The American multinational conglomerate focusing on eCommerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence, Amazon, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), a global cloud computing service provider, have announced they are going to be creating 1,500 direct and indirect opportunities in UAE and developing the cloud skills across the MEA region through its re/Start program respectively.
Amazon UAE job opportunities
Amazon has announced the creation of 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across the UAE this year, as it expands its footprint in support of the country’s acceleration towards a digital economy. As demand evolves, the expansion will help the company better serve customers and communities by delivering a smarter, faster, and even more consistent experience.
Amazon is fostering job creation as it increases its fulfilment centre storage capacity by 60%, offering a wider selection of products to customers. By the end of 2021, the company’s storage space in the UAE will be spread over more than 3.7 million cubic feet – which is equivalent to approximately 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools – enabling Amazon to store millions of products for businesses. The expansion also creates additional jobs through its sellers and delivery partners. The company is adding four new delivery stations that will increase its total area by 70%, speeding up the handling of deliveries and bolstering reach.
“We are scaling our operations to support the customer experience, getting people across the UAE what they want, when they want, wherever they are. Our expansion is underpinned by our support of the UAE’s growing digital economy, as we continue to invest in people, process and technology,” said Prashant Saran, Director of Operations for Amazon Middle East and North Africa (MENA). “As we accelerate our culture of innovation to better serve customers, we are excited to become an enabler of opportunity for talent in the UAE. We offer an enriching environment where employees can learn and grow all within a modern workplace that has an uncompromising focus on safety. Amazon’s investment reflects our long-term commitment to the communities in which we operate, as we continue to grow sustainably and responsibly.”
The company has a rich history of inventing and introducing cutting-edge technology to assist employees and keep them safe while delivering for customers. Amazon’s expansion in the UAE creates a diverse range of job opportunities, enabling new career paths to benefit the nation’s talent pool.
The operations expansion in the UAE will be delivered through a pipeline of new openings, closure of older buildings and upgrades, designed to deliver a better experience for Amazon’s customers. It is anchored by Amazon’s commitment to building sustainable operations as it expands across the region.
The Amazon network across the UAE comprises two fulfilment centres, eight delivery stations, three sorting centres, and a network of Delivery Service Partners. As Amazon continues to grow its footprint in the UAE, the health and safety of its employees, customers and partners remains paramount. The company has changed more than 150 processes in its logistics network to date and invested more than $11.5billion globally in 2020 related to covid-19.
AWS Cloud Training Program
Amazon Web Services, Inc. announced the launch of the AWS re/Start cloud skills training program in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to help unemployed and underemployed people in MENA build cloud computing skills, and then connect them with employment opportunities at local employers. The first cohorts are taking place in Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia, followed by Bahrain in the coming months and additional countries across MENA in 2022. The AWS re/Start MENA program launch is part of Amazon’s effort to provide 29 million people around the world with access to free technology skills training by 2025 through various programs, including AWS re/Start.
The AWS re/Start program helps prepare participants for entry-level cloud computing roles. It’s a free, full-time, 12-week program for unemployed and underemployed people, and a technology background is not required to apply. The training provides skills training in cloud technologies, career and resume coaching, and opportunities to interview with local employers. With the support of professional mentors and accredited instructors, participants build technology skills such as programming, networking, security, and relational databases through real-world scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework.
To deliver training to the first cohorts, AWS is collaborating with key institutions. In Egypt, AWS is working with the Information Technology Institute (ITI) and IKEN Technology. In Lebanon, training will be delivered by Ruwwad Al Tanmeya. In Tunisia, training will be delivered by RBK Tunisia, and in Bahrain, by ThinkSmart.
The program also prepares and covers the cost for participants to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. The certification validates their cloud skills with an industry-recognised credential. On completion of the program, participants can apply for entry-level cloud roles in cloud operations, site reliability, infrastructure support, and technical adjacent business support functions.
Tejas Vashi, Global Team Lead for AWS re/Start, said, “We’ve long believed in the power of skills training to positively impact people’s lives, and we are excited to extend the program to the MENA region, where we continue to invest in a variety of training programs. AWS re/Start prepares unemployed and underemployed people for careers in cloud computing. It also provides organisations in the region with a pipeline of local, entry-level cloud computing talent. As cloud adoption continues to grow in MENA, we look forward to expanding the program to more countries and helping to bridge the gap for in-demand cloud skills.”
The AWS re/Start program has been actively expanding around the world since it launched globally in 2019. The program is now in 52 cities across 25 countries—and counting.
