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UAE: 3% job quota reserved for GMU alumni across Thumbay Group
This reservation is a step towards creating a sustainable, skilled healthcare workforce
- PUBLISHED: Thu 22 May 2025, 4:00 PM
A medical university in the UAE has announced that three per cent of all its future job vacancies across its companies will be exclusively reserved for alumni of Gulf Medical University (GMU).
This was revealed by Thumbay Group on Thursday as they reiterated that the move aims to strengthen career pathways for Gulf Medical University (GMU) graduates.
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Prof Manda Venkatramana, Acting Chancellor of GMU, welcomed the decision, calling it "a powerful endorsement of our graduates" and praised the Group's leadership.
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"This 3 per cent job reservation for GMU alumni is a powerful endorsement of our graduates and a visionary step towards creating a sustainable, skilled healthcare workforce," he said.
"We sincerely thank the leadership of Thumbay Group, especially our Founder President, Dr Thumbay Moideen, for this extraordinary and thoughtful gesture. Under his dynamic leadership, Thumbay Group has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to education, healthcare, and nation-building."
Why are job applications overlooked?
Meanwhile, a recent survey conducted in the UAE highlighted that 84 per cent of jobseekers in the Middle East feel their applications are being overlooked.
The survey by global talent solutions firm Robert Walters indicates a surge in job applications across the region, contributing to slower hiring processes.
The findings also show that the increasing volume of applications pressures hiring managers, resulting in longer response times and leaving many candidates without feedback.
Omer Zakaria, General Manager of Robert Walters Saudi Arabia, said, "While AI can be helpful for quick applications, hiring managers value authenticity and a true reflection of a candidate's experience. Many professionals believe tailoring their CV with AI improves their chances, but employers can often spot the language or overly polished formatting, which can actually work against them."
According to the survey, 39 per cent of job seekers submit more than 20 applications weekly. Zakaria added, "This mass outreach can result in candidates missing key details of job postings or failing to tailor their applications to the role. In turn, employers are seeing a higher rate of applications that miss key experience or skills requirements."
Jobs for Emiratis
As per another survey between TASC and Mohre it was revealed that there was a record-breaking growth of 131,833 Emirati employees, marking a 192.5 per cent increase, reflecting the success of targeted Emiratisation initiatives.
Emirati talent's employment scenario shows some encouraging characteristics alongside substantial challenges.
Nearly half, about 49.13 per cent, of Emirati job seekers are willing to begin working within 30 days, and 82.97 per cent express confidence in their skills for private-sector positions.
Speaking of the need for Emiratisation initiatives, Mahesh Shahdadpuri, Founder and CEO of TASC, said, "Effective Emiratisation requires precise alignment between employer offerings and Emirati talent expectations. Our data-driven guidebook underscores essential strategies such as increased workplace flexibility, tailored compensation structures, and targeted skill development programs, particularly in AI and emerging technologies. As Emiratisation continues evolving, our commitment remains firm -- to support private-sector employers in creating sustainable, meaningful roles for UAE nationals."
