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consequently this resulted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> expertise 43 among UAE citizens.<br />

The lack <strong>of</strong> skilled national manpower <strong>for</strong>ced <strong>the</strong> UAE to depend largely<br />

on an experienced expatriate work<strong>for</strong>ce to develop its <strong>in</strong>frastructure.<br />

Lately, however, realis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> need <strong>for</strong> its own nationals to take over and<br />

participate <strong>in</strong> its awaken<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> UAE‟s planned <strong>for</strong> educational<br />

improvement. This development <strong>in</strong> education is hoped to help <strong>in</strong><br />

creat<strong>in</strong>g a generation that is capable <strong>of</strong> tackl<strong>in</strong>g future challenges and<br />

compete with <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>eign experts. Such movements resulted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

emergence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> concept known as „Emiritaisation‟ which can be<br />

def<strong>in</strong>ed as “<strong>the</strong> replacement <strong>of</strong> <strong>for</strong>eign workers by qualified and skilled<br />

national ones”. 44 In order to achieve this, <strong>the</strong> UAE needs to launch high<br />

standard educational programmes. The UAE has a grand vision <strong>for</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> human resources. This is reflected <strong>in</strong> many aspects <strong>of</strong><br />

UAE improvement plans. It is also reported <strong>in</strong> many educational<br />

summits. 45 Emphasis<strong>in</strong>g proper education <strong>for</strong> UAE nationals is with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

UAE‟s mission statement and is required to meet <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

national work<strong>for</strong>ce. 46 The UAE government has <strong>in</strong>vested heavily <strong>in</strong><br />

human resources enhancement as part <strong>of</strong> its development plan <strong>for</strong><br />

susta<strong>in</strong>ability. In his announcement <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE Vision <strong>for</strong> 2021 (<strong>the</strong><br />

date that UAE will celebrate its golden jubilee as a federal government)<br />

H.H Sheikh Mohammed b<strong>in</strong> Rashid Al-Maktoum 47 emphasises <strong>the</strong><br />

Emirati citizen as <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>for</strong> all <strong>the</strong> development and <strong>the</strong> most<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluential factor <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> development process.<br />

“With Man we start and by Man we conclude”<br />

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed b<strong>in</strong> Rashid Al-Maktoum<br />

43<br />

Lootah, M. S. (2007). ‘Women and political participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Arab Emirates: a diagnosis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

reality and <strong>the</strong> drive towards more effective participation’. United Nations Development Fund <strong>for</strong><br />

Women, Arab States Regional Office UNIFEM. p9.<br />

44<br />

Al-Ali, J. (2008). ‘Emiratisation: draw<strong>in</strong>g UAE nationals <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>ir surg<strong>in</strong>g economy’. International<br />

Journal <strong>for</strong> Sociology and social policy. 28 (9). Emerald Group Publish<strong>in</strong>g. p365-379.<br />

45<br />

Mohammed b<strong>in</strong> Rashid Al-Maktoum Foundation & United Nation Development Programme. (2009).<br />

towards cont<strong>in</strong>ues productive Knowledge. Arabic Knowledge Report 2009. Dubai: Al Ghurair Press.<br />

46<br />

Shihab, M. (1996). ‘Human development <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Arab Emirates’. Economic Horizons. 17,(66). p9–<br />

31.<br />

47<br />

Dubai Media Foundation, (2010), UAE local news, Sama Dubai T.V. aired 16:30pm on 17.2.2010.<br />

20

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