Latest news with #InnovationsGroup
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Breaking barriers: Women transform energy leadership
The global energy sector has always reflected larger economic and geopolitical shifts, shaped by cycles of growth, disruption, and reinvention. Despite the headwinds – volatile oil prices, net-zero transitions, inflationary concerns, and a persistent talent crunch – the UAE's oil and gas industry is not just holding steady, it's thriving. Today, one of the most meaningful transformations underway isn't just technological or strategic, but human: the growing number of women shaping the future of energy. For too long, the oil and gas sector was seen as a male-dominated industry, but that's changing, gradually and meaningfully. Today, women in the UAE are leading engineering teams, heading digital departments, and driving sustainability agendas. ADNOC's commitment to increasing female representation in leadership and technical roles is more than a policy–it's a promise. Programs like 'Women in Energy' are building talent pipelines and breaking down barriers. 'One of the most uplifting shifts I've seen is the growing number of women shaping the UAE's energy future,' Venkatraman Mohan, Managing Partner – Oil & Gas Division, Innovations Group, tells OGN energy magazine. 'I've personally seen how gender-diverse teams solve problems faster, collaborate better, and bring fresh energy into the room. As more Emirati women pursue STEM education and step into the workforce, they are not just participating–they're leading. And that changes everything.' This isn't just progress, it's a reinvention powered by people, and increasingly, by women stepping into leadership and technical roles once out of reach. 'Having spent more than 30 years immersed in this industry, across the upstream, EPC contracting, renewable integration, and major energy infrastructure projects, I've seen my share of highs and lows. But what's happening in the UAE right now isn't just a comeback. It's a reinvention. And the heartbeat of this transformation? People. The right people, in the right places, at the right time,' says Mohan. While other energy markets are treading cautiously, the UAE is charging forward, with clarity, confidence, and commitment. As 2026 approaches, the country's oil and gas sector is experiencing an extraordinary hiring boom. And this isn't despite the global push for decarbonisation, it's because the UAE has found a way to balance both its hydrocarbon legacy and its green ambitions. THE VISION BEHIND THE MOMENTUM At the heart of this hiring surge is a carefully orchestrated national energy strategy. The UAE isn't choosing between oil and renewables, it's leveraging on both. Through landmark initiatives like Masdar City and the Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the nation has become a renewable energy pioneer. However, hydrocarbons still play a critical role in providing the revenue and stability needed to support the transition. Take ADNOC, for example. The state-owned energy giant has committed over $150 billion in capital expenditure from 2023 to 2027, aiming to boost crude production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. This kind of scale demands not just infrastructure, it demands people. Skilled, specialised, and forward-thinking professionals across exploration, engineering, HSE, logistics, and digital operations. This is the UAE's secret sauce: A top-down, fast-moving governance model where national vision meets rapid private sector execution. Big ideas don't get stuck in bureaucracy; they get built. WHAT'S POWERING THE UAE'S OIL & GAS HIRING BOOM? • Expanding hydrocarbon output: The UAE continues to invest heavily in exploration, drilling, and production, especially in Abu Dhabi's prolific oil fields. This has opened the floodgates for talent across drilling operations, project management, reservoir engineering, and more. It's not just about boosting barrels, it's about building capability at every level. • A Dual focus on sustainability: While the country powers up its oil output, it's also powering forward on renewables. From solar and wind to nuclear and green hydrogen, the UAE is diversifying its energy mix. This has created dual-sector demand, for petroleum engineers and environmental scientists alike. Clean and conventional energy are not in competition, they're growing together, creating new hybrid roles that never existed before. • Tech-led transformation: Today's oil and gas sector is as much about data centres as it is about drilling rigs. With AI, IoT, robotics, and automation reshaping operations, companies are now looking for automation engineers, data analysts, cybersecurity professionals, and digital leads, who can future-proof legacy systems. This isn't about replacing people with machines, it's about equipping them with better tools and smarter ways of working. • National Energy Strategy 2050: The UAE's long-term strategy is not just a roadmap, it's a catalyst. With goals to reduce carbon emissions and increase the share of clean energy to 50 per cent, the hiring impact is visible across energy efficiency roles, green project planning, and sustainability consulting. It's changing what the workforce looks like and what it values. • Strong global demand: Despite the green transition, global oil and gas demand hasn't vanished–it's simply shifted. Rapid industrialisation in emerging economies continues to fuel consumption. The UAE's strategic location and well-developed infrastructure position it as a key supplier. To support this, hiring has surged in refining, field development, export logistics, and international operations. • Government-led stability: Public-private partnerships, long-term investments, and economic stability make the UAE a safe bet for energy investors