Abu Dhabi hosted the opening of the 17th EmiratesSkills National Competition on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, with Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed attending to underscore the UAE's commitment to nurturing world-class technical expertise.
Focus on Future Skills
The competition brings together thousands of participants across 50 vocational categories, from robotics to culinary arts. Organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Skills, the event aligns with the UAE's 2030 National Agenda to strengthen human capital through hands-on training programs.
Abdullah Al Shamsi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Skills, emphasized the importance of developing skills in emerging sectors like renewable energy and cybersecurity. The competition has seen a 25% increase in participants from these fields since 2024.
Participants will undergo rigorous assessments by international judges, with the top performers advancing to the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai later this year. The UAE delegation has won 12 medals globally since 2017, including three golds in mechatronics and construction.
Driving Industry Partnerships
Over 200 private-sector partners, including Mubadala and Etihad Airways, have joined this year's competition to identify emerging talent. Last year's winners secured direct employment offers from leading firms, reflecting the competition's role in bridging education and industry needs.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, highlighted the importance of developing a skilled workforce to drive the UAE's economic growth. The company has committed to providing training and employment opportunities to top performers.
The competition has also seen increased participation from female candidates, with 30% of participants this year identifying as women. This reflects the UAE's efforts to promote gender equality in the workforce.
Global Aspirations
Top performers will advance to the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai later this year. The UAE delegation has won 12 medals globally since 2017, including three golds in mechatronics and construction.
Hamad Al Mehyas, UAE's Team Leader for WorldSkills, expressed confidence in the UAE's team, citing their impressive performance in previous competitions. The team has been training intensively since 2025 to prepare for the international event.
The competition has also attracted international attention, with over 100 countries participating in the WorldSkills International Competition. The UAE's strong performance in the competition will help to promote the country's reputation as a hub for technical excellence.
Expanding Training Infrastructure
New vocational centers opened in Al Ain and Ruwais this month, doubling training capacity to 15,000 participants annually. These facilities feature AI-integrated simulators for precision engineering and virtual reality labs for medical training.
The new centers are part of the UAE's efforts to expand its vocational training infrastructure. The government has invested AED 1 billion in the development of these centers, which will provide training in emerging sectors like renewable energy and cybersecurity.
The expansion of training infrastructure is expected to create new job opportunities for UAE nationals. The government aims to create 10,000 new jobs in the vocational training sector by 2028.
