If ambition had a sound, it’d be the buzz that filled the RAK Exhibition Centre today! The third edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Jobs and Internships Festival (RAKJIF) turned into a full-blown career carnival — where over 2,000 Emirati students and jobseekers showed up ready to chase dreams, swap ideas, and (fingers crossed) land that perfect opportunity.
A Festival with Purpose
Organized by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, in collaboration with the Department of Human Resources Ras Al Khaimah and the Investment and Development Office (IDO), this annual fest has evolved into one of the UAE’s most influential career platforms. Think of it as LinkedIn IRL — but with more energy, less scrolling, and actual eye contact!
Across the buzzing exhibition floor, jobseekers mingled with 70 top employers from every major sector you can imagine — government, banking, hospitality, tourism, aviation, healthcare, energy, real estate, construction — you name it. There were on-the-spot interviews, live recruitment sessions, and career workshops that made it impossible not to feel inspired.
Words That Moved the Crowd
Opening the event, Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Al Qasimi Foundation, set the tone with a heartfelt reminder:
“The greatest challenge most jobseekers face — Emirati or otherwise — is securing that first opportunity which provides the experience every other position demands.”
She emphasized the Foundation’s deep belief in Emirati potential and their ongoing mission to connect young talent with employers who recognize and nurture that spark.
Power Partnership: Al Qasimi Foundation x RAK Ceramics
One of the day’s biggest moments came when the Al Qasimi Foundation and RAK Ceramics inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The deal — signed by Dr. Rui da Silva and Mr. Jasem Al Khateri — lays out a joint vision to develop Emirati talent through internships and graduate programs.
Translation? More real-world training, more local opportunities, and a stronger, homegrown workforce.
AI & The Future of Work: Friend, Not Foe
Meanwhile, the AI and the Future of Work Forum drew crowds eager to decode how artificial intelligence is reshaping career paths. Experts from academia and industry shared insights on adaptability, ethical innovation, and digital literacy — all the stuff today’s jobseekers need to stay future-ready.
The biggest takeaway? AI isn’t here to steal your job; it’s here to make you better at it.
RAK’s Commitment Shines Bright
As the curtains closed, one message echoed loud and clear: Ras Al Khaimah is all in when it comes to empowering its youth.
RAKJIF isn’t just a job fair — it’s a movement. A place where ambition finds its match, innovation meets opportunity, and the future of the Emirati workforce takes shape — one conversation, handshake, and MoU at a time.