and job seekers. Policies that promote growth, like ADNOC's collaborations with international consortiums, keep engineering, technical services, and support functions in high demand. • Emiratisation and inclusive growth: Equally important is the national push toward workforce localisation. Programmes like Nafis and ADNOC's In-Country Value (ICV) are helping develop a skilled Emirati workforce, while also encouraging global expertise to come and mentor, build, and innovate. This intersection of local pride and international collaboration has opened up exciting cross-border opportunities and has created a culture of knowledge exchange. ENERGY SECURITY IN A SHIFTING WORLD With geopolitical turbulence affecting global energy supply chains, the UAE has stepped in as a reliable partner. As Europe and other markets diversify away from traditional suppliers, the UAE's ability to deliver uninterrupted energy is more valuable than ever. Scaling up in this environment isn't just smart, it's strategic. And it demands a workforce ready to deliver across compliance, logistics, and risk management on a global scale. THE GREEN ENERGY EFFECT: MORE JOBS, NOT LESS There's a common fear that clean energy will phase out jobs in oil and gas. But in the UAE, the opposite is true. Hydrocarbon revenues are being reinvested into clean energy, creating a win-win scenario. New projects mean new roles. The most in-demand professionals today are those who understand both worlds–traditional oil and emerging renewables. If you can speak both languages, you're in high demand. 2025 & BEYOND: BUILDING THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW As we look beyond 2025, it's clear this is not a short-lived surge. It's a foundational shift in how the UAE approaches energy and employment. The country isn't just building rigs, it's building resilience; it's not just digging wells, it's digging deep into innovation, inclusion, and international leadership. The companies succeeding today are those investing in talent, not just infrastructure. They're hiring people who can adapt, collaborate across cultures, learn quickly, and embrace both digital tools and hands-on experience. To job seekers considering a move to the region, the message is clear: the UAE isn't just offering jobs, it's offering purpose, progress, and the chance to be part of something much bigger than yourself. For those of us who've spent decades in this industry, this moment feels special. It's a reminder that energy is never just about supply and demand, it's about people; the rig workers, the engineers, the analysts, the pioneers, and yes, the dreamers, who power this industry forward every single day. The UAE's oil and gas sector is writing its next chapter; and it's doing so with intention, inclusion, and an eye firmly on the future. For anyone watching, or better yet, participating–this is not just an energy transition; it's a human one. Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Trade Arabia
05-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Breaking barriers: Women transform energy leadership
The global energy sector has always reflected larger economic and geopolitical shifts, shaped by cycles of growth, disruption, and reinvention. Despite the headwinds – volatile oil prices, net-zero transitions, inflationary concerns, and a persistent talent crunch – the UAE's oil and gas industry is not just holding steady, it's thriving. Today, one of the most meaningful transformations underway isn't just technological or strategic, but human: the growing number of women shaping the future of energy. For too long, the oil and gas sector was seen as a male-dominated industry, but that's changing, gradually and meaningfully. Today, women in the UAE are leading engineering teams, heading digital departments, and driving sustainability agendas. ADNOC's commitment to increasing female representation in leadership and technical roles is more than a policy–it's a promise. Programs like 'Women in Energy' are building talent pipelines and breaking down barriers. 'One of the most uplifting shifts I've seen is the growing number of women shaping the UAE's energy future,' Venkatraman Mohan, Managing Partner – Oil & Gas Division, Innovations Group, tells OGN energy magazine. 'I've personally seen how gender-diverse teams solve problems faster, collaborate better, and bring fresh energy into the room. As more Emirati women pursue STEM education and step into the workforce, they are not just participating–they're leading. And that changes everything.' This isn't just progress, it's a reinvention powered by people, and increasingly, by women stepping into leadership and technical roles once out of reach. 'Having spent more than 30 years immersed in this industry, across the upstream, EPC contracting, renewable integration, and major energy infrastructure projects, I've seen my share of highs and lows. But what's happening in the UAE right now isn't just a comeback. It's a reinvention. And the heartbeat of this transformation? People. The right people, in the right places, at the right time,' says Mohan. While other energy markets are treading cautiously, the UAE is charging forward, with clarity, confidence, and commitment. As 2026 approaches, the country's oil and gas sector is experiencing an extraordinary hiring boom. And this isn't despite the global push for decarbonisation, it's because the UAE has found a way to balance both its hydrocarbon legacy and its green ambitions. THE VISION BEHIND THE MOMENTUM At the heart of this hiring surge is a carefully orchestrated national energy strategy. The UAE isn't choosing between oil and renewables, it's leveraging on both. Through landmark initiatives like Masdar City and the Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the nation has become a renewable energy