{"id":64011,"date":"2026-05-15T16:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T12:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/?p=64011"},"modified":"2026-05-15T16:48:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T12:48:49","slug":"starbucks-uaes-first-cohort-of-emirati-shift-supervisors-reflects-a-new-chapter-in-national-talent-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/2026\/05\/15\/starbucks-uaes-first-cohort-of-emirati-shift-supervisors-reflects-a-new-chapter-in-national-talent-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Starbucks UAE\u2019s first cohort of Emirati shift supervisors reflects a new chapter in national talent development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Across the UAE, more Emiratis are choosing private-sector careers \u2014 and at Starbucks UAE, operated by Alshaya Group, that shift is already visible. Starbucks UAE has surpassed the national Emiratization target, with UAE nationals now representing 15% of its workforce, many of whom are progressing from barista roles into shift leadership positions across stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That progress reached a new milestone this year with the promotion of Starbucks UAE\u2019s first cohort of Emirati shift supervisors \u2014 partners who began on the bar and are now leading teams on the shop floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside Starbucks stores, leadership is built in real time \u2014 during the morning rush, on the bar, and in the small moments that shape customer experience. Partners learn how to run peak periods calmly, coach new baristas, support store managers, and keep teams connected under pressure. It\u2019s practical leadership: communication, judgment, and confidence \u2014 developed shift by shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the UAE expands opportunity in the private sector, service excellence matters more than ever,\u201d says Samar Jabbour, Senior Vice President – Starbucks MENA at Alshaya Group. \u201cOur role is to create clear, supportive pathways for Emirati partners \u2014 training that\u2019s practical, leadership that\u2019s earned, and flexibility that respects real life. That\u2019s how careers grow, and that\u2019s how the customer experience gets stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ali Saeed Salem Saeed Alyammahi, an electrical engineering student in Fujairah, balancing study with full-time work accelerated his growth into shift leadership. \u201cBalancing work and study was challenging \u2014 but it strengthened my discipline and time management,\u201d he says. Ali brings an analytical approach to the floor: \u201cIn engineering, every problem has a solution if you approach it methodically. I\u2019ve applied the same mindset in-store\u2026 It\u2019s about thinking clearly, staying calm, and always working toward a positive outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Kalba Mall, Layla Hilal Abdalla Hilal Almeqbaali discovered her leadership voice through practice \u2014 and now helps others find theirs. \u201cStarbucks helped me build confidence not only in myself, but in my ability to guide and uplift others,\u201d she says. \u201cThe culture here actively encourages women to lead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Hassan Rashed Mohamed Alsharari Aldhanhani at Khorfakkan Beach, hospitality is personal \u2014 and deeply cultural. \u201cAs Emiratis, welcoming others is deeply rooted in our culture,\u201d he says. \u201cI found the same value reflected in the way we connect with customers every day \u2014 from regular guests to visitors discovering Khorfakkan for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And at Zakher Drive-Thru, Aysha Mohammed Ali Qul Zar Ali Alblooshi points to teamwork as the foundation of consistency and service. \u201cWe work as one team \u2014 more like family than colleagues,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these journeys reflect a wider momentum: Emirati partners building careers in the service economy through structured training, clear progression, and flexible schedules \u2014 and stepping into leadership through everyday responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in joining the team?
\nStarbucks UAE is hiring Emirati nationals across roles and locations. Explore opportunities and apply here: https:\/\/www.alshaya.com\/en\/careers\/vacancies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Across the UAE, more Emiratis are choosing private-sector careers \u2014 and at Starbucks UAE, operated by Alshaya Group, that shift is already visible. Starbucks UAE has surpassed the national Emiratization target, with UAE nationals now representing 15% of its workforce, many of whom are progressing from barista roles into shift leadership positions across stores. That …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64011"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64014,"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64011\/revisions\/64014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uaebarq.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}