"Meet a real pilot": How Ru'ya is turning career dreams into conversations

Dubai's Dubai World Trade Centre hosted the Ru ya 2026 career fair, a bustling event where young Emiratis explored potential careers and employers found promising talent. Over 150 employers showcased over 23 sectors, with guidance counselors, government organizations, and industry partners present. This year's theme was "Ready for What's Next? The Future of Work," encouraging visitors to explore their potential beyond just applying for jobs.

HSBC Bank Middle East's CEO, Mohamed Al Marzooqi, explained that while attracting Emirati talent is relatively easy, developing them once they're hired is the real challenge. He advised fresh graduates to treat their CV as a living document, continually adding new skills every quarter. HSBC aims to have about 900 Emiratis working for the bank by year-end, with 70 roles available at the fair, primarily in wealth management, risk, and compliance.

Yousuf Bin Lahej, VP for Emiratisation and government partnership at the Emirates Group, took a hands-on approach. He brought pilots, engineers, and other professionals to the fair in uniform, explaining that they could offer firsthand advice to students interested in aviation. Bin Lahej emphasized the importance of looking beyond job titles and focusing on how well a role aligns with a person's skills and aspirations.

Manal Matar, Head of Talent Acquisition and People Experience at Du, highlighted the company's focus on future-ready capabilities, particularly in generative AI, Big data programming, and critical thinking. AI and digital skills are in demand across various roles, and Du is partnering with Huawei, Cisco, and Nokia to support its workforce in these areas. Du has openings for graduate trainees and experienced hires, as well as programs for undergraduates that are showcased at Ru ya 2026.