Abu Dhabi Aviation Group Celebrates First Year of Aljeer Programme, Nurturing Emirati Aviation Excellence
The prestigious Aljeer initiative has reached its inaugural anniversary milestone, having established itself as a transformative pathway for developing Emirati aircraft maintenance engineers through an innovative model that seamlessly integrates academic rigour with practical professional experience.
Abu Dhabi Aviation Group has marked the first anniversary of its Aljeer programme, a strategically conceived initiative designed to cultivate a new generation of highly skilled Emirati aircraft maintenance engineers. Developed in close partnership with Mawaheb Talent Hub, part of the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi, the programme represents a sophisticated approach to national talent development that extends far beyond conventional employment opportunities.
The programme currently nurtures more than 65 UAE Nationals, with Abu Dhabi Aviation Group committed to welcoming 35 new students each year. This measured expansion reflects a deliberate strategy to build a sustainable and robust pipeline of Emirati technical talent within the aviation sector, ensuring long-term capability and workforce resilience.
An Integrated Model of Development
Aljeer embodies a distinctly integrated approach to professional development, positioning UAE Nationals as employees of Abu Dhabi Aviation Group from the very outset of their academic journey in aircraft maintenance engineering. This pioneering structure enables participants to synthesise theoretical knowledge with real-world professional experience from their first day, creating an authentic and seamless connection between education and a clearly defined career pathway.
The programme’s curriculum is delivered across several Abu Dhabi Aviation Group entities, including Etihad Engineering, Global Aerospace Logistics, Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center and Abu Dhabi Aerospace Services. This breadth of operational environments affords students comprehensive practical exposure spanning commercial and defence aviation sectors, enriching their professional foundation across diverse specialisations and technologies.
Rigorous Selection and Structured Progression
Admission to Aljeer follows a highly selective and competitive process, with candidates navigating multiple assessment stages and interviews. The programme maintains exacting standards, accepting approximately one-third of candidates who advance to the final interview stage, thereby ensuring that participants represent exceptional promise and capability.
Participants progress through a structured, multi-year pathway towards becoming licensed aircraft maintenance engineers. They pursue academic studies whilst meeting the technical and regulatory requirements established by the General Civil Aviation Authority, combined with the practical experience necessary for professional licensing. The pathway encompasses two years of supervised practical training, during which students work towards GCAA B1, B1.3 or B2 licences, followed by opportunities to obtain specialist certifications and participate in advanced technical assignments across the Group.
Strategic Partnership and Regulatory Excellence
The programme’s technical framework received formal approval in November 2025, when the General Civil Aviation Authority endorsed the Aljeer Programme Manual in accordance with practical experience requirements under the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licensing Regulations. This regulatory endorsement was further reinforced in February 2026 through a Memorandum of Understanding between the GCAA and Abu Dhabi Aviation Group, establishing supervision mechanisms and ensuring alignment with approved professional standards.
His Excellency Mahmood Alhay Alhameli, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation Group, reflected upon the programme’s significance: “Aljeer represents a long-term investment in Emirati talent and in the future of the UAE aviation sector. Through the programme, we are giving young Emiratis the opportunity to begin their professional journey while still studying, enabling them to combine academic knowledge with practical experience from day one. Our objective goes beyond creating employment opportunities. We are building sustainable career avenues that enable national talent to progress from training to professional licensing, then into advanced technical specialisations and, over time, leadership roles.”
His Excellency Dr Abdulla Al Shimmari, Executive Director of the National Workforce Enablement Sector at the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi, emphasised the partnership’s broader implications: “Our partnership in Aljeer exemplifies the approach we are adopting at Mawaheb Talent Hub; building effective partnerships with employers that enable national talent and connect Emiratis with specialised, sustainable career pathways in priority sectors. Investing in national talent goes beyond creating opportunities. It is about building integrated pathways that enable Emiratis to turn those opportunities into expertise, specialisation and sustainable careers that contribute to the future of Abu Dhabi’s strategic sectors.”
As the programme enters its second year, Abu Dhabi Aviation Group remains committed to its expansion, building a sustainable national pipeline of aircraft maintenance engineers whilst advancing the organisation’s strategy for Emiratisation and national talent development.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office