DUBAI: The UAE wants to increase the number of its citizens employed in the private sector tenfold by 2021, and will intervene in the labor market if necessary to reach that goal, the prime minister said.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum was listing the government’s policy goals for the next seven years in a speech to more than 300 officials in Abu Dhabi.
“Our goal is to increase the Emiratization in the private sector tenfold. The government will enforce a number of measures if there is not enough incentive for working in the private sector,” Sheikh Mohammed said, quoted by WAM.
Fewer than 15 percent of the UAE’s roughly 9 million people are estimated to be local citizens; most of the rest are foreign workers. More than two-thirds of the UAE citizens in employment work in the public sector, the International Monetary Fund says.
Sheikh Mohammed did not elaborate on what steps the government might take.
Officials have been considering a range of options, including changing labor laws to make private sector employment more attractive for UAE citizens, and imposing a tax on foreign workers’ remittances of money to their home countries, which could make it more expensive to hire foreigners.
The UAE government is keen to move more of its citizens to the private sector to diversify the economy and ease pressure on state finances. Any steps the government takes are likely to be cautious, because of the risk of raising costs for companies and deterring foreign investment.
Sheikh Mohammed also indicated the government would focus on housing construction, saying it wanted to shorten the waiting period for its citizens to obtain housing after they filed applications to two years from five years at present.
UAE vows to boost private sector jobs for nationals
UAE vows to boost private sector jobs for nationals
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Saudi Dar Al Arkan, Trump Organization unveil 1st Riyadh project in Wadi Safar
RIYADH: Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan and its international unit Dar Global have unveiled the first of two Trump-branded projects planned for Riyadh, launching a 2.6 million-sq.-meter Trump International Golf Club in Wadi Safar.
The project follows a joint announcement in December 2024 by Dar Al Arkan, Dar Global and The Trump Organization to develop two Trump-branded assets in the Saudi capital. It marks The Trump Organization’s first venture within the Diriyah development, one of the Kingdom’s flagship giga-projects, according to a press statement.
The development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy away from oil and attract foreign direct investment.
It also comes as Saudi Arabia plans to allow foreigners to own property in designated areas for the first time, starting this month.
In a statement, Eric Trump, executive vice president of The Trump Organization, said:
“We are proud to expand our presence with this landmark development in Wadi Safar. Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar will redefine luxury and excellence in the region, setting a new standard that reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to quality, prestige and timeless elegance.”
He added: “We look forward to creating a destination that complements the rich heritage of the region while delivering a global standard of luxury living.”
The Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar, will be developed as a gated community featuring a championship golf course, a luxury hotel and premium residential units overlooking surrounding wadis and fairways.
“This new project represents a vision to deliver a destination that captures the prestige and the legacy of the Trump brand. With Dar Global leading the development, we are confident this will become a flagship destination not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the world,” said Yousef Al Shelash, chairman of Dar Al Arkan.
The project will combine top-tier hospitality, design, and lifestyle offerings in a setting that reflects Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural heritage.
Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, said the company is proud to collaborate with Diriyah Co. and Dar Al Arkan on the development of the new site.
“We have delivered landmark projects across Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council in partnership with globally recognized luxury brands. Bringing this experience to the Diriyah project, we will deliver a destination that combines heritage, elegance, and world-class standards, making Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar a truly iconic address,” El Chaar said.
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said in a post on X that the project represents a milestone partnership and reflects momentum in developing destinations to international standards.
“From Wadi Safar in Diriyah, we laid the cornerstone for the Trump International Wadi Safar project within the Rayana Wadi Safar masterplan, which includes the launch of the Trump International Golf Club, alongside a Trump-branded hotel and a collection of luxury mansions,” he said.
Al-Khateeb added: “A milestone reflecting strong delivery momentum in developing destinations to global standards, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal as a leading destination for tourism and investment through high-calibre international partnerships.”
Located on the outskirts of Riyadh, Wadi Safar in Diriyah is among Saudi Arabia’s most scenic and strategically important areas. It is envisioned as an upscale enclave that aligns with the wider Diriyah master plan, a central pillar of Vision 2030 aimed at economic diversification and enhancing the Kingdom’s global standing.
