UBF Reaffirms Commitment to Developing and Futureproofing Talent
Abu Dhabi- Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 October 2025:
During its participation in the Future-Fit HR Conference, UAE Banks Federation (UBF), the sole representative and unified voice of UAE banks, reaffirmed its commitment to developing talent and human capital. The Federation emphasised its focus on equipping professionals, particularly Emirati youth, with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape, by promoting continuous learning, innovation, and the adoption of advanced technologies to meet future requirements.
UBF highlighted that the UAE banking sector, under the direct supervision of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), continues to launch and lead initiatives to empower banking professionals with the necessary capabilities to adapt to the significant and accelerating transformations shaping the global financial industry, driven by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and evolving customer expectations.
The Future- Fit HR Conference brought together a distinguished group of banking and financial leaders, representatives from the CBUAE, various government entities, HR development and recruitment experts, and technology companies. It explored key trends and best practices in human capital development and talent management.
UBF works closely with its member banks, regulatory bodies, and academic institutions to strengthen a culture of continuous professional development through specialised programmes and initiatives designed to enhance digital skills, deliver advanced training across various areas of banking and finance, foster innovation, and nurture national talent. The Federation also focuses on enhancing leadership skills, including adaptability, decision-making, and responsible leadership.
These efforts are in line with the UAE’s national strategies and initiatives, such as the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the Emiratisation objectives aimed at empowering Emirati professionals across key economic sectors, and the CBUAE’s Emiratisation plan.
In his keynote address at the conference, Mr. Jamal Saleh, Director General of UBF, said: “Human capital is the most important and valuable asset of the banking sector. At UBF, we are committed to preparing our talent and workforce for the future in line with the directives of the Central Bank of the UAE. This is essential to maintaining the UAE banking sector’s leadership, resilience, and global competitiveness. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, continued investment in digital skills, data analytics, cybersecurity, and sustainable finance has become a strategic necessity.”
Mr. Saleh also emphasised the Federation’s priority of strengthening Emiratisation within the banking sector and the importance of continuing the implementation of its human capital development strategy, building on the significant achievement made by UBF member banks in 2024. Collectively, these banks surpassed their Emiratisation targets, achieving 152.9% growth by hiring 2,866 Emirati during 2024.
“The banking sector has played a vital role in reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading financial and banking hub. As we continue to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, we remain dedicated to developing skilled and capable Emirati leaders who can drive innovation, uphold the highest standards of compliance and excellence, and contribute to shaping a future-ready financial industry. We will continue to collaborate closely with CBUAE and all local and international partners to advance human capital development, the cornerstone of our sector’s progress.”
