Introduction
As the aluminium industry continues to grow globally, the availability of skilled talent is a bottleneck for sustainable expansion. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, is tackling this challenge head-on with a long-term training initiative that goes beyond employment numbers. It’s about capability, opportunity and building human capital that can carry the sector into the future.
A strategic partnership for talent development
In September 2025, EGA signed a strategic agreement with the UAE’s Department of Government Enablement to recruit over 200 UAE nationals into industrial training programmes at the newly expanded EGA Academy. The signing took place at the EGA Academy campus in Al Taweelah and was witnessed by senior leaders from both organisations, signalling strong public-private collaboration.
Under this agreement, Emiratis who hold high-school certificates and are registered with the Department of Government Enablement will undergo comprehensive industrial training over the next five years. Upon successful completion, trainees will be integrated into EGA’s operational workforce, a move that aligns with the UAE’s Operation 300 Billion strategy to enhance local workforce skills and boost sector productivity.
From legacy training to future-ready skills
EGA Academy is not a new idea; it traces its roots back to 1982 when the company first began national training programmes. Since then, more than 5,000 UAE nationals have graduated from EGA’s courses, many of whom have moved into operational and leadership roles within the company.
What sets the current initiative apart is its scale and focus:
- Structured industrial programmes with a mix of classroom theory and hands-on experience.
- On-the-job training tailored for roles in smelter operations and other core industrial functions.
- A clear pathway from training to employment at EGA.
This approach equips trainees with practical capabilities that directly translate into workforce readiness, narrowing the skills gap that can hinder growth in capital-intensive sectors like aluminium.
Leadership views talent as a growth engine
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, emphasised that attracting and developing skilled talent is central to both the company’s growth and the UAE’s broader industrial diversification goals. EGA already has one of the highest Emiratisation rates among major industrial firms, and this programme aims to further accelerate that commitment.
His Excellency Ibrahim Nasser, Undersecretary of the Department of Government Enablement, highlighted that such partnerships go beyond mere job creation. They are designed to empower Emirati jobseekers with the skills, confidence and long-term career pathways needed in a modern industrial economy.
Why this matters for the aluminium industry
Workforce development is a strategic imperative for the aluminium industry. Production facilities and smelters are technologically complex, safety-critical environments where on-the-job expertise directly impacts operational performance and productivity. Initiatives like EGA Academy help build a pipeline of local talent capable of sustaining industrial growth while supporting national employment goals.
By embedding training within its core business model rather than treating it as an add-on, EGA is ensuring that human capital grows in step with capacity expansion, productivity improvements and innovation adoption.
Conclusion
EGA’s industrial training initiative offers a blueprint for how industrial companies can combine talent development with strategic workforce planning. It demonstrates that when skills programmes are integrated with clear employment pathways and supported by policy frameworks, they can become a driving force for both business growth and broader socio-economic progress.
For the aluminium industry, building future-ready talent isn’t optional; it’s essential for competitiveness in an era where technology, safety and operational excellence define success. EGA’s programme is moving the needle on that front, one trainee at a time.
Source: EGA rolls out training for 200 Emiratis to support local employment in aluminium
