DCT Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches to Drive Next Chapter of Emirati Talent Development
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is partnering for the first time with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, to launch the 2025 edition of its Tourism Youth Summer Camp. The Academy is managed under the stewardship of Les Roches, a globally acclaimed hospitality and leisure higher education institution, with the objective of providing hospitality skills and academic knowledge to nurture homegrown talent in the UAE and the region. The two-week immersive programme for Emirati students aged 17 to 21 will run from 14-24 July 2025, nurturing the next generation of Emirati leaders in tourism and hospitality through hands-on training and cultural engagement. The partnership with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches brings an elevated level of academic and practical expertise to the programme while integrating elements that celebrate Emirati culture and heritage. The camp combines global hospitality standards with local traditions to foster a new cohort of Abu Dhabi-grounded, globally minded professionals. H.E. Saleh Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: 'Our Tourism Youth Summer Camp continues to grow in impact as we partner with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches to empower the next generation of Emirati tourism and hospitality leaders. By combining world-class expertise with a foundation of Emirati hospitality, rooted in a spirit of welcoming and warmth, we are preparing young talent to lead confidently in the global tourism landscape. Strengthening the tourism and hospitality sectors is key to Abu Dhabi's future growth, and as we support and inspire our Emirati youth to enter into this industry, they will be a key part of our mission to both progress the emirate and share Abu Dhabi with the world.' Les Roches was established in Switzerland in 1954 and is one of the foremost institutions in hospitality and leisure management. The Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches' state-of-the-art facilities in the UAE capital are designed to meet the highest standards of hospitality education, enhancing the learning experience for students and preparing them for real-world scenarios, fostering homegrown talent, contributing to a sustainable, knowledge-driven hospitality ecosystem. Georgette Davey, Managing Director for Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, said: 'At Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, we believe in the transformative power of education to unlock the full potential of Emirati youth. Our partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi is more than a summer camp; it is a catalyst for future careers, a space where passion meets purpose. By combining Swiss hospitality excellence with the rich cultural heritage of the UAE, we are empowering young Emiratis to lead with confidence, competence, and pride on the global stage. This programme is an investment in people, shaping a generation that will define the future of hospitality in Abu Dhabi and beyond.' Participants will be introduced to six foundational disciplines within the hospitality sector: Front Office operations, Culinary Arts, Barista Skills, Housekeeping, Hospitality Marketing, and Service Excellence in Fine Dining. The curriculum is designed to build essential skills such as teamwork, customer service and problem-solving, while fostering an appreciation for the UAE's identity and its role within the global tourism landscape.
Through immersive workshops and industry engagement at the Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, students will gain a deep understanding of Abu Dhabi's tourism and cultural landscape and its alignment with the UAE's national goals for talent development. Previous editions of the camp in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have provided participants with real-world experience across key tourism entities, offering valuable insight into the sector's role in driving the emirate's long-term strategic objectives under Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Web Release
2 hours ago
- Web Release
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq leads economic delegation to Switzerland to explore best practices in the development of food cluster
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq leads economic delegation to Switzerland to explore best practices in the development of food cluster H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, led an economic delegation of leading national companies from the food and agriculture sectors to Switzerland. The visit aimed to explore global best practices in building food innovation ecosystems, developing food clusters, and promoting research, development, and the adoption of sustainable solutions in the food sector. As part of the visit, the delegation participated in an event titled 'Empowering Innovation in the Food Sector and Building Food Clusters for a Sustainable Economic Future,' held at the headquarters of Bühler Group, a global leader in industrial and food solutions based in Uzwil, Switzerland. The event brought together a distinguished group of