“The SCA’s launch of this initiative comes as part of the efforts to translate the futuristic vision painted by the UAE President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his brother H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to empower UAE nationals and promote the society’s progress and the welfare of its people into an efficient program to prepare the youth to join the UAE’s financial sector,” Dr. Maryam Al Suwaidi.

“Under the leadership of the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of Sondooq Al Watan H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Sondooq Al Watan has been keen to support and nurture Emirati young people in different fields, especially those going into the entrepreneurial world and the private sector. We have spared no effort in achieving these goals that complement the insightful vision of our wise leadership. We take pride in collaborating with the SCA to launch the Financial Market Pioneers Program, which will be an added value in helping the UAE’s youth who are keen to join this vital field,” Yasser Al Gergawi. 

ABU DHABI: In its efforts to train and empower UAE nationals working in the financial services industry, thus helping meet national targets and promote the sustainable development of human capital in the financial sector, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) launched the Financial Market Pioneers Program in collaboration with Sondooq Al Watan and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Academy.       

Taking place at the SCA’s Abu Dhabi main office, the launching ceremony was attended by H.E. Dr. Maryam Butti Al Suwaidi, CEO of SCA; H.E. Yasser Al Gergawi, Director General of Sondooq Al Watan; Abdulla Al Suwaidi, Board Member of the ADGM Academy and Human Capital Director; H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Hadari, Deputy CEO of SCA for Supporting Services; and officials from the participating entities. 

On the sidelines of the launch, the SCA, Sondooq Al Watan, and the ADGM Academy entered into an MoU that lays the foundations for a strategic partnership to develop academic UAE cadres and prepare them to work in the financial sector, including the securities field. The MoU also aims to educate young people about the investing principles and the management of anticipated risks and challenges in light of the current technological progress and in line with the applicable rules and regulations. 

The MoU was signed between H.E. Dr. Maryam Al Suwaidi, H.E. Yasser Al Gergawi, and Abdulla Al Suwaidi.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Al Suwaidi expressed her thanks and appreciation to Sondooq Al Watan for sponsoring the SCA’s initiative and to the ADGM Academy for supporting the program. She announced the start of a new phase of fruitful collaboration between the SCA and its partners in the interest of the country and its people. She lauded the prime role Sondooq Al Watan plays in promoting economic and social growth across the country and the ambitious initiatives it has been adopting to train young people, improve their knowledge, and enhance their professionalism to enter the labor market. 

Dr. Al Suwaidi also extended her thanks and appreciation to the Federal Youth Authority for its initiative to promote the participation of the youth on corporate boards. She indicated that the SCA’s board has been directed to empower UAE nationals in investment and finance and develop an efficient program that helps train them to join the financial sector and provide them with the tools that enable them to compete and seek global achievements.  

“Our launch of the Financial Market Pioneers Program is a significant move that confirms the SCA’s awareness of its social responsibility and its mission towards the country and society. The program is a milestone added to the SCA’s track record in training human resources. Since its establishment, the SCA has spared no effort in creating a favorable environment and developing business plans that are in the interest of the youth and those working in the financial sector in general. It has implemented meaningful initiatives, developed quality and specialized training programs, and offered professional certificates in line with the best international standards to keep pace with financial sector developments, prepare human resources to join this vital sector, and achieve the aspirations of our wise leadership, which has high hopes for the UAE people, bets on their successes, and provides them with all resources to enhance their knowledge and hone their skills to reach the highest levels of excellence and productivity”, Dr. Al Suwaidi said. 

Al Gergawi: The program provides the youth with an opportunity for empowerment in the financial industry and urges them to make use of the other available opportunities and to confront challenges

For his part, Al Gergawi said that “signing this MoU with the SCA to launch the Financial Market Pioneers Program is an important move to train the UAE’s youth to join this vital field and empower them to work in the private sector, which has been the primary focus of Sondooq Al Watan since its establishment”. He praised the great interest the SCA has been showing in collaborating with Sondooq Al Watan to launch this specialized training program, a program that prepares the UAE cadres to join this field, manage all challenges that come their way, and handle risks and opportunities.

