Thales’ Pascale Sourisse on how national human capital is fuelling UAE’s growth – Gulf Business

Report on National Human Capital Development in the UAE and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the United Arab Emirates’ strategic focus on developing national human capital as a primary driver for sustainable growth, diversification, and innovation. The nation’s initiatives are critically examined through the lens of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The report concludes that a sustained, long-term focus on talent development, especially in STEM fields, is essential for the UAE to achieve its future economic and social objectives.

National Talent Integration and Economic Growth: Progress Towards SDG 8

Current Achievements in Private Sector Employment

The UAE has demonstrated significant progress in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth by integrating national talent into the private sector. This directly supports SDG 8 by creating decent work opportunities for its citizens.

• As of mid-2025, over 152,000 Emirati nationals are employed in the private sector.
• This workforce is distributed across more than 29,000 companies, indicating widespread adoption of national talent policies.
• These figures reflect the success of government incentives and policies designed to foster economic participation.

Strategic Shift to Long-Term Talent Development

To fully realize the objectives of SDG 8, the focus must evolve from quantitative hiring metrics to qualitative, long-term career development. This ensures that the national workforce is not merely participating in the economy but is equipped to lead and innovate within high-value sectors.

1. Establish Long-Term Frameworks: Move beyond short-term initiatives to create comprehensive development frameworks that support career growth over decades.
2. Unlock Full Potential: Shift the objective from filling roles to unlocking the strategic potential of every individual, thereby maximizing their contribution to the national economy.
3. Drive Innovation: Implement clear progression pathways that empower national talent to become active drivers of future industries and economic resilience.

Fostering Innovation through Education: Aligning with SDG 4, SDG 9, and SDG 17

The Centrality of STEM Education for SDG 4

Achieving Quality Education (SDG 4), specifically Target 4.4 which aims to increase the number of adults with relevant technical skills for employment, is paramount. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is the cornerstone of this strategy.

• STEM disciplines are fundamental to developing a workforce capable of complex problem-solving and innovation.
• The UAE’s 2030 Skills Agenda projects that STEM-related roles will constitute over 50% of future jobs.
• Investing in STEM skills ensures Emirati youth can lead, rather than consume, future technological advancements, contributing to a sustainable, knowledge-driven economy.

Industry-Academia Collaboration: A Model for SDG 17

Building a robust innovation ecosystem as envisioned by SDG 9 requires strong multi-stakeholder partnerships (SDG 17). The gap between university curricula and industry requirements must be closed through active collaboration.

• Businesses and academic institutions must co-design curricula rooted in real-world challenges and future market needs.
• Partnerships should focus on scaling up programmes in high-priority areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, and robotics.
• This collaborative model ensures that educational outcomes are directly aligned with national growth priorities and the demands of future industries.

Case Study: Developing Sovereign Capabilities at Thales Emarat Technologies

Human Capital as a Pillar of National Sovereignty and Security

The development of national human capital is intrinsically linked to national sovereignty, security, and long-term economic resilience. As technology accelerates, a nation’s ability to cultivate a strategically-minded and technically competent workforce determines its position as a regional and global innovation hub. The objective is to foster leaders who can drive innovation across all critical sectors.

Fostering STEM Leadership in Strategic Sectors

Thales Emarat Technologies (TET) exemplifies the strategy of embedding national talent at the core of high-technology industries, directly contributing to SDG 9. The initiative focuses on developing sovereign capabilities by training Emirati engineers and specialists.

• Advanced Defence Systems: Building local expertise in a critical area for national security.
• Digital Security: Developing skills to protect national infrastructure and data.
• Sovereign AI: Cultivating talent to lead in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence solutions.

The overarching goal of such initiatives is to foster the next generation of Emirati STEM leaders who will secure and advance these strategic fields for decades to come.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected

   The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on developing national talent, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable economic growth links the content to the following SDGs:

   • SDG 4: Quality Education: The article strongly emphasizes the need for high-quality education, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), to prepare the youth for future jobs and align academic curricula with industry demands.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The core theme revolves around creating employment opportunities for nationals, developing long-term career pathways, and leveraging human capital to drive economic diversification, resilience, and growth.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The text discusses the importance of developing advanced technological capabilities in sectors like AI and digital security, driven by local talent to foster innovation and enhance economic competitiveness.

2. Specific Targets Identified

   Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed:

   SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The article directly supports this by advocating for STEM education and partnerships between academia and industry to close the skills gap and ensure Emirati youth can “lead tomorrow’s technological advancements.”

   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” The article connects national talent development directly to driving innovation in high-value sectors like “defence systems, digital security, and sovereign AI,” which is essential for economic productivity and diversification.
   • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all…” The article’s focus on moving beyond just hiring to “unlocking potential” and building “long-term frameworks that let careers grow over decades” aligns with the goal of productive employment. The mention of “more than 152,000 Emiratis are employed in the private sector” is a direct reference to employment figures.

   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers…” The article’s call to foster “the next generation STEM leaders” and develop “advanced capabilities” through entities like Thales Emarat Technologies (TET) directly relates to upgrading technological capabilities and increasing R&D personnel.
   • Target 9.b: “Support domestic technology development, research and innovation…” The entire premise of the article—that “national human capital is the key to sovereignty, security and economic growth”—is about building domestic capacity to drive technological development and innovation, reducing reliance on external expertise.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

   The article provides both direct and implied indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

   Indicators for SDG 4

   • Implied Indicator for Target 4.4: The article states that “STEM roles will account for more than 50 per cent of future jobs in the UAE’s 2030 Skills Agenda.” This suggests a national indicator tracking the proportion of the workforce with STEM skills and the alignment of educational programmes with future job market demands.

   Indicators for SDG 8

   • Mentioned Indicator for Target 8.5: The article provides a precise figure: “more than 152,000 Emiratis are employed in the private sector across 29,000 companies.” This serves as a direct quantitative indicator of the employment rate of nationals in the private sector.

   Indicators for SDG 9

   • Implied Indicator for Target 9.5: The text mentions that “Emirati engineers and specialists are developing advanced capabilities in defence systems, digital security, and sovereign AI.” This implies an indicator related to the number or proportion of national research and development personnel in high-tech and strategic industrial sectors.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 4: Quality Education	Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment.	Implied: The proportion of future jobs requiring STEM skills (mentioned as over 50% in the UAE’s 2030 Skills Agenda).
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Target 8.2: Achieve higher economic productivity through diversification and innovation.	Implied: Growth in high-value sectors driven by national talent (e.g., AI, digital security).
   	Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work.	Mentioned: Number of nationals employed in the private sector (over 152,000).
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities.	Implied: The number of national engineers and specialists in R&D and high-tech sectors.
   	Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research, and innovation.	Implied: Level of national leadership and participation in developing sovereign technologies like AI.

Source: gulfbusiness.com