pioneer. However, hydrocarbons still play a critical role in providing the revenue and stability needed to support the transition. Take ADNOC, for example. The state-owned energy giant has committed over $150 billion in capital expenditure from 2023 to 2027, aiming to boost crude production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. This kind of scale demands not just infrastructure, it demands people. Skilled, specialised, and forward-thinking professionals across exploration, engineering, HSE, logistics, and digital operations. This is the UAE's secret sauce: A top-down, fast-moving governance model where national vision meets rapid private sector execution. Big ideas don't get stuck in bureaucracy; they get built. WHAT'S POWERING THE UAE'S OIL & GAS HIRING BOOM? • Expanding hydrocarbon output: The UAE continues to invest heavily in exploration, drilling, and production, especially in Abu Dhabi's prolific oil fields. This has opened the floodgates for talent across drilling operations, project management, reservoir engineering, and more. It's not just about boosting barrels, it's about building capability at every level. • A Dual focus on sustainability: While the country powers up its oil output, it's also powering forward on renewables. From solar and wind to nuclear and green hydrogen, the UAE is diversifying its energy mix. This has created dual-sector demand, for petroleum engineers and environmental scientists alike. Clean and conventional energy are not in competition, they're growing together, creating new hybrid roles that never existed before. • Tech-led transformation: Today's oil and gas sector is as much about data centres as it is about drilling rigs. With AI, IoT, robotics, and automation reshaping operations, companies are now looking for automation engineers, data analysts, cybersecurity professionals, and digital leads, who can future-proof legacy systems. This isn't about replacing people with machines, it's about equipping them with better tools and smarter ways of working. • National Energy Strategy 2050: The UAE's long-term strategy is not just a roadmap, it's a catalyst. With goals to reduce carbon emissions and increase the share of clean energy to 50 per cent, the hiring impact is visible across energy efficiency roles, green project planning, and sustainability consulting. It's changing what the workforce looks like and what it values. • Strong global demand: Despite the green transition, global oil and gas demand hasn't vanished–it's simply shifted. Rapid industrialisation in emerging economies continues to fuel consumption. The UAE's strategic location and well-developed infrastructure position it as a key supplier. To support this, hiring has surged in refining, field development, export logistics, and international operations. • Government-led stability: Public-private partnerships, long-term investments, and economic stability make the UAE a safe bet for energy investors and job seekers. Policies that promote growth, like ADNOC's collaborations with international consortiums, keep engineering, technical services, and support functions in high demand. • Emiratisation and inclusive growth: Equally important is the national push toward workforce localisation. Programmes like Nafis and ADNOC's In-Country Value (ICV) are helping develop a skilled Emirati workforce, while also encouraging global expertise to come and mentor, build, and innovate. This intersection of local pride and international collaboration has opened up exciting cross-border opportunities and has created a culture of knowledge exchange. ENERGY SECURITY IN A SHIFTING WORLD With geopolitical turbulence affecting global energy supply chains, the UAE has stepped in as a reliable partner. As Europe and other markets diversify away from traditional suppliers, the UAE's ability to deliver uninterrupted energy is more valuable than ever. Scaling up in this environment isn't just smart, it's strategic. And it demands a workforce ready to deliver across compliance, logistics, and risk management on a global scale. There's a common fear that clean energy will phase out jobs in oil and gas. But in the UAE, the opposite is true. Hydrocarbon revenues are being reinvested into clean energy, creating a win-win scenario. New projects mean new roles. The most in-demand professionals today are those who understand both worlds–traditional oil and emerging renewables. If you can speak both languages, you're in high demand. 2025 & BEYOND: BUILDING THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW As we look beyond 2025, it's clear this is not a short-lived surge. It's a foundational shift in how the UAE approaches energy and employment. The country isn't just building rigs, it's building resilience; it's not just digging wells, it's digging deep into innovation, inclusion, and international leadership. The companies succeeding today are those investing in talent, not just infrastructure. They're hiring people who can adapt, collaborate across cultures, learn quickly, and embrace both digital tools and hands-on experience. To job seekers considering a move to the region, the message is clear: the UAE isn't just offering jobs, it's offering purpose, progress, and the chance to be part of something much bigger than yourself. For those of us who've spent decades in this industry, this moment feels special. It's a reminder that energy is never just about supply and demand, it's about people; the rig workers, the engineers, the analysts, the pioneers, and yes, the dreamers, who power this industry forward every single day. The UAE's oil and gas sector is writing its next chapter; and it's doing so with intention, inclusion, and an eye firmly on the future. For anyone watching, or better yet, participating–this is not just an energy transition; it's a human one.
