1. 2nd Annual MANAGING LOCAL TALENT
11th-13th October 2010, Doha, Qatar
Current Initiatives for Nationalization
in Qatar: White or Black!
Dr. Hend Al Muftah
Qatar University

2. Agenda
• Overview of Qatarization Legislations
• Government initiatives in placing sufficient
HR systems for procuring successful
Nationalization
• Role of Universities in achieving Qatarization
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

3. Recent Debates!!!
• Govt. polices , regulations & bodies
• Public organizations to reach 50%
• More pressure on the private sector (20%)
• Conferences, workshops, forums, …
• Non-stop debate –local media, Internet,
Majlis…
• For the word Qatarization there are 51,300
sites in Arabic and 17,000 in English

4. What is Qatarization?
• It’s political-strategy was initiated in 1980s- by
oil & gas industries, followed by government
sector
– It is a program designed to increase the number
of Qatari nationals
• By 2000, new concept emerged around
Qatarization: to improve the quality of Qatari
nationals- knowledge, skills & competencies
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

5. Qatarization …Expanded concept
Vision 2030
• A continuous process to assist
economically active Qatari integrating
labor market.
• It is a politically-determined localization
strategy & an essential means to upgrade
socio-economic local assets through
employment and employability.
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

6. Overview of Qatarization Legislations
Qatarization Bylaws
• Council Cabinet
– 26-3-1997 Qatarization Policy at the private
sector-20%
– 20-6-2007 Qatarization at Government sector
• Amiri decree No 23, 2007 to establish the Ministry
of labor & Social Services- Department of National
Manpower Development
• Amiri decree No. 35 to separate Ministry of labor
affairs from social affairs- more Qatarization efforts

7. Overview of Qatarization Legislations…
Qatarization Articles
• Article 28 of the Qatari constitution (2002) states
that govt. shall provide Q citizens with employment
opportunity
• Article 18 of Labor Law (No. 14, 2004) states that
priority is always for Qatari citizens
• Article 14 of the HR law (No 8, 2009) states that for
any government position, the employee must be a
Qatari
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

8. Ministry of Labor
Department of National Manpower
Development
• ADI 2006-09
Courses 87%
Trainees 1 49%
• Rehabilitation & Training Centre
• Corporate Sponsorship programs (Finance &
Investment, Hotels) 2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

9. Other efforts….Micro
• Nationalize 126 admin position titles at Govt.
sector…100%
• Coordinate with Ministry of Interior affairs to
absorb less than secondary education Qataris
• Coordinate with private sector companies (67) to
nationalize not less than 20% of their positions
• Coordinate with oil & gas sector to nationalize a
specific managerial positions as HR, PR, Admin &
finance affairs.
Managerial position & females’ participation

10. Other Qatarization
efforts….Macro
• Diversified knowledge-
based Economy
• LM Reform
• Education reform

11. Overview of Qatarization Legislations…
Qatarization law- Expected
• Penalties from QR 50-100 Thousands for
not achieving the Qatarization %
• Penalties from QR 10-50 Thousands for
not training and developing Qatari
employees
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

12. Government initiatives in placing sufficient HR
systems for procuring successful Qatarization
• Recent HR law
– Competitive compensation
– Training & development
–Objective-based performance
–Healthy working environment
• Expected Qatarization law
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

13. Role of Universities in Qatarization
• Education city- 7 international universities
• QU Reform- new academic plans
• CNA & Community college
70% of employers satisfied with QU graduates, &
enjoy professional mutual partnership with
Education
LM & Industry are becoming strategic partners in
the education system
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

14. So what ? Is it WHITE or BLACK!!!
Or it is Rosy Picture!!!!
• Both Govt. & other sectors had adopted some
strategies.
• Both also used quantitative & qualitative
approaches in performance & controlling.
– Education is not any more divergent from LM
– Private sector is integrated in within Qatarization
– Recent Qataris graduates are well equipped for
LM
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010

15. Attention !!!
• .3% unemployment rate (LFSS, 2008) amongst
Qatari nationals of not exceeding 500
hundreds thousands!!!
• Focus on program execution ("Is it done
well?") rather than programme
outcomes/results ("Does it have the desired
result?").
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend AlMuftah,
October 2010

16. So are we a spoilt nation or an oppressed
nation???
Lack of commitment & faith
•Qatarization is a cost!
•It is just a game of “numbers”!
•Govt. is imposing Qatarization!!!
“ we are forced to recruit Q engineers who
have no experience in working on tough
job”

17. So are we a spoilt nation or an oppressed
nation???
Stereotyping about Q employees!!!
• Want to be manager
•Lazy & looking for easy job
•Overpaid
•Under qualified/incompetent
•Arrogant
•Not interested in technical job
•……………………………………

18. Too early to evaluate, BUT…
1. Current efforts lack monitoring and
evaluation system…mentoring & evaluation
systems is urgently required
2. Qatarization policy is not considering the
local national culture…more customization
3. Qatarization policy is still not structurally
developed with long-term vision

19. Too early to evaluate, BUT…
SMART QATARIZATION
• Choice of PR & number game
OR
• Serious commitment/ownership

20. Thanks for your attention
Q & Answer
2nd Annual Managing Local Talents, Dr Hend Al Muftah,
October 2010