From first jobs to future skills: biggest-ever edition of Ru’ya 2026 concludes three days of opportunity for Emirati talent

Dubai, UAE, 30 September 2026: Three days of interviews, career conversations, competitions, learning and discovery drew to a close today as Ru’ya, Careers UAE 2026 concluded at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing Emirati students, graduates and professionals together with employers, educators and industry leaders from across the UAE.

Held under the theme ‘Ready for What’s Next? The Future of Work’, this year’s Ru’ya looked beyond the first job to the skills, experiences and choices that can shape a career over the longer term. From meeting recruiters and exploring university pathways to testing skills through competitions and hearing directly from industry leaders, visitors were encouraged to explore not only the opportunities available today, but where the changing world of work could take them next.

The show’s biggest ever edition saw more than 150 employers and organisations participated across 23+ sectors during the three-day event, spanning technology, banking, aviation, defence, real estate, space and other established and emerging industries.

Asma Al Sharif, Assistant Vice President for Sustainability and Exhibitions Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “The conversations we’ve seen over the past three days reflect a job market that is becoming more competitive and more dynamic. Young Emiratis need the skills to respond to that change, but they also need early exposure to the breadth of opportunities available to them so they can make informed choices about where they want to go. That is what Ru’ya is designed to enable. A student might discover a university pathway they hadn’t considered, a graduate might meet a future employer, or a young professional might see how their skills could take them into a completely different industry. As Ru’ya concludes, we want those conversations and connections to continue well beyond the event and help young Emiratis take their next steps with greater knowledge, confidence and ambition.”

Careers are changing – and so are the skills behind them

Across the three days, one message emerged consistently from participating employers: recruitment is only one part of building a sustainable Emirati workforce. Long-term development, continuous learning, exposure to different industries and clear pathways for progression are increasingly important as organisations compete for talent and the skills required by the workplace continue to evolve.

Employers used Ru’ya not only to recruit, but to meet prospective candidates, explain emerging career pathways and discuss how young Emiratis can prepare for industries being reshaped by technology, AI and new ways of working.

Yousuf bin Lahej, VP of Emiratisation and Government Partnerships at Emirates Group, said: “The advancement of UAE national talent remains a cornerstone of the Emirates Group’s Emiratisation strategy, anchored in a holistic approach to attracting, developing, and retaining Emirati professionals. This strategy goes beyond recruitment, focusing on building long-term capability through structured pathways, from targeted career outreach initiatives and open days to competitive employment packages and world-class training and development programmes.”

Khaled Bin Braik, UAE Country Senior Partner and Emiratisation Leader, PwC Middle East, stated: “Investing in Emirati talent is an investment in the UAE’s future. Through our Watani programme, we are creating meaningful career pathways that give UAE nationals the experience, skills and opportunities to grow, lead and make an impact. With more than 250 Emiratis across our business today, we are proud of the progress we have made, but our ambition goes further. Our continued participation in leading career fairs such as Ru’ya reflects our commitment to connecting with the next generation of Emirati business leaders.”

Among the tangible recruitment outcomes announced during Ru’ya, the General Command of Dubai Civil Defence confirmed the appointment of Emirati citizen Mohammed Shehab Ayoub, a Person of Determination, as a Senior Administrator within the Logistics Services Department, following his successful completion of the job interview and fulfilment of the position’s requirements and conditions. The General Command will support him and work to further develop his professional skills and capabilities.

du announced a collaboration with Sapia.ai to integrate artificial intelligence into its recruitment system, reflecting the growing role of technology in how employers identify and engage talent.

Al Ghurair, meanwhile, offered Emirati candidates AI-enabled interviews onsite at Ru’ya, as part of its approach to developing national talent across different stages of their careers.

Another example of employers offering pathways beyond immediate vacancies saw first-time exhibitor DAMAC Properties showcasing two programmes; NaMa, introduced in 2023 to recruit and develop UAE Nationals across the organisation, and Ajyal, which provides graduates and interns with practical experience, mentorship and exposure to diverse business functions.

Putting skills to the test

Ru’ya’s focus on preparing young Emiratis for the future was also brought to life through its student competitions, giving participants the opportunity to move beyond theory and put their creativity, problem-solving, technical knowledge and entrepreneurial thinking into practice.

The final day saw winners recognised across competitions spanning innovation, technology, sustainability, media, science and entrepreneurship.

The first-place prize in the Future X Hackathon was awarded to Zayed Educational Complex, while Dubai National School took first place in the Youth X Competition. The Green Innovation Challenge saw Dubai National School Al Barsha claim the first-place prize, recognising their innovative approach to sustainability and green solutions. For the Space Race: SatKit Edition competition, organized by the National Space Academy under the UAE Space Agency, the 1^st prize was won by Dubai National School Al Barsha.

Alongside the competitions, Ru’ya Academy delivered learning experiences and expert-led sessions focused on developing skills for the future of work, complementing the recruitment and career guidance taking place across the exhibition.

Taking the next step

From a first conversation with a recruiter to discovering an entirely new career path, Ru’ya 2026 was designed to help young Emiratis leave with something tangible: a new opportunity, a useful connection, a stronger skill or simply a clearer idea of where they want to go next.

Ru’ya, Careers UAE will return to Dubai World Trade Centre from 28–30 September 2027.

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