UAE Media Careers Push to Train 29,000 Young People for Jobs
IMI Media Academy and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation launch a five-year plan to prepare 29,000 young people for media jobs, internships and placements.
UAEIn brief
- IMI Media Academy and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation signed a five-year partnership in Abu Dhabi, reported on 22 October 2026.
- The programme aims to reach 29,000 young people, starting in the UAE and then expanding across the Arab region.
- Training will combine technical skills with mentoring, workplace exposure, internships and job placements.
- It builds on the Nomu Al Ghurair Siraj programme, which has trained 450 graduates.
| Country | UAE |
|---|---|
| Organization | IMI Media Academy and Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation |
| Official source | Sharjah24 – IMI and Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation launch media partnership ✓ sharjah24.ae |
Young people in the UAE who want a career in journalism, content or broadcasting are getting a new training route. IMI Media Academy, part of Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments (IMI), and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) have signed a five-year partnership to prepare 29,000 young people for work in media, Sharjah24 reported on 22 October 2026.
The programme will run under the name "Al Ghurair Voice Lab with IMI". It starts in the UAE and is planned to expand to other Arab countries later.
Who signed the deal
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Partners | IMI Media Academy and Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation |
| Signed by | Ali Al Hammadi (COO, IMI) and Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar (CEO, AGF) |
| Attended by | Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (IMI Chairman) and Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair (AGF Chairman) |
| Length | Five years |
| Target | 29,000 young people |
| First market | UAE, then the Arab region |
What the training covers
The partners say the plan has several programmes aimed at different stages of a young person's path into media, including:
- Basic media skills for beginners
- Advanced professional upskilling for people already working
- Media content built into university courses
- Storytelling for school students
- National youth initiatives in the UAE
- Regional programmes in other Arab countries
The approach goes beyond classroom lessons. Trainees are meant to get mentoring, hands-on practice and time in real workplaces, with routes into internships, placements and jobs.
Building on past work
The new plan follows the Nomu Al Ghurair Siraj programme, which has already trained 450 graduates. The Al Ghurair Foundation, set up in 2015, says its education work has reached more than 433,000 young people.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Ben Jaafar stressed that learning only matters if it connects to real opportunity. Khalid Al Hosani of IMI Media Academy said the aim is to build a pipeline of Arab media talent rather than simply run courses.
What it means for job seekers
- Media is changing fast. Employers now want people who can write, film, edit video and understand social platforms and data, not just one skill.
- Get ready now. Start a portfolio: articles, short videos, podcasts or social media work you have produced yourself.
- Watch for intakes. Eligibility and application details have not yet been announced, so follow IMI Media Academy and the Al Ghurair Foundation's official channels.
- Arabic and English together are a strong advantage in Gulf newsrooms and agencies.
For other Emirati career routes, see the Ethraa career fair offering 1,350 banking jobs and our list of UAE government jobs portals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IMI and Al Ghurair Foundation media programme?
A five-year partnership, run as Al Ghurair Voice Lab with IMI, to train 29,000 young people for careers in media.
Does the programme lead to jobs?
It is designed to link training with internships, placements, jobs and career development, though no placement numbers have been published.
Who can join?
It targets young people in the UAE first, including school and university students and graduates. Detailed eligibility has not yet been published.
Who runs IMI Media Academy?
It is part of International Media Investments (IMI), the Abu Dhabi media group chaired by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
Apply only through the official source.
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