global industry valued at US$200 billion globally. Since the programme's launch in November 2023, more than 60 new companies have been established in Dubai of which 12 percent are large global companies — marking a growth rate of 16.6 percent since the launch of the programme. The gaming industry has emerged as one of Dubai's most promising economic sectors in recent years. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said, 'The recent achievements in the Dubai's gaming industry reflects the success of the city's vision for its future economy — one built on economic diversification and the proactive investment in current and future development opportunities." Belhoul added, 'The gaming sector holds unprecedented economic potential, and Dubai was — and will remain — a land of opportunity and a destination for innovators and creators. The industry offers a wealth of unprecedented opportunities thanks to the supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovative ideas in advanced technology sectors, particularly game development, which is a key driver in enhancing Dubai's global competitiveness and in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).' H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, launched the Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033 in November 2023, to position Dubai among the world's top 10 global gaming hubs over the next decade, with 30,000 new jobs and a $1 billion boost to GDP by 2033. DPG33 focuses on nurturing talent and entrepreneurship, embracing technological advancements, and fostering digital content development, while creating training and employment opportunities with leading global firms and academic institutions, and leads a variety of local and international events, exhibitions, and partnerships that strengthen collaboration between individuals, businesses, and regulatory bodies in Dubai and beyond.
Hi Dubai
5 days ago
- Hi Dubai
Hiring Top Talent in Dubai: A Quick Guide
In Dubai's relentlessly dynamic and globally ambitious economy, talent is the ultimate competitive advantage. As the city continues its trajectory towards becoming a global hub for innovation, finance, and various specialised industries under initiatives like the D33 agenda, the demand for highly skilled and adaptable professionals intensifies. This robust growth, coupled with Dubai's inherent diversity, creates a uniquely competitive yet rewarding talent market. For businesses operating in or expanding into Dubai, understanding how to effectively attract, assess, integrate, and retain top-tier employees is paramount to sustained success. This guide provides practical tips for navigating Dubai's unique talent landscape, from mastering the art of attraction and interviewing to streamlining onboarding and understanding essential visa requirements. Understanding Dubai's Unique Talent Landscape Dubai's workforce environment is distinct, shaped by its rapid development and global appeal. Recognising these characteristics is the first step towards a successful hiring strategy. Diverse & Multicultural Workforce : Dubai is a melting pot of nationalities, with residents from over 200 countries contributing to its vibrant economy. This unparalleled diversity brings a wealth of perspectives, skills, and global experience. For businesses, this means access to a broad talent pool, but it also necessitates a recruitment approach that is culturally sensitive and inclusive. Understanding different work ethics, communication styles, and cultural expectations is crucial for effective team integration and management. Highly Competitive Market : The sheer volume of businesses and ambitious projects in Dubai creates a fierce competition for top talent. High-demand sectors such as technology, finance, healthcare, and specialised engineering often experience talent shortages, pushing up compensation and benefits expectations. Businesses must actively differentiate themselves to attract and secure the best candidates amidst this intense competition. Strategic Talent Pools : Talent in Dubai is sourced from various channels. Local universities produce a growing pool of young professionals, while the city's appeal draws experienced expatriates from around the globe. Furthermore, Dubai actively cultivates specialised talent through initiatives like the Golden Visa and Green Visa, encouraging long-term residency for exceptional individuals, which indirectly expands the available talent pool for businesses. Attracting Top Talent: Beyond the Compensation Package In a market where salaries can be highly competitive, offering a comprehensive and appealing value proposition beyond just compensation is vital for attracting top talent. Cultivating a Strong Employer Brand : Your employer brand is your reputation as a workplace. In Dubai, a strong employer brand is critical for standing out. Define Company Culture & Values: Clearly articulate what your company stands for, its unique working environment, and the values that drive it. This helps candidates understand if they align with your ethos. Clearly articulate what your company stands for, its unique working environment, and the values that drive it. This helps candidates understand if they align with your ethos. Showcase Growth Opportunities: Emphasize career progression paths, opportunities for skill development, training programs, and mentorship. Ambitious professionals are drawn to environments that foster continuous learning and advancement. Emphasize career progression paths, opportunities for skill development, training programs, and mentorship. Ambitious professionals are drawn to environments that foster continuous learning and advancement. Highlight Work-Life Balance & Well-being: In a fast-paced city, employees value work-life balance. Showcase initiatives like flexible working arrangements (where applicable), wellness programs, and a supportive environment that prioritizes employee well-being. In a fast-paced city, employees value work-life balance. Showcase initiatives like flexible working arrangements (where applicable), wellness programs, and a supportive environment that prioritizes employee well-being. Leverage Digital Platforms: Utilize your company website's career page, LinkedIn, and other social media channels to tell your