albatha

Dubai, UAE, January 28th, 2013: UAE's Albatha Group, a multi-billion dollar conglomerate with interests in diversified business sectors trained over record 4000 employees from across 22 group companies in 3 days and creating a new corporate training benchmark yet again. The group aims to transform the organisation into a complete "Learning Organization" and will conduct this marathon 'Albatha Learning Festival' from February 8th, 9th and 10th 2013 at the Sharjah Expo Centre. Close on the heels of the success received last year, the company has decided to conduct this year's festival on a much larger scale.

Albatha Group includes 22 group companies spread across seven industry sectors i.e. automotive, consumer, engineering, home products, real estate, healthcare, household and personal care. In addition to several of its own brands such as Star, Arctic Gold, Al Areesh, Super General, E-City, Glenda, Amara, Taj among others. The Group also represents international brands such as BMW, Rolls Royce, Siemens, AstraZeneca, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Scholl, Lindt, Henkel, Kraft, Akai, Indesit among others.

The Group created this platform last year to stimulate beginning of a cultural change. This year a total of 120 sessions are being held in 3 days for over 4000 employees ranging from safety, creativity and innovation, to management and leadership programs covering all levels of employees in the group. The company will showcase new and creative techniques such as teaching time management skills by 'making burgers' at the festival.
"We aim to be one of the pioneering multinationals in the UAE adopting international best practices. Albatha embarked on a journey towards becoming a 'learning organization' last year and this year we decided to further scale-up this programme for the benefit of our employees across all levels. We are committed and want to promote a learning culture within various operating groups and companies within our multicultural organisation. This event is one-of-its-kind in the history of Albatha, wherein Albatha comes together as one big family," said Albatha's Group Managing Director, Mr.Ishaque Noor.

Learning and development is a continuous process and it is not only beneficial for the employee and the company but also the economy as a whole. This festival is a concept initiated by the members of Albatha learning and development team led by Sabiha Kazi, Group Learning & Development Manager of the Albatha Group.

"We are delighted to see the whole team together at a single platform. Learning and development is an integral part of human resource development. This is the process of changing an organization, in order to maintain a competitive advantage," said Sabiha Kazi.

"Learning and development encompass a variety of components such as training, career development, career management and succession planning. Through this event we are planning to transfer knowledge, tap the hidden potential and create synergies across our 22 group companies. During this three day festival, employees will get a taste of different training courses provided by various internal and external learning partners as well as knowledge based competitions, activities and prizes," added Sabiha Kazi.

"The event was supported by over 20 external training consultancies like Aspire Middle East, Bukhatir Training & Development, Interman Training, Executive Development, Broadpeak Consulting, Navigate Consulting, Navitas Consulting, Torque - the training Force from Pakistan and Al Zahra hospital," added Sabiha.

Furthermore, all Albatha companies will be displaying their products and services in the exhibition area during the festival. In addition, the Dubai & Sharjah Health ministries will be conducting health checkups. A blood donation programme is also being planned with the Health Ministry of Dubai. Al Zahra will conduct sessions on "No Smoking" with blow tests.