Latest news with #AhmedBinSaeedAlMaktoum
Gulf Today
22-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Emirates Group launches massive talent drive to recruit over 17,000
The Emirates Group has kickstarted a global talent scouting and acquisition drive, revving up this phase of its growth. This financial year, the aviation powerhouse is looking to onboard 17,300 people across 350 roles. These roles span every facet, function and operations across Emirates and dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider. Hundreds of new recruits are required across some roles, including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, HR and finance. dnata is looking to hire more than 4,000 cargo, catering and ground handling specialists. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, said, "The Emirates Group's people strategy is anchored in Dubai's Economic Agenda D33 and our own projected growth and expansion. We're seeking world-class talent to fuel our bold ambition, redefine the future of aviation, and continue our commitment and culture of innovation and excellence. This is an opportunity for skilled and talented professionals to play a stellar role in our future, our strategy, and our growth story.' Throughout the year, the Group will be hosting more than 2,100 open days and other talent acquisition events in 150 cities to recruit the best pilots, IT professionals, engineers, and talent for cabin crew roles. This also includes Dubai-based events to engage UAE national students and graduates. Since 2022, the Group has onboarded more than 41,000 talented professionals, including nearly 27,000 in various operational roles, and today has a 121,000-strong workforce. The Group has always been a top talent magnet and an employer of choice both in the UAE and globally. In the last financial year, the Group received more than 3.7 million applications for roles spanning all its brands and departments, with candidates attracted by its brand power; global reputation; people-first strategy; tax-free salary and top-notch benefits; and its renowned training, development, and recognition programmes. Talented professionals around the world are drawn to Dubai for any number of reasons - safety, security, economic opportunity, tech-centric ecosystems, future-thinking policies, and for being a vibrant, lifestyle destination. WAM
Gulf Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed approves senior leadership appointments at DIEZ
Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has approved new senior leadership appointments within the Authority. This move is in line with DIEZ's strategy to strengthen its leadership governance framework and support its institutional integration and comprehensive transformation journey. The new appointments include Juma Al Matrooshi as Assistant Executive Chairman Investments and Partnerships at DIEZ, and Badr Buhannad as Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum emphasised that these appointments are in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, which highlight the importance of investing in national talent capable of driving economic development. By combining senior-level expertise with the promise of young professionals, this approach aims to empower the next generation of leaders and strengthen the ability of national cadres to lead the next phase of development with efficiency and competence. It also supports the broader goals of enhancing integration and building a more competitive and sustainable economic model. These appointments reflect DIEZ's strategic focus on developing a more integrated and attractive investment environment, while enhancing operational efficiency. This will further strengthen DIEZ's contribution to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai among the world's top three urban economies within the next decade. WAM
Gulf Today
23-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
ForsaTEK 2025 offers platform for high-impact, scalable innovation
Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group, inaugurated the third edition of ForsaTEK, the innovation platform and annual event organised by the Emirates Group. The event was attended by Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, along with a number of senior executives from the Emirates Group. The annual event is held at the Emirates Group Headquarters and showcases advanced technology partnerships, promising startups, thought-provoking discussions, and emerging talent developing innovative concepts that aim to drive transformative change. This year's forum themes highlighted how artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things are reshaping the aviation sector, while also emphasising the crucial role of human engagement in embracing technology and maximising its effectiveness. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed said, 'Building on the success of the first two editions, ForsaTEK 2025 underpins the Emirates Group's continued commitment to anchoring the next wave of innovations within our business, scaling up existing innovations, supporting startups, and creating a powerful testbed of partnerships that introduce fresh solutions and propel our digital future forward. "The high impact showcases at every part of the innovation pipeline at ForsaTEK 2025 demonstrate how the Emirates Group is building an ecosystem to push new boundaries in AI, technology, research, and digital adoption. We hope all our teams and partners leave the event feeling inspired by tomorrow's possibilities and determined to weave innovation, both big and small, into their everyday work lives." This year, ForsaTEK featured over 40 in-house and partner showcases, strategically organised across the innovation pipeline spectrum, from early-stage research and prototyping, to proof-of-concept trials, and fully launched initiatives being scaled up. Fully launched initiatives included Transguard and Emirates Group Security's advanced autonomous robotics to enhance urban safety and security; dnata Cargo's autonomous drone system for inventory validation; dnata's 3D prototyping and custom manufacturing of spare parts; Emirates Airport Services' AI-enabled aircraft turnaround analysis and resource optimisation system, amongst other aviation and customer-centric innovations. The Trial Zone included several accessibility initiatives including Glidance's groundbreaking self-guided mobility aid enabling safe, independent navigation for the visually impaired; the JeffCAN immersive media chair, blending sensory design and technology to support and engage neurodiverse passengers; the Airbus Accessible and Inclusive cabin featuring a Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) lavatory and personal wheelchair onboard. Maintenance and engineering trials featured an AI and computer vision platform for fast, accurate engine part detection and identification; Apple Vision Pro-based augmented reality maintenance for enhanced visualisation of brake, wheel, and APU assemblies, and drone-based aircraft inspections, for fast, safe, and accurate aircraft exterior inspections. A pitch zone also featured 13 start-ups showcasing their ideas to a panel of VIPs, investors, and tech industry representatives. People and youth engagement areas within the Experience Zone were also activated to showcase innovation journeys and enhance visitor engagement. Sarah Al Amiri delivered ForsaTEK 2025's opening keynote, focused around the 'disruption of technology on public education'. The UAE recently announced the integration of AI into all levels of school curricula to prepare the nation's youth for a world increasingly shaped by a rapidly evolving tech landscape, as well as positioning the UAE as a major global player in artificial intelligence. The event's exciting programme also included world-renowned tech experts and academics like Dr. Mark Esposito, Geostrategist and Advisor at the World Economic Forum and Harvard University Innovation Researcher delving into topics like reinventing and remobilisation of technology strategies; 'Imagineering with Disney'; Younes Bensouda Mourri, Professor of AI at Stanford University who discussed rethinking human intelligence in an AI powered world; humanoid robots; and the future impact of AI on society and human advancement with Shekhar Kapur, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and AI philosopher. At ForsaTEK 2025, the Emirates Group's Afkar app was also launched. Afkar, which means 'ideas' in Arabic, is a company-wide digital platform that allows employees – wherever they work and whatever they do – to play their part in generating new ideas for implementation. The winning concept unveiled at this year's event was the automation of visa validation for customers, removing yet another source of friction for passengers during their travel journeys. WAM
