WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 celebrates the 44th competition

The United Arab Emirates delegation at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 have hosted a reception to celebrate the WorldSkills Competition coming to the Emirates in 2017. The event was attended by the Official and Technical Delegates from the UAE, the Consul General of the UAE in São Paulo, the President of WorldSkills, the CEO of WorldSkills International, Delegates from WorldSkills Members, Global Partners, and stakeholders from WorldSkills São Paulo 2015.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, will host the 44th WorldSkills Competition in 2017. The country’s bid for the Competition was motivated by a desire to promote skills and vocational education in the UAE and the broader Middle East. It also comes as the country continues to diversify its economy for a future beyond oil.

In his speech the Official Delegate of the UAE to WorldSkills, His Excellency Mubarak Al Shamsi, quoted the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“We have to invest in education now, because in perhaps 50 years from now, when we ship the last barrel of oil, we will celebrate – since we know we will succeed due to our heavy investments in human resources."

Some 1,500 Competitors from 75 Member organizations are expected to compete in Abu Dhabi in October 2017. There will be in the region of 50 skill areas from several sectors including construction, transportation, manufacturing, creative arts, as well as information technology and services. 

“Abu Dhabi is a world class destination and we intend to put on a world class Competition," said Aidan Jones, the CEO of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017. "I have been struck since I moved to Abu Dhabi by the dynamism of the economy and the incredible facilities that the Emirate has to offer”.

“Abu Dhabi has destinations for everyone – whatever your interests. Transportation is efficient and there are many more than a hundred international standard hotels in the city alone. And two-thirds of the world’s population live within an eight hour flight of the Emirate.”

Abu Dhabi was awarded the 2017 Competition at the WorldSkills General Assembly in 2013. This will be the first time that the Competition will be held in the Middle East.