Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD” affirmed its keenness to attract national talent, as part of its endeavor to plan and lead the comprehensive economic development in the emirate by improving and developing the efficiency of human resources. Therefore, the Emiratization rate at SEDD reached 94.6% during 2020, whereas it works to apply the directives of the wise leadership to provide an ideal environment to support citizens, develop young leaders capable of foreseeing the future, and create the necessary tools for the future. This falls within SEDD’s plan to offer best possible service to its customers, believing in the importance of continuous development to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

Commenting on that, HE Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, SEDD Chairman, emphasized that the Department pays great attention to its employees and national cadres whereby such thing falls within the concerns of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Thus, SEDD works to attract national human cadres in all the fields according to a plan that is continuously developed, while refining their skills through various training courses and programs, preparing and qualifying them to enable them to perform their duties at the highest levels. Likely, HE added that the Department is working on a permanent basis to provide all necessary needs for its employees, in order to achieve the highest levels of quality and excellence.

From his side, Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Director of Support Services Department at SEDD, affirmed that the department provides an ideal environment to support national cadres and develop young leaders capable of foreseeing the future and creating the tools necessary for future. He illustrated that the percentage of Emiratization at the level of Department leaderships from Directors, Deputy Directors, Head of Sections, and Deputy Head of Sections hit 100%.  He also explained that SEDD organized 761 training courses and workshops during the year 2020. In addition, he added that SEDD offers many training programs, including leadership programs that aim to develop the skills, competencies and capabilities of the administrative leaders and benefit from the leadership experiences that it has in order to transfer their knowledge and experiences, and provide the necessary means to motivate and encourage employees to develop themselves.

Al Mahmoud noted that the Department pays special attention to education in order to encourage employees to complete their studies and obtain higher academic qualifications, as during the year 2020, nine of its employees completed their undergraduate studies, while nine employees obtained a master’s degree, while one employee obtained a doctorate.

Additionally, Al Mahmoud pointed out that SEDD is continuing to enhance the competence of its national cadres. He added that SEDD is also working on continuous development that contributes to achieving the policies set in the emirate by improving performance and upgrading it to higher levels. Likely, he explained that Emiratization, employment and training programs, as well as attracting talent of both genders, have reached an advanced stage in coordination with the Directorate of Human Resources. It should be noted that SEDD succeeded in employing highly qualified cadres to enhance the Department's strategy and maintain the distinguished cadres and elite employees, who in turn contribute to enhancing government performance at the highest international levels.

Furthermore, Al Mahmoud added that because of SEDD’s attention to its employees and due to the current conditions that the world is currently going through, the remote work system was applied to certain category such as those with diseases and female employees who have children in school stages whom percentage reached 25% of the total number of employees. Also, the Department was responsible to provide all needed systems, powers, computers, and a remote desk phone system to workers to ensure the smoothness and continuity of work with high quality. Likely, the Department coordinates with the competent authorities to conduct a PCR examination for COVID-19 disease on a regular basis for its Commercial Officers' employees, in order to ensure their safety.