Wa’ed begins by welcoming university students into hands-on Internships, placing them in departments that align with their studies. From engineering to finance, interns gain practical experience that bridges knowledge and corporate skills. In 2024 alone, we hosted over 80 internships, equipping young Emiratis with vital real-world skills. 

Complementing this are our Apprenticeship and Summer Training programmes, which invite school graduates and undergraduates to immerse themselves in our operations. These short-term placements create seamless pathways from education to employment.

Shaping Early Career Professionals

Our Graduate Training Programme transforms promising graduates into fully fledged professionals. Over a meticulously structured twelve month journey, trainees rotate through key functions, attend formal workshops and receive on the job mentoring. By year’s end, each participant steps into a permanent role with a revised job title and competitive salary. In 2024, more than 20 graduates completed this immersive experience and now drive AWR Group’s future.

Once onboard, our Emirati employees benefit from ongoing Learning & Development initiatives and trainings. Last year alone, over 300 hours of targeted training, both online and in-person, were delivered to hone leadership, commercial and technical capabilities. Whether through bespoke workshops or digital masterclasses, our aim is to prepare them for senior roles. We then honour excellence via our annual Wa’ed Awards, celebrating outstanding individuals whose innovation and results set benchmarks across the Group.

At the heart of Wa’ed sits the Wa’ed Committee, a cross functional team of UAE Nationals charged with designing and delivering each initiative. Their commitment ensures that every activity aligns with our strategic objectives and the aspirations of our national talent, lending authenticity and sustained impact to the programme.

Numbers tell part of the story. Over 200 UAE Nationals now flourish across our divisions, with 40–50 new joiners welcomed each year, and more than 10 Wa’ed Awards presented annually. Yet the true measure lies in individual journeys: the young graduate who led a major project, the apprentice whose innovative ideas improved our operations, the senior Emirati executive now mentoring the next cohort.

Wa’ed is progress in practice. It is realised every time a young Emirati discovers their potential, every time a trainee’s insight drives innovation, and every time our Wa’ed Committee refines the programme. Together, we are building the next generation of leaders who embody the UAE’s vision of sustainable growth, innovation and shared prosperity. As we look ahead, Wa’ed remains our guiding star, a promise that moves us forward, bold and real.