Abstract:

Empowering the workforce with the necessary skills to capitalize on breakthrough technologies and take advantage of global trends is a monumental challenge for any country. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out in this regard. It has anchored its national strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, spearheading pioneering initiatives like the first-ever Blockchain city, 3D-printed office buildings, and the establishment of the world's inaugural Ministry of Artificial Intelligence. The UAE has invested substantially in nurturing its human talent, placing education at the forefront of its priorities.

Despite the UAE's numerous publications on prospective industries, there's a gap in identifying the competencies essential to drive these sectors. This paper's primary aim is to pinpoint the future skill sets vital for the UAE. Our research approach starts by examining the five latest reports from the UAE federal government to spotlight leading industries of the future. We then select representative jobs for each industry, determine the necessary skills using the O*NET Online (U.S. Department of Labor) database, and validate our findings via surveys. Our research illuminates the most sought-after technical proficiencies, capabilities, and job functions that higher education should prioritize to align with the UAE government's vision.

The insights from this research will benefit the UAE's higher education realm, especially its 144 universities. Future research directions include surveying and organizing focus groups to gather feedback from pivotal stakeholders like university top brass, decision-makers from both public and private sectors, and HR leaders.

Keywords:

Competency, UAE, Future Skills, Skills Gap.