Recruiting Brain Drain in Dubai - Evolution or Revolt?

Dubai policy makers introduced a law this year stating that all Human Resource Management roles must be held by a local National within 18 months. The spirit being that private companies must do more to train and develop UAE nationals in the HR field.

Sound in principle, except for the thousands of expatriates that will be out of work perhaps. I must admit I thought that we'd just see expat HR folk having their job titles changed to 'Advisor' (to the HR Manager). That is what has happened in other GCC states such as Oman and Qatar.

To aid the process the government have set up new departments to help drive the change and the required development, such as the Dubai Institute for Human Resource Development (DIHRD), and Tanmia are involved also.

Even though the cut off date for compliance is not until December 2007, already the effects are being felt. A well thought of Human Resources Director in Dubai resigned from his post as he faces the prospect of being replaced in January 2007. He felt the Ministry were being too vague abot the law and constantly moving the goal posts. Mainly as the HR professional in question didn't want to be on the jobmarket at the same time as 1000's of peers, he took the bold move of resigning his post.

His choices now are to become self-employed, move to another country, join a company in a free-zone, or to become a consultant.

I believe the logic is that companies with a UAE national HR leader are more likely to hire more UAE nationals, develop them. I also think the private sector is slightly to blame as had they done more to hire and develop national youth talent across the board, then this targeted change on one sector might not have been so dramatic. Only time will tell if the changes will be good for the economy, but I can't help feeling sorry for families who have move to this country and invested here; with their careers and their cash or savings.

The wider Middle East region will certainly benefit as many expereienced HR pro's will now be looking for employment outside of the UAE.

An article on te specific law changes and quotes can be found through the following press link:
http://www.gulfnews.com/indepth/labour/Emiritisation/10049590.html

eRecruitment Workshops for UAE National HR Folk
From my end, we've started educational seminars free to Emirati HR professionals to gain knowledge about best practice recruitment and to discuss regional/global trends in how companies are using the Internet and leveraging technology to benefit their HR strategies.

Initial response to the workshops has been very good. As the objective is closely in line with the Dubai governments own plans to develop HR knowledge amongst UAE natioanls, I did meet with the above mentioned DIHRD to see if they wanted to be involved in any way. It's been a month since our meeting and they're yet to reply; so that doesn't fill me with confidence in their understanding of the issues or the reality of the private sector. Never mind.

If you or a colleague are keen to join one of upcoming eRecruitment workshops in Dubai then please get in touch as you're more than welcome to join in. We're proud to be shaping the way people hire and in how the Internet is making recruitment add more value to the corporation.