Gulf Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Emirates to reintroduce Damascus services after 14 years from July 16
Emirates is set to reintroduce flights to Damascus from July 16, 2025. Operations were suspended to the Syrian capital in 2012, and the return of services follow a comprehensive evaluation in conjunction with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The airline will initially start with three weekly services on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, with plans to expand to four weekly flights from Aug.2, with an additional flight on Saturday. Emirates will expand its Damascus services to daily operations, effective Oct.26. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said, "Emirates is pleased to restart operations to Damascus and support Syria's road ahead by providing better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inwards investment as well as opening new trade lanes and global market access for the country. Re-establishing air travel and connectivity is also good news for our customers that make up the expansive Syrian diaspora across the Americas, Europe and the GCC, who are eager to fly back home and reconnect to their roots, and leverage their knowledge, skills, expertise and resources in ongoing development efforts. "We would like to thank the Syrian authorities for their support in strengthening connectivity between Dubai and Damascus and look forward to boosting links to and from the country through our regularly scheduled operations.' Emirates' services to Damascus will operate with a 302-seater Boeing 777-200LR. The flights will open up new opportunities for travellers to conveniently connect to and from the airline's network of nearly 150 destinations and will support the UAE's efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support Syrian aspirations to rebuild and attract foreign investment across key sectors such as energy, construction and agriculture. Emirates customers flying to and from Damascus will also benefit from the airline's codeshare partnership with flydubai, which will complement its flight schedule and provide more options and convenience when flying in and out of the Syrian capital. Emirates commenced services to Damascus in 1988, and prior to suspending operations in 2012 the airline carried over 2.1 million passengers in and out of Syria. The airline currently flies to 13 cities in the Middle East/GCC, serving the region with a total of 191 weekly flights. WAM
Gulf Today
16-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Deal signed to strengthen UAE's position as a global financial hub
In the presence of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Eng. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Emirati Human Resources Development Council, the Dubai Government Human Resources Department and ESCP Business School - Dubai Campus, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates NBD, the leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region, to launch a comprehensive programme aimed at building the UAE's financial leadership pipeline. This initiative signifies the commitment of both parties in advancing Emirati talent and strengthening the UAE's position as a global financial hub. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during the Dubai Fintech Summit by Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates NBD Group and His Excellency Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was also witnessed by His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and His Excellency Saeed Al Attar, Director General of the Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Their presence coincided with the celebration of the launch of a second financial initiative, the 'Dubai Financial Experts Programme,' a joint professional development programme between the DIFC and the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development. This programme is designed to support mid-career Emirati financial professionals in their career advancement. The two new finance programmes uniquely bring together the expertise of the private, public and education sectors to build a pipeline of UAE National finance leaders from the mid-managerial level up to the C-suite. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Emirates NBD Vice Chairman and Managing Director, said: 'Our new CFO programme directly contributes to the UAE's strategic goals, including the Emiratisation of critical leadership roles, while strengthening our knowledge-based economy, and positioning the UAE as a global hub for finance leadership, fintech innovation and overall excellence.' Al Qassim added: 'This programme builds on Emirates NBD's proven track record of Emirati talent development including our exemplary graduate programs, leadership development initiatives, and long-term partnerships with some of the world's leading tertiary institutions. We look forward to seeing this programme deliver tangible outcomes for the UAE's finance sector and the broader nation.' Beyond financial sponsorship of the programme, Emirates NBD will contribute capstone projects, ensuring practical relevance and real-world impact for participants. Emirates NBD will also provide invaluable professional insights and executive support, enriching the learning journey of all participants. Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said: 'We are extremely committed to identifying and nurturing the next generation of Emirati financial leaders. We will spearhead the selection of 30 exceptional finance professionals from across the government and private sectors to participate in this transformative programme. We will collaborate closely on capstone projects to ensure they directly contribute to our national strategic priorities.' The programme will be comprehensively promoted across key government and private entities, complemented by extensive outreach through Emirates NBD's digital marketing channels. Pr Bastian Dufilhol, Executive Director of ESCP Business School campus in Dubai, said: 'ESCP Business School, with its rich heritage dating back to 1819 and six campuses across Europe, is honoured to partner in this strategic initiative. We will design and deliver a transformative, five-month programme in Finance, leveraging our internationally recognised faculty, cutting-edge curriculum, and immersive learning experiences, including coaching, mentoring, case studies and simulations, to empower the next generation of Emirati financial leaders. Our master's in finance has recently been ranked as the first in the world, which reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and innovation in financial education. ESCP is proud to contribute to the UAE and Dubai's education strategy in this field.' Emirates NBD (Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As of 31st March 2025, total assets were Dhs 1 trillion, (equivalent to approx. $272 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 839 branches and 4,539 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of $4.54 billion.
