Senaat, one of the largest industrial investment companies in the UAE, is fostering its Emiratisation drive through expanding its professional development programmes to include a wider range of accredited courses tailored to its Emirati cadres.
Senaat's initiative include business school executive programmes in association with leading international academic institutions such as London Business School (LBS), IMD and INSEAD; businesses fundamental trainings and tailored management courses.
This takes form as the second batch of Senaat employees graduated from the Institute of Leadership Management Program (ILM) earlier this month. The graduation ceremony, which took place at the St. Regis hotel in Abu Dhabi, commemorated two batches of 38 Senaat employees who have successfully completed level 2 of ILM's flagship management development programme.
Present at the ceremony were Suhail Mubarak bin Athaeeth Al Ameri, Senaat CEO, Aqeel A. Madhi, CEO of NPCC, Saeed G Al Rumaithi, CEO of Emirates Steel, Andre Wilson Shaw, CEO of DUCAB, Yehya Al Marzouqi, Executive Director, Strategic Learning and Development at Tawazun, as well as other senior executives from Senaat's portfolio companies.
Senaat is also taking transcontinental steps towards supporting National talent studying abroad, having sponsored the UAE Student Forum in Washington, DC in November this year where 250 candidates were interviewed at the Senaat booth expressing great interest in its contribution to the industrial success of Abu Dhabi.
Al Ameri said, "As a national company that is actively involved in the growth and progression of our country, we take it upon ourselves to develop a generation of competent and skilled Emiratis involved in furthering the UAE's industrial sector and leading its economic diversification strategy.
"Mahmoud Al Hameli, SVP Business Support at Senaat, said, "Working at Senaat is not a mere job. It is a long-term career with an upward trajectory of continuous professional and personal development in sector that is contributing significantly to the social and economic development of their country.
Following a series of successful Emiratisation initiatives, Senaat has launched a general career development programme covering a broad field of business fundamentals designed to improve operational performance and aid in decision-making across all its subsidiary firms.
Building a sound technical base is the core focus of Senaat's human capital development as the holding company that constantly endeavours to prepare UAE nationals for managerial positions. By 2015, Senaat aims to expand the portfolio of courses offered by adding more specific business courses such as Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), in addition to the current ILM programmes level 2 and 3. Based on the keen participation and positive feedback of the overall Emiratisation programme, the enrolment numbers are expected to double in 2015.
Farther from home, Senaat's gold sponsorship of the UAE Student Forum in Washington, DC., for the third consecutive year, has seen significant results. In a presentation to students, Senaat highlighted the opportunities and benefits that fresh graduates receive when joining the Company or any of its portfolio companies. As a result, out of [250] applications received, Senaat has shortlisted 72 Emirati candidates, of which 30 were offered permanent positions and 34 were given career development opportunities at Senaat and its portfolio companies. Scholarships were granted to eight Emirati students to support their academic advancement by Ducab, Senaat's subsidiary and an industrial Joint Venture with Dubai Government, one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality power cables and wires in the Middle East.
Senaat currently employs over 15,000 staff across all six companies within its portfolio and is constantly looking to grow its base of Emirati employees. Today, UAE nationals make up the majority of Senaat's senior management and 61% of overall employees.
Senaat is the UAE's largest industrial holding company, managing assets for the Government of Abu Dhabi. Senaat is fully owned by Abu Dhabi Government and has been mandated to create, optimise, promote and champion capital and power intensive assets in the United Arab Emirates. It is a key contributor to Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030 which aims to diversify the Emirate's economy away from its reliance on the hydrocarbon sector by developing a strong industrial capability. Senaat thrives on the development of UAE national human capital through leadership development, job creation and knowledge transfer.
Senaat, which translates as "Industries", manages more than US$5.7 billion of industrial assets and employs more than 18,000 people. Senaat has invested over US$2.8 billion in the non-oil sector since 2004 and its leadership is made up mainly of Emirates nationals.
Its subsidiary companies benefit from Senaat's unique ability to source innovation, create and grow businesses and provide proactive, strategic input through to commercial productivity. Senaat aligns itself with its subsidiaries to build world-class companies.