Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Mohammed Al Balushi, Assistant Chief of Staff for Joint Capabilities at the Ministry of Defence, inaugurated the 8th edition of the National and Reserve Service Career Fair, taking place from 12 to 14 May 2025 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai.
Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Mohammed Al Balushi, Assistant Chief of Staff for Joint Capabilities at the Ministry of Defence, toured the exhibition, accompanied by senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, representatives of the National Service and Reserve Authority, and a number of senior officials. During the tour, he was briefed on the wide range of job opportunities available to recruits, as well as the initiatives and support services offered at the fair, backed by the Ministry of Defence. The aim is to empower national service graduates to contribute to building a promising generation of national talent capable of driving innovation and taking an active role in the country’s future economic development.
On this occasion, Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Mohammed Al Balushi, Assistant Chief of Staff for Joint Capabilities at the Ministry of Defence, stated: “The 8th edition of the National and Reserve Service Career Fair serves as a pioneering national platform that reflects the commitment of the country’s institutions to empower national service graduates and integrate them into the labor market. This initiative contributes to enhancing the capabilities of national talent and developing human capital. At the Ministry of Defence, we are proud to see this distinguished group of Emirati youth, who have demonstrated discipline and competence during their service, and who are now fully prepared to assume impactful roles across the country’s vital sectors.”
The 8th edition of the National and Reserve Service Career Fair features over 80 entities from the public and private sectors, representing approximately 30 diverse fields. These entities aim to support and encourage over 20,000 male and female Emirati participants in achieving professional success and contributing to the national development process.
The organization of the National and Reserve Service Career Fair stems from the vision of the National and Reserve Service Authority, which emphasizes the importance of integrating national and reserve service recruits into the labor market and facilitating direct communication with participating entities from both the government and private sectors. In addition to the job opportunities offered, the fair features a comprehensive knowledge platform through the organization of more than 30 specialized workshops, delivered by over 40 speakers, including global experts and professionals from various fields. These workshops address a wide range of critical topics aligned with global shifts in the labor market, most notably: the impact of emerging technologies and innovation on the workplace, the future of jobs amid the rise of artificial intelligence, and how AI is transforming the workforce. These sessions aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of current and former national service recruits, enabling them to excel in job interviews and select the most suitable career paths. These interactive sessions are designed to enhance the readiness of national service recruits and graduates to confidently enter the evolving job market and broaden their knowledge horizons in line with global market requirements. They also contribute to building a generation of tech-savvy talent equipped with the tools of the future and capable of innovation and excellence across various sectors.
This annual event highlights the importance of directly connecting national and reserve service graduates with entities seeking to recruit them, thereby establishing effective channels of communication. The National and Reserve Service Career Fair reflects the UAE’s exceptional and ongoing vision to empower its youth and invest in their potential, guided by a firm belief that national talent is the country’s true wealth, and that shaping the future begins with preparing a capable generation of leaders, ready to meet contemporary challenges and engage in the nation’s sustainable development process.
The National and Reserve Service Career Fair is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Defence, and organized by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – a member of INDEX Holding. The event is supported by NMDC Group, EDGE Group, AD Ports Group, Bin Hamoodah Group, University of Khorfakkan and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) – Abu Dhabi, Waterfalls Global, Abu Dhabi Media Network, the Young Vision, Manpower Group, International Business Magazine LLC, Edarabia, and INDEX Media.
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