Dubai, UAE – Airbus and Mubadala Investment Company have formalized a groundbreaking agreement at the Dubai Airshow 2023 to offer internship opportunities for Emirati senior university students specializing in engineering. The pact, signed by Fatima Al Marzooqi, Director of Portfolio Emiratisation at Mubadala, and Mikail Houari, President of Airbus Africa and Middle East, outlines plans to host 12 Emirati engineering students at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, over the next three years.
The internship program will enable students to work under the guidance of Airbus experts and specialists, providing them with valuable industry experience. Fatima Al Marzooqi expressed Mubadala’s enthusiasm for supporting this initiative, emphasizing its role in bolstering the UAE’s knowledge-based economy and offering exceptional opportunities for Emirati students.
Mikail Houari highlighted Airbus’s dedication to fostering young talent, emphasizing the importance of developing skills and knowledge to support the long-term growth and progress of the aviation and aerospace sectors in the region. The collaboration aims to contribute to the Emiratisation efforts and localization of global expertise.
Airbus, with over fifty years of presence in the Middle East, has a history of collaborating with local and regional organizations, educational institutions, and universities. The company has consistently engaged in programs promoting aerospace and aviation-related education, including skills enrichment, research projects, and scholarships.
As part of its commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, Airbus has actively sponsored and participated in various programs in the Middle East and Africa since 2015. Over 5,000 students and entrepreneurs have benefited from Airbus initiatives, gaining industry awareness, practical experience, and support in developing their capabilities.