• Al Ghurair Investment and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation sign MOU to propel the Foundation’s NOMU initiative
  • Al Ghurair Investment will provide training opportunities to 60 Emirati youth learners supporting career pathways and skill development

Dubai, UAE: Al Ghurair Investment, one of the largest diversified family business groups in the UAE, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation to empower Emirati youth in joining the workforce and building meaningful career pathways. The partnership highlights Al Ghurair Investment’s ongoing commitment to educating, upskilling and reskilling young Emirati talent in a push to further drive Emiratisation, as well as to support the national agenda to evolve the UAE into a leading talent hub.

The collaboration will see Al Ghurair Investment become a partner to the Foundation, providing career opportunities and work-integrated learning programmes for a pipeline of Emiratis from the NOMU Initiative. The multi-sector national youth development initiative is designed to impact over 25,000 Emirati nationals between the ages of 18 and 35 with market-driven, industry-led training and work integrated learning opportunities. Meaning ‘growth’ in Arabic, NOMU focuses on improving employability, extending future-facing educational opportunities that support the national priority areas of the UAE’s leaders, and advance the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Under the partnership, Al Ghurair Investment has committed to welcoming 60 NOMU Emiratis across three years with paid internships, offering job seekers access to new skills through tailored learning programmes and immersive training initiatives across a wide variety of specialisms.

Commenting on the partnership, John Iossifidis, Group CEO, Al Ghurair Investment, said: “We are honoured to embark on this journey with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, as we continue to focus our efforts on empowering the next generation of Emiratis. This partnership is vital for the successful integration of skilled Emirati youth in the local workforce, offering a structured work integrated education model alongside industry leaders. As a leading family business in the UAE, we recognise our role and the significance of this partnership as a stepping stone for future collaboration to further powering Emiratisation, and readying the future generation of Emiratis as they prepare to take the helm.”

Equipping Emirati youth to stay ahead of the skills curve, NOMU initiative aligns with Al Ghurair Investment’s commitment to supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8), focused on cultivating competence and advancing career pathways across the Group’s diverse talent base.

Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, said: “At the Foundation, we are passionate about creating pathways for high-quality learning opportunities in line with the nation's sustainability strategy. NOMU was designed to reflect our nation’s growing knowledge economy and prepare the talent pipeline to support the UAE’s vision of competitiveness, excellence, and innovation.  In signing this MoU, we are pleased to join forces with Al Ghurair Investment, a partner who recently won a Top Employer award from a global authority and has a lot to offer young local talent beyond just a job, but a pathway to a better opportunity. By working together, we aim to place Emirati youth at the nexus of global opportunities.”

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation is a non-profit, philanthropic organization serving as Al Ghurair’s family legacy and contribution to the education sector in the UAE and Arab region. AGF’s interventions provide learners with the educational and career development opportunities they need to become the future leaders of the region, skilled for today and prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow, contributing in turn to the growth and development of their communities. Over 6,000 young Arabs, of which 70% are female, have benefitted from NOMU's different pathways, including the TechUp, Project Hama and Siraj programmes, in its first year.

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About Al Ghurair Investment:

Al Ghurair Investment is one of the largest diversified family business groups in the Middle East, with operations in six distinct industry sectors: Foods and Resources, Properties, Construction and Services, Energy, Mobility and Ventures. Established in 1960 as a trading business, Al Ghurair was one of the first pillars of industry and commerce in the emerging United Arab Emirates.

From modest beginnings, and with a proud history of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Al Ghurair family name has become synonymous with the heritage, evolution, and vision of the prestigious country itself.

Headquartered in Deira, the business’ diversified operations span more than 50 countries across the globe, employing approximately 28,000 people. Today, Al Ghurair Investment continues to build on its enduring 60+ year legacy, guided by its purpose: ‘Enhancing Life’, as it strives to facilitate meaningful and sustainable change across the communities within which it operates.

For more information, please visit: www.al-ghurair.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sara O’Hara
Head of Group Communications & Group Press Office
Al Ghurair Investment
Email: media@al-ghurair.com

About Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation aims to empower Emirati and Arab youth to thrive and contribute to the sustainable development of the region, through innovative education solutions and authentic partnerships. As one of the largest privately funded philanthropic foundations in the Arab region, the Foundation supports the provision of high-quality technology-based education opportunities, as well as the development of relevant skills for a successful transition into higher education and the labor market. Founded in 2015, the Foundation is dedicated to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4, 8, and 17 calling for inclusive and equitable quality education that leads to improved standards of living for all. 

For more information, please visit: www.alghurairfoundation.org

For media enquiries, please contact:
Nauf Mawla
Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
Email: nmawla@alghurairfoundation.org