company's story through employee testimonials, team events, and insights into daily operations. Authenticity resonates deeply. Crafting a Compelling Value Proposition : While competitive salaries are expected, the holistic benefits package and Dubai's lifestyle contribute significantly. Comprehensive Benefits: Beyond basic salary, a strong package in Dubai typically includes health insurance, annual flight tickets, housing allowances, and potentially schooling support for families. Clearly outline these benefits. Beyond basic salary, a strong package in Dubai typically includes health insurance, annual flight tickets, housing allowances, and potentially schooling support for families. Clearly outline these benefits. Dubai's Lifestyle Advantages: Actively promote the benefits of living and working in Dubai: Safety & Security: Dubai is renowned globally for its high levels of safety and low crime rates. Modern Infrastructure: World-class housing, transportation, healthcare, and educational facilities. Global Connectivity: A strategic location offering easy access to major global cities. Diverse Entertainment & Leisure: A wide array of cultural, entertainment, and sporting events. Tax-Efficient Environment: While businesses now navigate corporate tax, individuals benefit from no personal income tax, making net salaries highly attractive. Actively promote the benefits of living and working in Dubai: Strategic Recruitment Channels : To reach the right candidates, utilize a multi-channel approach. Specialized Recruitment Agencies: For niche roles or senior positions, partnering with recruitment agencies that have a strong understanding of the Dubai market and industry-specific talent pools can be invaluable. For niche roles or senior positions, partnering with recruitment agencies that have a strong understanding of the Dubai market and industry-specific talent pools can be invaluable. Online Job Portals: Platforms like LinkedIn Jobs, [suspicious link removed], GulfTalent, and Naukri Gulf are popular and effective for reaching local and international candidates. Ensure your job postings are clear, engaging, and highlight your employer brand. Platforms like LinkedIn Jobs, [suspicious link removed], GulfTalent, and Naukri Gulf are popular and effective for reaching local and international candidates. Ensure your job postings are clear, engaging, and highlight your employer brand. Employee Referral Programs: Encourage current employees to refer qualified candidates. This often leads to high-quality hires who are already a good cultural fit, and can reduce recruitment costs. Encourage current employees to refer qualified candidates. This often leads to high-quality hires who are already a good cultural fit, and can reduce recruitment costs. University Partnerships: Collaborate with universities in Dubai and the UAE to tap into fresh graduate talent, offer internships, and host career fairs. Effective Interviewing in a Diverse Market Once you've attracted candidates, the interview process in Dubai requires a nuanced approach to assess both skills and cultural adaptability. Structured Interview Process : Implement a standardised interview framework. Develop a set of competency-based and behavioural questions that are asked consistently across all candidates for a given role. This ensures fairness, reduces bias, and allows for objective comparison. Assessing Cultural & Organizational Fit : In a multicultural environment, assess a candidate's openness, adaptability, and ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams. Ask questions about past experiences working in multicultural settings. Evaluate how well a candidate's personal values and work style align with your company's culture. For example, some companies are very hierarchical, others more collaborative. Skill-Based Assessments : Beyond traditional interviews, incorporate practical tests, case studies, or portfolio reviews relevant to the role. This provides objective evidence of a candidate's capabilities and problem-solving skills. Virtual Interview Best Practices : Given Dubai's international talent pool, virtual interviews are common. Ensure you use reliable platforms, maintain clear audio/video quality, and be mindful of different time zones. Provide clear instructions to candidates. Clear Communication & Expectation Setting : Use the interview as an opportunity to reiterate the role's responsibilities, key performance indicators (KPIs), career progression possibilities, and the company's vision. Transparency helps manage expectations and ensures the candidate is well-informed. Onboarding for Success: Integrating New Hires Smoothly A well-structured onboarding process is crucial for retaining top talent and ensuring they become productive members of your team quickly, especially for international hires adjusting to a new country. Pre-Arrival Support (Especially for International Hires) : Relocation Assistance: Provide practical support such as guidance on temporary accommodation options, initial transport, and essential services like setting up a local mobile number or bank account. Document Preparation: Help streamline the collection of necessary documents for visa processing to avoid delays. Comprehensive Induction Program : Beyond Paperwork: An induction should be more than just HR formalities. Immerse new hires in the company culture, values, and strategic goals. Team & Stakeholder Introductions: Facilitate introductions to immediate team members, cross-functional colleagues, and key stakeholders. Role Clarity: Clearly communicate the new hire's specific responsibilities, initial projects, KPIs, and how their role contributes to the broader company objectives. Buddy/Mentorship Program : Assign an experienced colleague (a 'buddy' or 'mentor') to guide the new hire. This informal support system helps navigate the new work environment, answers practical questions, and aids cultural integration. For international hires, providing a brief orientation on local customs, business etiquette, and social norms (e.g., during Ramadan) can significantly ease their transition and promote respectful interactions. Ensure new employees have immediate access to all necessary tools, software, internal systems, email, and relevant company documentation from day one. This