The ninth edition of the National Service and Reserve Employment Exhibition concluded yesterday after three days at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai, drawing strong interest from national service and reserve personnel and offering them a wide range of career and education pathways.
Held under the patronage of the National and Reserve Service Authority, the event brought together more than 55 entities from the government, private and semi-government sectors, as well as nine higher education institutions. Together, they aimed to support and empower national service and reserve recruits, while helping them prepare for the labour market and continue their academic journey.
Across the three days, participating organisations presented job opportunities, initiatives and programmes designed to qualify and enable national service and reserve recruits to contribute across key sectors. The exhibition was positioned as a platform that supports sustainable development and strengthens the UAE’s competitiveness.
In total, the event offered more than 20,000 employment opportunities and more than 12,000 educational opportunities, giving national service recruits and graduates a variety of options for shaping their professional and academic futures.
Career, education and guidance under one roof
The exhibition served as an integrated platform for recruits to choose the path that best suits their ambitions after completing national service, whether that means joining civil or military entities or continuing their studies at participating higher education institutions. In doing so, it aimed to enhance the readiness of Emirati youth to take part in the nation’s development journey.
It also provided a comprehensive space for employment, guidance and professional development, helping align educational outcomes with labour market needs. In this way, it contributed to empowering national talent and opening new prospects across a range of sectors.
Young attendees were able to explore career and educational tracks that matched their ambitions, whether they were seeking to enter the workforce or continue their studies, reflecting the wise leadership’s approach to investing in national talent on the belief that the true investment is in human capital.
The exhibition saw strong turnout from national service and reserve personnel, as well as graduates, with the pavilions of participating organisations attracting large numbers of jobseekers and students looking to continue their education.
Several entities conducted initial job interviews and provided visitors with information on available roles, required specialisations and application procedures, amid considerable interaction from young people eager to learn about the opportunities on offer and strengthen their readiness for their professional and academic journeys.
Universities and employers highlight opportunities
Senior Student Recruitment Specialist at the United Arab Emirates University, Salem Saif Al Baloushi, said the university’s participation reflects its keenness to create direct channels of communication with student recruits, to explain admission conditions and criteria and introduce the academic programmes available.
The university includes nine colleges and offers 53 bachelor’s degree specialisations, in addition to the College of Graduate Studies, which offers master’s and doctoral programmes, in line with the wise leadership’s vision and the country’s education landscape.
Talent Acquisition Specialist in the Human Resources Department at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Moza Al Marzooqi, said the bank aims to attract promising national talent and provide opportunities that contribute to building their professional future.
Director of the Recruitment Branch at the Ministry of Interior, First Lieutenant Saif Fadel Al Suwaidi, said a large number of highly competent recruits were received over the days of the exhibition and their data were registered electronically in preparation for completing appointment procedures.
Dr Yasser Al Wahidi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, said the academy, supported by Abu Dhabi Ports Group, offers distinguished scholarships covering the specialisations of maritime navigation and marine engineering. The programmes run for three and a half years, during which students receive a competitive monthly stipend, with guaranteed employment upon graduation.
Ibrahim Al Zubaidi, Senior Vice President of ADNOC Technical Academy, stressed ADNOC’s commitment to supporting the state’s efforts to circulate talent and continue the path of sustainable development.
Marwan Al Bastaki, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Human Resources at Emirates Global Aluminium, said the company provides four core training programmes in plant operations and maintenance, ranging from six months to three years, designed to refine recruits’ technical skills so they become experts in this vital industry as soon as they graduate and join the company.
Strong interest at Dubai Police pavilion
The Dubai Police platform at the National Service Employment Exhibition 2026 also drew wide interest from national service and reserve recruits, who explored the available job opportunities, different police specialisations and the professional pathways on offer. They also learned about the training and qualification programmes that help prepare national staff with the skills and knowledge needed to keep pace with security and technological developments.
Director of the General Department of Human Resources, Brigadier Rashid Nasser, said Dubai Police’s participation in the exhibition is in line with its strategy to invest in national talent, attract young energy and enhance its role in building a generation capable of continuing the path of excellence and leadership in security work. He added that this supports the country’s goals of empowering human capital and providing various sectors with qualified national professionals.