The UAE ranked second globally in business skills, following Luxembourg, and first in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the "Coursera" Global Skills Report of 2021. This year's report provides in-depth analyses of skill levels worldwide, using performance data from over 77 million learners across more than 100 countries since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emirati skills excelled in areas such as communication, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, strategy, and operations, with a rating of around 97 percent. These competencies are crucial for evaluating opportunities and confronting challenges, playing a key role in enhancing the success of institutions and companies.
While business skills in the UAE topped the global rankings, there remains an opportunity to develop technology and data science skills, particularly given the UAE government's focus on the importance of digital transformation as a driver of national development and economic progress. The Global Skills Report highlights an important opportunity for Emirati professionals to enhance their skills in these areas, as technology and data science skills in the UAE ranked 72nd and 71st globally, respectively.
Anthony Tattersall, Vice President of Coursera for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, noted that the UAE government has implemented several initiatives in recent years aimed at promoting a skills-based economy, which has had a positive impact on the economy, as evidenced by its high ranking in this classification. He added that when it comes to technology and data science skills, obtaining high-level certifications in the required skills for each job, including entry-level digital jobs, significantly contributes to enhancing employee skills on a broad scale, not only in the UAE but worldwide.
The report also revealed an increase in the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, which are essential for developing digital skills, rising from 33 percent in 2018 and 2019 to 41 percent in 2019 and 2020. Another notable factor in the overall performance of the country's technological skills is its competitiveness in security engineering, with the UAE achieving a rate of 77 percent in this area. With a 250 percent increase in cyberattacks during the pandemic, there was a strong focus on attracting and developing cybersecurity skills within the UAE, contributing to the country achieving this high global ranking.
