In cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Al-Futtaim has announced the graduation of 11 graduates from the automotive division of SINYAR, its pioneering programme for the UAE dedicated to developing and accelerating emerging talent across its organization, in partnership with Loughborough University in the UK. The SINYAR programme aims to develop and grow the capabilities of UAE Nationals and international talents with a focus on innovation and leadership through the provision of dedicated specialized programmes and career opportunities to suit the passions of aspirational employees.
Mr. Omar Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman of Al-Futtaim commented, “Through this tailor made programme, Al-Futtaim aims to play a leading role in the marketplace as an incubator to develop and nurture local talent to increase their readiness to occupy professional and leadership roles in the public and private sector. We encourage both Emirati and international employees to take the lead on aspects related to their career and development to reach new heights. It enables Al-Futtaim and its employees to identify opportunities for its team’s professional and personal development across the Group. Our people are our strongest asset and we recognize that investing in them is the most important investment we will ever make. Building on our history, innovation, and pursuit of excellence, we launched SINYAR to ensure we have an effective mechanism in place to mentor and build on our talents and gain the knowledge that they will be a part of Al-Futtaim’s future development and progress.”
The graduation ceremony took place at Al-Futtaim’s Innovation Hub and was attended by delegates including Mr. Omar Al-Futtaim, Vice Chairman of Al-Futtaim, HE Nasser bin Kharbash, Under-Secretary for Emiratisation Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Commenting on the graduation, Abdulrahman Saqr, Acting Group Director Human Resources at Al-Futtaim said, “The UAE is a cosmopolitan country with many nationalities and one of its strengths has always been its human talent. This is the same for Al-Futtaim; our people are our strongest asset and we recognize that investing in them is the most important investment we will ever make. Building on our history, innovation, and pursuit of excellence, we launched SINYAR to ensure we have an effective mechanism in place to mentor and build on our Emirati talents and help build the business leaders of tomorrow.” Saqr also stated that all Sinyarees that went through the programme have had their careers advanced, which was one of its main goals.
The 12-month programme that was developed in partnership with Loughborough University in the UK, consisted of six modules: Foundations for Management, Generating Customer Loyalty, Managing Business Performance, Digital and Social Media and the Retail Car Market, Finance for Managers and Operations Management. Delivered by University professors, the course was tailored to Al-Futtaim and the automotive sector in particular.
Paul Willis, President of Automotive at Al-Futtaim added: “We are thrilled to see the achievement of our graduates today. The leadership at Al-Futtaim have played a vital role in the development of this prestigious program in partnership with one of the top educational institutions in the UK. The program’s successful execution falls under Al-Futtaim’s commitment to invest in our talents and accelerate their development. We truly believe it is our duty to find the right formula to grow our local UAE talent to create the best pool of talent possible. We are committed to continuing to create role models for the UAE across our entire organization by supporting our Emirati talent to grow to their full potential.”
Speaking on behalf of the graduates Salah El Deen explained: The program us grow personally and professionally and we had the opportunity to apply what we learned and gain greater roles and responsibilities. I went from a regional manager in the UAE to a national manager which is a great advancement and all my colleagues went through the same leaps.
The name SINYAR in Arabic means the wake left by a boat and was used to signify how it will lead employees on the right path for their careers and make the journey together. It was developed as an initiative to help Al-Futtaim harness the full potential of its national human capital by maximizing, nurturing, and attracting and retaining the best talent.
SINYAR is another initiative as part of Al-Futtaim’s commitment to accelerating the development of Emirati talent as a leading UAE multinational. Influenced by the message of the Legacy of Zayed’s aspiration, the platform is designed to tell Emiratis “Here You Can”, which embodies every UAE National’s responsibility to follow the direction set by the nation’s leaders, which bear the symbolic hallmarks of pride, credibility and optimal opportunity for nationals to succeed in the private business sector.