private-sector representatives, industry experts, and decision-makers from across the Swiss food sector and related institutions. H.E. Bin Touq said: 'The UAE has adopted an ambitious, strategic vision to develop an integrated and pioneering model for food clusters, embedding it within the national economy. This forward-looking approach charts a promising path that enhances economic and industrial integration across the country. By connecting multiple sectors within the value chain – from agriculture and food manufacturing to transportation and logistics – it drives sustainable development, boosts productivity, and advances economic diversification. This broader impact reinforces the UAE's position as a leading global hub for food industries, economic activity, and advanced manufacturing.' H.E. said in his speech the event: 'The food economic cluster aims to nurture and empower new generations of highly skilled producers and farmers, equipped with world-class expertise and global knowledge of food and agricultural practices. Over the next five years, we expect this model to contribute AED 10 billion to the GDP, increase trade volumes by AED 15 billion, and create 20,000 job opportunities – all in line with the We the UAE 2031 vision to position the nation among the world's top ten countries in the Food Security Index.' H.E. added: 'The UAE's food sector continues to grow steadily, with the number of registered local and international food brands reaching 40,486 by the end of the first half of this year. In 2024, the value of the UAE's trade in food products rose to AED 148.6 billion, marking a 16.8% increase compared to AED 127.2 billion in 2023. National food exports also grew by 10.9%, reaching AED 24.2 billion in 2024 compared to the previous year.' His Excellency described the event as a valuable platform to forge new paths of collaboration between UAE and Swiss food companies, particularly in developing advanced food clusters and cutting-edge digital solutions. It also provides an opportunity to examine Switzerland's food innovation ecosystem and identify its prominent stakeholders, given Uzwil's status as a key hub for innovation in the food sector. His Excellency presented the opportunities offered by the UAE's Food Economic Cluster model, along with the investment enablers and expansion potential tied to this vital sector. The event featured a series of panel discussions and presentations highlighting the importance of strengthening international partnerships and accelerating knowledge exchange to foster innovation in the food sector. The sessions showcased global initiatives aimed at building a sustainable food system and underscored Switzerland's influential role in international food innovation and its active contribution to shaping the future of food clusters around the world. The delegation also visited the Swiss Nutrition & Food Valley, a pioneering model of food clusters dedicated to developing sustainable and effective food solutions in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals. The Valley plays a vital role in cementing Switzerland's position as a global leader in sustainable nutrition, innovation, and nutritional health.
The National
11 hours ago
- The National
When bird droppings from Abu Dhabi greened the farms and gardens of England's pleasant land
Abu Dhabi has always been rich in natural resources. Until the 1930s it was pearls that brought wealth, an industry that declined with the introduction of cheaper Japanese cultured pearls. From the 1960s, oil and gas transformed the economy of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, creating the prosperous modern country of today, What, though, of the intervening period, when work was scarce, and many in the seven emirates were among the poorest people in the world? The answer, some thought, might be guano, the polite way of describing seabird excrement. Thanks to the birds' fishy diet, guano is rich in phosphate, nitrogen and potassium, and makes a superb fertiliser. On the islands on which the birds nest it can accumulate over centuries until it is many metres deep. Growing demand From the middle of the 19th century, guano fertiliser was in great demand among farmers in Europe and the United States, as economies grew and a hungry population demanded ever more intensive agriculture and larger crop yields. So precious was guano that the US passed a law in 1858 allowing it to take possession of guano-rich islands anywhere in the world if they were uninhabited. The UK obtained copious supplies from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. In 1949, the UK imported nearly 88,000 tons of guano from the Seychelles, worth nearly £5 million (Dh25m) in today's money. That year is important because it was when an enterprising London export-import company, JC Gilbert Ltd, believed it had discovered a new, potentially valuable source of guano to spread on the fields of Britain's farms: the offshore islands of Abu Dhabi. Many of the islands in the Arabian Gulf were already a local source of seabird fertiliser. A survey of the seabed in 1954 reported that prisoners from Bahrain's jails were employed to dig guano from the Baina Islands to use on government gardens. Reaching out An advert placed in the UK journal Farming in 1949 by JC Gilbert offered 'screened genuine bird guano' with 'guaranteed 8-10 per cent ammonia, 20-30 per cent phosphates'. There was 'no government restriction on the amount that can be applied per acre or the crop for which it can be used'. Another advert from the same year in the Gardeners' Chronicle promises 'Bird Guano – quick-acting fertiliser. Ready for use." The price for a 50kg bag was 40 old shillings, or £2, the equivalent of £90 (Dh436) in today's money. 