BUILDING RESILIENT CAREERS: FUTURE-READY BUSINESS GRADUATES IN THE UAE

Abstract This research examines the perspectives of final-year business students in the UAE regarding their preparedness for the labor market, with a focus on the key skills and learning approaches they consider essential for employability. Through an exploratory descriptive research approach, the study surveyed 156 students across two universities, focusing on their readiness to enter the UAE labor market. The findings indicate that communication, adaptability, and learning skills are deemed the most critical employability skills, with significant differences noted across departments. Students expressed confidence in their academic skills, particularly discipline competency, yet identified IT literacy as an area needing improvement. Experiential learning methods, such as internships and industry placements, were rated as the most effective for acquiring employability skills, surpassing traditional lecture-based approaches. The study highlights the need for UAE universities to align curricula with industry demands and emphasize practical, hands-on learning to ensure graduates are well-prepared for the evolving job market.