Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, has signed an agreement with the Department of Government Enablement to recruit over 200 UAE Nationals into EGA Academy’s industrial training programs.
Under the agreement, the company will recruit UAE Nationals who are registered with the Department of Government Enablement, and hold high school certificates, for EGA Academy’s industrial National Training programs over the next five years.
EGA Academy: Building the Industrial Talent of Tomorrow
The EGA Academy is a strategic initiative launched in September 2025 to transform capability building and career development to support the future growth of Emirates Global Aluminum and the UAE industrial sector.
The Academy builds on Emirates Global Aluminum’s long-standing commitment in line with Operation 300bn to develop talent within the aluminum sector to increase productivity, boost the sector’s economic contribution, and create further job opportunities.
The industrial company’s National Training Programs develop high school graduates for technical roles. More than 5,000 UAE Nationals have graduated from these programs since they were first established in 1982, with many then having long and successful careers with EGA.
The recruits will participate in theoretical and on-the-job training over periods of 12 months at the Academy to work in Emirates Global Aluminum’s smelter operational areas, and will be employed by the company upon successful completion of the training program.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban CEO – EGA
“Attracting and developing the talent Emirates Global Aluminum needs to contribute to the UAE’s industrial growth and economic diversification has been one of our key priorities for decades. We look forward to working closely with the Department of Government Enablement to accelerate our in-focus Emiratization, which is already amongst the highest of any major company. We look forward to welcoming the new recruits to our team and supporting them in their career development.”
His Excellency Ibrahim Nasser, Undersecretary of the Department of Government Enablement, said that, “Through Mawaheb, the Department of Government Enablement is committed to empowering Emirati jobseekers with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to build meaningful careers. Partnerships with leading employers such as Emirates Global Aluminum are essential to this mission, as they allow us to bridge the gap between talent and industry. Together, we are creating more than jobs; we are cultivating a workforce prepared for the future, equipped to accelerate Abu Dhabi’s economic progress and global influence.
EGA acheives ‘In-Focus Emiratization’
Emirates Global Aluminum’s in-focus Emiratization rate was 44.5 percent at the end of 2024. The company aims to accelerate in-focus Emiratization, targeting that the number of UAE Nationals rises as a proportion of the in-focus workforce to reach 50 percent by the end 2027. To achieve this goal, EGA expects to hire up to 600 UAE Nationals, including replacements for staff turnover and company growth.
Some 1,300 UAE Nationals currently work at EGA. Over 700 of EGA’s UAE National employees are under 35 years old. Last year, EGA recruited around 220 Emiratis, including 113 women.
