Beyond the Target: How UAE Employers Build Emirati Careers
Beyond the Target is a StrongYes interview series on how UAE employers build Emirati careers, sector by sector. The Aviation edition features Yousuf bin Lahej of Emirates Group; the Early Careers edition features Hind Al Attar of United Arab Bank and Bikram Walia of Amazon. Banking is the next edition.
Meeting a target is the start. The employers in this series talk about what comes after: building careers that last, developing Emirati leaders and keeping talent. Interview subjects are chosen by our editors.
The editions
Aviation · live
Why the next chapter of Emiratisation is about building careers
Yousuf bin Lahej, Vice President, Emiratisation and Government Relations, Emirates Group
"Meaningful Emiratisation goes beyond increasing the number of Emirati employees."
Early Careers · live
Beyond the CV: what sets young UAE talent apart
Hind Al Attar, Chief Human Capital Officer, United Arab Bank, and Bikram Walia, Director of Human Resources, MEA and Emerging Central Markets, Amazon
"Building strong professional relationships and staying curious prepare graduates for the workplace."
Banking · coming next
How banks are building Emirati talent
Banks work to their own Central Bank targets of 45% Emiratisation by the end of 2026. The next edition asks how they are getting there. See the banking and insurance rules.
Nominate a leader or programme
Know an employer whose Emiratisation work goes beyond the target? Write to partner@strongyes.co. Nominations are free and also feed the Emiratisation Excellence Index.
How we choose interviews
Editors choose who we interview. Sponsorship of the series never decides who appears or what they say. Quotes are reproduced as published in the original interviews.
Frequently asked questions
01What is the Beyond the Target series?
A StrongYes interview series on how UAE employers build Emirati careers, sector by sector, beyond meeting their Emiratisation targets.
02Which organisations have featured so far?
Emirates Group in the Aviation edition, and United Arab Bank and Amazon in the Early Careers edition. Banking is next.
03How can my organisation be featured?
Use the nomination form. Nominations are free, and editors decide who is interviewed.
Sources
- Beyond the Target: Why the Next Chapter of Emiratisation Is About Building Careers. StrongYes, October 2026.
- Beyond the CV: What Sets Young UAE Talent Apart. StrongYes, 12 October 2026.
This page explains UAE Emiratisation rules for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm against the official MoHRE, Nafis or Central Bank source linked above before acting. StrongYes is an independent publication and is not affiliated with MoHRE, Nafis, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council or any UAE government body. Full disclaimer.