Dubai, UAE, 13 December 2023:
In a historic move on the designated Youth Day at COP28, the UAE’s largest automotive group, Al-Futtaim Automotive, and the nation’s leading public research university, UAE University, have joined forces to solidify their commitment towards Emirati talent development in the fields of Automotive and E-Mobility.
The partnership represents a groundbreaking initiative in steering the future of e-mobility within the UAE and another milestone in Al-Futtaim Group’s commitment to developing a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem. The partnership was formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at COP28, where the Al-Futtaim Group plays a pivotal role as the event’s Strategic E-Mobility Partner.
The MoU was signed between Ibrahim Al Sayegh, Head of Emiratisation Strategy & Planning at Al-Futtaim Group, and Professor Ahmed Ali Murad, Associate Provost for Research at UAE University, and lays the groundwork for creating a new center of automotive expertise, jointly spearheaded by Al-Futtaim Automotive’s Electric Mobility Training Centre and the UAE University’s prestigious Emirates Center for Mobility Research.
Through the MoU, the two organisations will engage in joint scientific and academic research activities, alongside hosting joint training programmes for young Emirati talent, giving them access to world-class training methodologies placed within the Al-Futtaim Automotive Electric Mobility Training Centre, the region’s first IMI-certified training center for electric mobility.
The collaboration will also entail organising study groups, seminars, workshops and conferences to empower the next-generation with career-defining technical skills and knowledge in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Ibrahim Al Sayegh, Head of Emiratisation Strategy & Planning, Al-Futtaim Group, commented, “Our dedication to electric mobility extends beyond bringing a world-class line-up of electric and hybrid cars, to the development of our nation’s human capital. This collaboration reinforces Al-Futtaim Group’s commitment to leadership in sustainability and our proactive role in preparing Emirati nationals for the jobs of the future; a role that will be key to delivering our mission of establishing an integrated e-mobility infrastructure in the UAE. We are proud to partner with the UAE University, and together, we can draw on our mutual strengths within the mobility sector to ensure we create a future-ready workforce contributing towards the objectives of the UAE Net Zero 2050, against the historic background of COP28.”
Dr. Hamad Al Jassmi, Director of Emirates Center for Mobility Research, UAE University, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “By merging the expertise of Al-Futtaim Automotive’s globally accredited E-mobility Training Centre with UAE University’s research prowess, we are creating a robust ecosystem for talent development in emerging mobility trends. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovation and preparing our youth for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
The MoU highlights plans to initiate training for Emirati students with a series of training cohorts starting from January 2024. Additionally, a series of batches are scheduled throughout 2024, ensuring a continuous flow of skilled Emirati professionals in the automotive and e-Mobility sectors.
The MOU signing was held in the presence of key dignitaries and senior management representatives of Al-Futtaim Group, UAE University, and the Emirates Center for Mobility Research.
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About Al-Futtaim Automotive
Al-Futtaim Automotive, one of the main five operating divisions within the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, is a conglomerate of motoring-related businesses, franchising some of the world’s most-recognized automotive brands and services.
Operating in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa and empowered by around 9,000 associates, the UAE-headquartered Group’s services span across distribution of new and used vehicles, manufacturing, leasing, and aftersales.
Ranging from passenger cars to SUVs, commercial vehicles, industrial and construction equipment as well as motorbikes and quads, Al-Futtaim Automotive Group offers an integrative customer-centric experience for motorists, fleet operators and contractors alike, and strives to become the leader in tailor-made mobility solutions.
About Al-Futtaim Group
Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and health; employing more than 33,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, we partner with over 200 of the world’s most admired and innovative brands.
Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.
By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration, integrity, Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day. For more information visit: www.alfuttaim.com
About UAE University
The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) isthe oldest and largest university in the UAE, founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1976. UAEU is known as a comprehensive, research-intensive university committed to innovation and excellence in teaching and research. The university currently enrolls approximately 14,000 students from 64 countries.
As the UAE’s flagship university, UAEU offers a full range of internationally accredited, high-quality graduate and undergraduate programs through nine colleges: Business and Economics, Science, Education, Engineering, Food and Agriculture, Humanities and Social Science, IT, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences.
Furthermore, the university has established eleven research centers which are advancing knowledge in critical areas ranging from mobility, space sciences, energy, water resources to cancer treatments.
UAEU Ranks #290 Globally, and #6 in the Arab region, according to QS World University Ranking.
For more information visit: www.uaeu.ac.ae
About Emirates Center for Mobility Research
Emirates Center for Mobility Research (ECMR) was established in June 2004 as UAE University’s research arm with an objective to achieve a safe, efficient, environment friendly and integrated transportation eco-system. ECMR’s strength revolves around its five Research Groups, which comprehends a wide spectrum of expertise in various areas relevant to mobility research; namely: Efficient Infrastructure, Green Mobility, Connected & Autonomous Mobility, Integrated Mobility, and Safe Mobility.
Emirates Center for Mobility Research (ECMR) consists of researchers and experts in various fields ranging from: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Phycology, Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, Statistics, and Economics. The center includes its primary full-time engineers and staff, faculty members from different colleges of UAE University, as well as specialists and scientists from other national and international universities and research centers. ECMR takes advantage of its full-access to all research laboratories of UAE University providing a spectrum of core research enablers, including the AI and Robotics Lab, Computer Simulation labs, and Material Science labs.
