Dubai, UAE – March 5, 2010 – Four UAE nationals who recently graduated from a Dubai Airports’ sponsored programme are enroute to joining an elite group of Emirati air traffic controllers in the private sector.

Hussain Awadh, Saeed Al Haj, Mohamed Al Meqbali, and Salahudin Al Balooshi were recruited in late 2010 as trainees through the DANS (Dubai Air Navigation Services) National Development Programme in Air Traffic Control, which is funded by Dubai Airports and administered by Dubai International’s ATC service provider Serco. Currently undergoing on-the-job training at the control tower of Dubai’s second airport Dubai World Central, the quartet will be fully licensed professional controllers by June paving the way for their full time employment with Serco.

Congratulating the graduates on the successful completion of their year-long training, which also included the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) foundation training course, Samya Ketait, VP Learning and Development at Dubai Airports, said that the National Development Programme in Air Traffic Control is in line with Dubai Airports’ commitment to providing UAE nationals opportunities for career development through training and recruitment.

“What makes the programme unique is that it has been successful in opening doors of opportunity for aspiring youngsters in the private sector. The Emirati graduates are starting out on a rewarding career path and doing so in the competitive environment will definitely bring out the best in them,” she said.

While the four graduates take up their trainee positions at DWC, Dubai Airports together with DANS and Serco are reaching out to UAE nationals aged 20 and above to become part of this year’s programme. Following a stringent selection process, four new recruits will be selected to complete the ICAO course before starting work at Dubai’s airports, following in the footsteps of the first quartet.

This is the second training and development initiative Dubai Airport has been involved in this year for UAE Nationals, with the launch last month of the Masar graduate programme.
All Emiratis aged 20 or over are eligible to apply for the programme and the application process is open online on http://www.atccareers.com/dubai until March 31.