'Share it with your neighbours,' the company urged. JC Gilbert's plan, however, had one formidable obstacle to overcome. British civil service bureaucracy. There was no sign of problems at first. A headed letter on Crown notepaper from the British political agency in Bahrain noted a request from August 1949 'on the subject of the import of guano in the United Kingdom from Abu Dhabi', and the response that 'as far as we can see the procedure proposed is unobjectionable'. Not so fast, came the response from London. How could it be certain that this was 100 per cent genuine Abu Dhabi guano? Could the necessary paperwork confirm it? This was important because some islands in the Arabian Gulf were subject to differing territorial claims. If some of the Abu Dhabi guano turned out to come from an island another Gulf country had its eye on, the British Foreign Office feared a diplomatic incident could occur. London proposed a special import form. 'This guano is declared by (insert name) to have been collected on (name) island. (Name) Island is regarded by His Majesty's Government as belonging to (name of emirate), a territory under the protection of His Majesty.' Here was a difficulty though. How could London be sure the guano really had been collected from an island that really belonged to Abu Dhabi. After all, there were a lot of islands and a lot of competing claims. 'I assume the British importer will eventually appoint a responsible agent in Abu Dhabi to handle the consignment and who will keep me informed as to the shipments they are making,' an official in Bahrain replied. Exporting guano A list of guano exporters from the Gulf was also supplied, including 7,350 bags to the UK, 840 bags to Italy, nearly 10,000 bags to India and 2,800 bags to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). This didn't really address the central question of what was authentic Abu Dhabi guano. The correspondence dragged on for months, into the spring of 1950. Eventually a compromise was reached. London was satisfied the unnamed island was not the subject of territorial claims from either Qatar or Saudi Arabia. In addition to the proposed form, the certificate of origin would be signed both by the supplier and the British local agent as being a genuine product of Abu Dhabi. Finally exports could begin. Unfortunately the records do not show how much Abu Dhabi guano was sent to green England's fields and gardens, nor for how long. Today, artificial fertilisers have replaced guano, the collection of which is regarded as damaging to the environment and a risk to seabird colonies are risk. Abu Dhabi, though, is a significant global player in fertilisers, with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) holding a majority stake in Fertglobe, the region's largest producer of nitrogen fertilisers.
Dubai Eye
12 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
UAE backs Ukraine's rebuilding efforts with new partnerships
The UAE has reaffirmed its strong commitment to Ukraine's recovery efforts at the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference, held this week in Rome. Leading the Emirati delegation was Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, who highlighted the UAE's continued engagement in Ukraine and emphasised the importance of global platforms like the URC in coordinating long-term support. The UAE also welcomed Poland as the next host for URC 2026, emphasizing the importance of continuity in international cooperation. During the event, the UAE signed new humanitarian initiatives with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, aimed at supporting children affected by the conflict through education, psychosocial care and safe spaces. A trilateral agreement between the UAE, Italy and Ukraine was also announced, focusing on digital transformation, vocational training and empowering women-led businesses. In addition, the UAE and Italy pledged joint support for youth in Ukraine and agreed to co-finance development projects in Africa, including climate-smart coffee production in Ethiopia and sustainable farming in Côte d'Ivoire. On the business front, UAE-based Khazna Data Centres signed a major deal with Italian energy firm Eni to build a 500-megawatt AI data centre campus in Lombardy, powered by low-carbon energy. Al Hashimy also held high-level talks with Italian officials to strengthen investment ties and reaffirm the strong UAE–Italy partnership. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2022, the UAE has played a vital humanitarian role in Ukraine—delivering aid, building housing for orphans, and facilitating over 15 prisoner exchanges. The UAE also remains the only country to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Ukraine since the conflict began.
