WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, the world championships of vocational skills, has officially opened in the capital of the UAE.

During the event, which started on Oct. 15 and runs through Oct. 18, 1,300 competitors from across the globe will compete to be the very best among 51 skills.

Almost 60 WorldSkills member countries and regions have entered teams to compete. WorldSkills promotes vocational skills through its membership, which represents two-thirds of the world’s population.

This marks the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.
WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 is being hosted by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education (ACTVET), the ultimate goal of which is to increase the number of skilled Emirati youth in rewarding career paths.

“Vocational skills present huge opportunities for young people in this country, and WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 is the perfect way for us to introduce these prospects to tens of thousands of young UAE nationals,” said Mubarak al-Shamsi, the director general of ACTVET.

More than 100,000 people are expected to attend including 80,000 school children, and 10,000 international visitors.