Women living in some of the most remote areas of the United Arab Emirates are being given the opportunity to learn about careers in the oil and gas industry as businesses look to develop the next generation of managers, it has been reported.

Under a number of pilot projects being run by the Emirates Foundation, in collaboration with several oil and gas exploration and production firms, women are being given hands-on experience on industry sites alongside classroom training.

Notably, in one of the schemes run by the Bridge to Success and Leadership Academy, women are being tutored by specialists from the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) as well as from Dolphin Energy, with funding from the British Council allowing the students to receive a training bursary.

According to Khuloud al Nuwais, the projects director at the Emirates Foundation, the initiative is aimed at tapping into the vast reservoir of talent within areas such as the Al Gharbia emirate, with around 90 per cent of oil and gas jobs currently going to foreigners.

"Introducing young individuals from the western and northern regions to private sector opportunities will help enhance access to economic development," she added in an interview with The National.

Though there are quotas in place to ensure a certain number of jobs in each industry are given to locals, unemployment within the UAE currently stands at 13 per cent.

Oil & Gas Directory: Training & Development