EMAL agrees higher education partnership with American University of Sharjah

A new scholarship programme will close the technical skills-gap to create career opportunities for Emiratis in the UAE's leading diversification project

Abu Dhabi, 22 February, 2011: Taweelah based aluminium smelter, Emirates Aluminium (EMAL), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American University of Sharjah (AUS) to create an 'Industry-higher education Partnership'. The agreement aims to narrow the gap between students' formal higher education and the expertise required to diversify industry and meet Emiratisation goals set out in Abu Dhabi's Vision 2030.

Signed by senior representatives at a ceremony held at the AUS campus, the plan creates various channels of cooperation between EMAL and AUS which includes applied research, technical training, and sponsorship of students, with scope to implement specific projects of interest and further agreements in the future.

The partnership's first initiative was announced at the signing, in the form of a new Emirati graduate scholarship program named 'Falah'. The 'Falah' scheme consists of a financial contribution by EMAL to the university whereby eligible 'Falah' participants will benefit from the backing of EMAL during the course of their studies. In line with the smelter's Emiratisation strategy, the beneficiary will be offered employment by EMAL upon graduation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, President and CEO of EMAL, said, "As a leader of the UAE's diversification we have a responsibility to develop the next generation of skilled Emirati professionals. By bringing education closer to industry, this partnership is a pioneering example of the 2030 strategy, and promises one of the best employment opportunities for UAE nationals."

With a current workforce of 2,000 employees, 14 percent of which are Emirati, EMAL is a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi's diversification and industrialisation policy. Multiple Emiratisation and educational initiatives are underway at the company, including a raft of pre-employment courses, graduate trainee and Emirati scholarship programmes.

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EMAL is a joint venture (JV) between Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (DUBAL) and Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) and was established in February 2007 to construct what will become the world's largest single site aluminium smelter complex. The project will be built in two phases and utilise DUBAL DX technology. Phase one started production in December 2009 and once finished EMAL will produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium per annum and 1.5 million tonnes annually at the end of phase two. The aluminium complex, a 6sq km site in the Khalifa Port Industrial Zone in Al Taweelah, half way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will produce primary aluminium with a product mix of sow, standard ingot, tee ingot, extrusion billet and sheet ingot.

Being the largest industrial project in the UAE outside the oil and gas industry, the project will encourage economic diversification, creating downstream opportunities. This development will benefit the UAE economy, employing more than 17,000 local and international contractors/staff during construction and approximately 2,000 people direct employment during operations.

EMAL adheres to strict environmental standards set by the Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency, with state-of the-art emission control equipment including sulphur-dioxide scrubbers, the latest potroom gas treatment technology, the best-available gas turbine systems, and cooling towers to eliminate thermal stress on local marine life.

For further Information, please contact:
Sahar Farhat - Emirates Aluminium
Tel: 02 509 3476
Email: s.farhat@emal.ae

Nick Langmead, Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: 04 330 4030
Email: n.langmead@ipn.ae