Zawya
28-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE employment trends: Innovations Group's latest report
21% Decline in White-Collar Hirings: Downturn driven by offshore centralization and challenges in sourcing sales talent. 74% Support AI in Recruitment: MENA professionals believe AI tools improve job efficiency and candidate sourcing. Dubai, UAE: Innovations Group, a leading recruitment and staffing solutions company, recently released its report titled 'Workforce Trends & Market Insights', which highlights the prevailing trends in the UAE job market. The UAE government's focus on economic diversification and infrastructure development is leading to a boom in the industrial sector and driving a significant influx of new businesses across industry verticals. The report reveals that the UAE job market has been experiencing a significant surge in demand for both blue-collar and entry-level jobs, although white-collar recruitment continues to show a downward trend. Blue-collar jobs have grown by 69% in 2024, primarily due to the ongoing mega projects in both residential and industrial construction. Record high levels of off-plan residential sales have peaked construction activities, driving a spike in demand for construction workers. Additionally, geo-political instabilities in the Middle Eastern region have led to redirection of cargo through ports in the UAE, leading to increased operational & management (O&M) activities. This has benefited job opportunities in the logistics and port management sectors. However, overall blue-collar hirings declined by 21% in 2024, despite the rising number of open positions, which indicates challenges in terms of mobilization and skill matching. The white-collar job market in the UAE, however, has seen a slight decline. Hirings were down by 21% in 2024 although both job categories and the total number of open positions showed a modest increase. The focus of companies in centralizing their support functions, such as customer service and finance, in offshore global hubs outside the UAE are contributing to this downturn. However, sales and business development positions remain in high demand due to their crucial role in driving growth for startups and new companies entering the UAE market. Although companies continue to face challenges in sourcing talents for such positions with the right mix of market knowledge, network, and competitive incentives. Demand for workers at entry-level positions, like receptionist and front-office staff, have also risen with the increasing establishment of new businesses in the country. The proliferation of entry-level positions reflects the UAE's economic momentum, with increased demand for foundational staff to support new commercial ventures. Nikhil Nanda, Director at Innovations Group, commented: 'The UAE is a dynamic hub offering a pool of skilled workforce. It is important for specialized recruitment agencies to develop strategic approaches to address hiring challenges and skill mismatches. With expertise in global recruitment and associated services, Innovations Group, is well-positioned to help businesses meet these growing needs and tackle challenges through holistic approach to hiring.' Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, a few key trends will shape the future of the job market in the UAE. The UAE has been a leader in embracing remote work, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is likely to continue in 2025, with more organizations adopting flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid work models. The adoption of remote work will enable companies to expand their talent pools beyond geographic boundaries, encouraging companies to explore options in recruiting candidates from across the globe. Organizations must adapt their policies and work culture with care to fully leverage the benefits of remote and hybrid work models. The rapidly advancing AI technologies are also poised to transform the recruitment process. AI tools will continue to be leveraged at work, with 74% of professionals in the MENA region agreeing that AI tools can help them do their job better. AI advancements have the potential to revolutionize the entire recruitment process, by automating tasks like resume screening and interview scheduling, improving candidate sourcing, and reducing bias through data-driven decisions. By improving efficiency, personalization, and fairness, AI solutions will continue to transform the way organizations find, attract, and hire talent. Another trend rapidly gaining momentum is skills-based hiring, with emphasis on the specific skillset and abilities of candidates instead of traditional markers like educational qualifications. By prioritizing the abilities and skills of candidates over traditional differentiators like degrees or career paths, organizations can tap into a much wider and more diverse talent pool, while fostering innovation and work culture. The UAE's job market is dynamic with several job opportunities. Companies must adapt to changing market trends and expectations of a younger workforce to recruit & retain the right talent and leverage their expertise and overcome recruitment challenges effectively. About Innovations Group: Innovations Group is the UAE's leading recruitment and staffing solutions provider with services that include talent acquisition, permanent staffing, contract staffing, global mobility solutions, PRO and payroll services among others. The Company has been active in the staffing and recruitment business for the past 25 years and has successfully carved out a niche for itself in the industry. Over the years, the company has diversified into various sectors across the UAE including technology, aviation, real estate and hospitality among others. Home - Innovation UAE For more information, interviews, insights, and images please contact: Sanchita Goswami sanchita@ Dimple Menezes dimple@
