News: Here's how much fresh Emirati graduates want as starting salary

Participation at the Emirati Youth Forum has revealed that Emirati graduates fresh from university expect to rake in more than Dh20,000/$5,480 as starting salary. And despite their high salary expectations, a large majority are hesitant to start their own business.

Over 100 Emirati university students from across the UAE took part in the annual Emirati Youth Forum at Tawdheef, which also revealed that 67 per cent of students believe it is a challenge to work for the private sector.
The statistics were announced at the UAE's leading Emirati career fair in Abu Dhabi on Monday, and the majority of students said they would prefer working for the public sector than the private sector citing that the latter has less annual leave, long working hours and lower salaries as main reasons.
Better salaries, more benefits and international career options were voted amongst the factors that would encourage students to consider the private sector.
And work outline and lack of career progression were noted as the main reasons students look outside the public sector for work.