Al Gergawi hoped that collaborating with the SCA to launch this important training program would be just the beginning for further collaboration for the sake of the UAE’s sons and daughters and their active involvement in the future of the financial industry in the UAE and across the world. He explained that Sondooq Al Watan will always provide support to the UAE’s youth in all fields in line with its clear vision to enable them to enter the entrepreneurial world and the private sector, whether in the UAE or through collaborating with global firms to train them overseas. In addition to its support to innovators and creators in the scientific, scholarly, economic, literary, and art fields, Sondooq Al Watan seeks to promote national identity and the sense of belonging to the country and its leadership in future generations. 

Al Gergawi lauded the significant role the SCA is playing to improve the competency of UAE nationals working in this vital field, revealing his desire for continued cooperation to launch more specialized training programs that aim to maximize the potential of the UAE’s youth, enable them to join the securities field, train them to confront investment challenges at the local and international levels.   

For his part, Abdulla Al Suwaidi said: “The ADGM Academy takes pride in its strategic partnership with the SCA and Sondooq Al Watan by providing a fully-fledged training program aimed at training national cadres, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in investment and securities-related activities, and improve their ability to keep pace with the future of the financial industry in line with domestic financial rules and regulations and the best international standards and practices. This move comes as part of the ongoing efforts of the ADGM Academy to support the UAE’s future generations, promote continuous learning, and introduce specialized training programs run by professionals holding the highest international degrees. This strategic collaboration reaffirms our commitment to promote the knowledge-based economy in Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general”. 

About the Program

The Financial Market Pioneers Program aims to educate participants about the importance of financial markets and their role in promoting the national economy, teach them about the fundamental principles of investing in securities and the mechanisms used for management of potential risks, introduce them to the definition of derivatives and the importance of Islamic and sustainable finance, highlight the rules and regulations applicable to the UAE, and review the future of the securities industry in light of the rapid technological advancements. 

The program targets various audiences, including new investors, Sondooq Al Watan candidates, employees at public joint stock companies and companies licensed by the SCA, candidates from local and federal counterparts, SCA’s employees who have recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree, and candidates from the SCA Youth Council. Participants should complete 84 training hours within three consecutive weeks. 

The program qualifies participants to act as broker representatives in line with the terms and procedures introduced by the SCA. Participants will also be qualified to apply for international certificates that promote their career path in the labor market, including the Fundamentals of Financial Services Certificate from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and the Investment Foundations Certificate from the Certified Financial Analysts Institute. 

About Sondooq Al Watan

Sondooq Al Watan is a social initiative launched by high-profile Emirati businessmen to achieve societal cohesion in line with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership for a sustainable future for the UAE and its people. The initiative reflects the private-sector commitment to social responsibility and the positive role of Emirati business men and women in providing support to social development plans and projects.

Its projects and initiatives focus on vital sectors with immediate impact on the country and its people. It also provides support to four key domains: nurturing talents, providing professional guidance to improve local talents, encouraging the establishment of start-ups with social impact, and supporting applied research and innovations.

Among its missions, Sondooq Al Watan works to attract investments and societal contributions for the benefit of the UAE people through projects that serve economic, social, and strategic sectors. 

About the ADGM AcademyThe ADGM Academy

is part of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The Academy was established with the vision of consolidating the status of Abu Dhabi as a leading global financial hub, improving its economy, providing an environment attractive to investments, and helping advance the financial services sector globally.

The Academy was established to become a leading academy in the region in the banking and financial fields. Pursuant to the vision of the UAE’s leadership to build a robust and resilient economic sector, we are keen to offer market institutions and all segments of the society with world-class training and educational programs. 

The Academy provided many training programs for the digital and financial sectors. It entered into partnerships with senior industry experts and leading academic institutions to design programs and carry out applied research relevant to the financial sector.

Simon Hailes
President, Middle East
Edelman Smithfield
Mobile no.: +971 50 973 1173
Simon.hailes@edelmansmithfield

Kaja Mohsen
Media and Corporate Communication, ADGM
Email: media@adgm.com