minimizes frustration and accelerates productivity. Visa & Legal Essentials: A Quick Overview for Employers Navigating the visa and labor law landscape is a critical component of hiring in Dubai. While complex, understanding the basics helps ensure compliance and smooth processes. Please Note: This section provides general information and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Businesses should always consult with a qualified PRO service or legal expert for specific cases. Understanding Key Visa Types : Employment Visas: This is the most common visa for full-time employees, directly sponsored by the employing company. It grants the employee residency and work rights in the UAE. Freelance Visas/Permits: A growing trend, these permits (often issued by free zones) allow independent professionals to work legally without direct company sponsorship, offering flexibility for both businesses and talent. Golden Visa / Green Visa: While not employer-sponsored in the traditional sense, these long-term residency visas (5 or 10 years) for exceptional talents, investors, and skilled professionals are attractive to top-tier individuals. Knowing about them can enhance your understanding of the high-end talent market. Basic Sponsorship Process for Employment Visas : Entry Permit: The employer applies for an entry permit (or e-visa) for the candidate to enter the UAE. Medical Fitness Test: Upon arrival, the employee undergoes a mandatory medical examination (screening for communicable diseases like HIV and Tuberculosis). Emirates ID Application: Application for the national identity card, which is crucial for most services in the UAE. Residency Visa Stamping: The final step where the residency visa is stamped in the passport. Labor Contract Registration: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) registers the employment contract, which is legally binding. Key Labor Law Updates (2025 Considerations) : Fixed-Term Contracts: As of February 2, 2025, fixed-term contracts are the standard, replacing unlimited contracts. These are typically renewable every two years. Flexible Work Models: The law supports various work arrangements, including remote, part-time, and flexible work, offering more adaptability for businesses. Probation Period: Cannot exceed six months. Employers must give 14 days' written notice for termination during probation. Employees have specific notice periods if resigning during probation (14 days if leaving UAE, 30 days if joining another employer). Wage Protection System (WPS): Mandatory for companies with 10+ employees to pay wages through WPS, with stricter enforcement and monitoring by MOHRE. Anti-Harassment & Discrimination: Expanded protections against all forms of harassment and discrimination in the workplace. The Importance of PRO Services : Given the complexities of government processes, partnering with a reputable Public Relations Officer (PRO) service is highly recommended. PRO services handle all government-related document processing, visa applications, and labour department compliance, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and adherence to the latest regulations, thereby saving businesses time and avoiding potential penalties. Retaining Top Talent: Fostering a Motivated Workforce Attracting talent is only half the battle; retaining it is equally, if not more, critical for long-term business success in Dubai. Competitive Compensation & Benefits : Regularly benchmark salaries and benefits against market standards to ensure your packages remain attractive. Be transparent about performance-based increments and bonus structures. Career Development & Training : Invest in your employees' growth. Offer opportunities for upskilling, cross-training, leadership development programs, and access to industry conferences or workshops. Positive & Inclusive Work Environment : Foster a culture of respect, open communication, and psychological safety. Promote diversity and inclusion initiatives that make all employees feel valued and empowered to contribute. Implement formal recognition programs (e.g., employee of the month) and encourage informal appreciation to acknowledge hard work and achievements. Work-Life Balance Initiatives : Support employee well-being through initiatives such as flexible working hours (where possible), wellness programs, mental health support, and promoting a healthy work-life integration. Clear Communication & Feedback : Establish regular channels for feedback (e.g., one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, employee surveys) and act on employee suggestions to foster engagement and loyalty. In Dubai's dynamic and fiercely competitive business landscape, the ability to attract, hire, and retain top talent is a cornerstone of organisational success. It requires a strategic, multifaceted approach that goes beyond traditional recruitment. By understanding the unique nuances of Dubai's multicultural talent pool, cultivating a compelling employer brand, adopting effective interviewing and onboarding practices, diligently navigating visa and labour law essentials, and prioritising employee retention, businesses can build a resilient, innovative, and high-performing workforce. Investing in your people in Dubai is a crucial investment in your company's future growth and sustained competitive advantage. Also Read: UAE's 15 fastest-growing jobs Over the past few years, the UAE's job market has been evolving very fast, with more focus on the services sector as well as new-age technologies. UAE Jobseekers Demand 30% Higher Salaries as Living Costs Rise and Talent Shortages Grow The UAE job market is currently experiencing a significant mismatch between salary expectations and offers, as jobseekers demand up to 30% more than employers are willing to offer, according to the latest Naukrigulf Hiring Outlook Report. UAE Job Market Shifts to Employers' Advantage as Influx of Talent Boosts Options As more people come to country looking for jobs, companies are getting more opportunities to choose from the available talent UAE Jobs: Hiring Picks Up in 2024 with Growing Emphasis on Diversity Hiring is expected to increase by at least 15 per cent this year driven by an optimistic market outlook, according to headhunters and HR professionals in the UAE.
