The UAE News Report
Dubai: Almost all Emirati and expatriate respondents to a Thales-commissioned survey said they would feel proud knowing their contribution supports the UAE’s national development objectives.
The YouGov survey covered more than 1,000 people across the UAE, with Emiratis accounting for 65% of respondents and expatriates 35%. The 99% finding relates to those surveyed.
More than eight in 10 Emirati respondents said they wanted to contribute to technologies advancing the ‘Made in the Emirates’ ecosystem. Nearly 90% of all respondents highlighted the importance of developing products and technologies locally.
Investment in skills and engineering
Among Emirati respondents, 92% agreed that sustained investment in local talent and advanced technologies was essential for the country’s long-term economic competitiveness. The equivalent figure among expatriate respondents was 87%.
Nearly 70% of Emiratis and 65% of expatriates surveyed said multinational companies operating in the UAE should develop advanced technical and engineering capabilities locally.
Training in industrial technologies and networking with industry experts were each identified by 43% of Emirati respondents as valuable routes to professional growth.
Pascale Sourisse, CEO of Thales International, said the findings underlined demand for investment in local engineering capabilities, skills development and technology transfer.
AI and future workforce readiness
Artificial intelligence was identified by 65% of respondents as the technology most likely to transform daily life over the next five years, followed by cybersecurity at 49%. Meanwhile, 73% of Emirati respondents said they felt prepared for future workforce demands.
Thales said its one-year Early Careers Programme provides young Emiratis with technical training, leadership development and practical industry experience.
The company also highlighted its radar manufacturing facility, developed with Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement. Scheduled to become fully operational by 2027, it will produce Ground Master series air-surveillance radars in the UAE.
