Projects of the 50: new plan to get 75,000 Emiratis into private sector #UAE

Projects of the 50: new plan to get 75,000 Emiratis into private sector

A series of major new projects were unveiled on Sunday to boost the UAE's economy and development in the years to come.

At Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, ministers set out the latest 13 items in the 'Projects of the 50' plan.

The 13 relate to boosting the country's human capital and significantly boosting the number of Emiratis employed in the private sector.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, were present as the new projects were unveiled.

Among the first to be announced is a plan to spend up to Dh24 billion on getting 75,000 Emiratis into private sector jobs, Mr Al Gergawi said.

UAE nationals will be given a series of incentives to choose private sector work, including for each child they have.

Separately, university graduates will be encouraged to take up jobs in the private sector, with the government offering to boost their salary to make the decision more attractive.

For example, the government would top up the Emirati private sector employee's salary by Dh5000 per month, plus make payments to support his or her children.

A separate plan will allow federal government employees to take a sabbatical on 50 per cent of their salary to start their own business. Another will provide financial grants to encourage Emiratis over 50 who take early retirement to start their own businesses.