Sharjah to enhance the financial competencies of govt employees

The Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) celebrated the graduation of a new cohort from the Financial Training Center, launched in collaboration with the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), a specialised organisation affiliated with the League of Arab States.

This milestone reflects the department’s continuous efforts to provide highly specialised financial training programmes aimed at enhancing the financial and professional competencies of government employees in Sharjah and related entities, while also preparing new financial professionals to meet the evolving needs of the public finance sector.

The ceremony was attended by Waleed Al Sayegh, Director General of SFD; Dr. Adel Abdulaziz Al Sen, Advisor to ARADO; Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of SFD and Chairman of the Center’s Supervisory Committee; Nasser Khashwani, Director of the Financial Training Center; as well as several government representatives and graduates.

The Financial Training Center has delivered a series of advanced and specialised financial training programs designed to enhance capabilities and improve the efficiency of national financial talent across Sharjah’s government entities.

Among its key achievements is the Public Finance Diploma Programme, which targeted 179 financial professionals from SFD and various government entities, offering 120 training hours across 12 theoretical courses and 12 practical workshops, and achieving an impressive 98 per cent satisfaction rate.

The center also introduced the Public Finance Leadership Diploma, an intensive 84-hour program designed for supervisory leaders and financial department heads, which recorded a 97.3 per cent satisfaction rate for its first cohort.

Additionally, the Financial Reporting and Economic Analysis Course, developed for employees of the UAE’s Federal Budget Studies Office and the Federal National Council, focused on “Reading and Analysing Financial Statements for the Final Accounts” and successfully enhanced participants’ analytical and financial interpretation skills.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the University of Sharjah, the center launched the Governmental Accounting Programme, targeting 19 financial students through 12 advanced applied courses that effectively bridged academic knowledge with real-world financial practices.

Waleed Al Sayegh, Director General of SFD, emphasised that the Financial Training Center represents a strategic pillar in Sharjah’s vision to strengthen national financial capabilities and prepare a new generation of leaders capable of shaping Sharjah’s financial future.

“Our advanced training programs are designed to equip participants with in-depth knowledge and hands-on skills to keep pace with rapid developments in public finance,” he said.

“At SFD, we are committed to developing an integrated, smart, and sustainable financial system aligned with the economic priorities of Sharjah’s leadership and future vision.”

“The Financial Training Center serves as an innovative educational platform, empowering national talent, fostering skills development, and driving institutional excellence.”

Al Sayegh added that the center also plays a regional role, serving as a hub for exchanging best practices and strengthening collaborations with regional and international partners, supporting Sharjah’s position as a competitive hub for financial innovation and sustainable governance.

A Strategic Partnership for Financial Development Dr. Adel Abdulaziz Al Sen, Advisor to ARADO, commended the success of the program, noting that the graduation ceremony marks a key milestone in enhancing financial competencies in Sharjah and the broader Arab region: “This graduation reflects the fruitful results of the strategic partnership between ARADO and the Sharjah Finance Department,” he stated.

“We are proud to celebrate a new generation of qualified financial professionals capable of leading transformation in public financial management with efficiency and professionalism.”

“These programmes have been carefully designed to meet the needs of government employees, recent graduates, and job seekers, covering areas such as financial planning, budgeting, data analysis, and risk management.”

Future Plans: Looking ahead, the Financial Training Center is preparing to launch several strategic initiatives aimed at expanding its training portfolio and strengthening its position as a regional hub for financial capacity building.

These include introducing new cohorts of the Public Finance Diploma Program, launching the Comprehensive Financial Officer Program in the Eastern Region in October 2025, and commencing the second cohort of the Public Finance Leadership Diploma.

In addition, the center is forging strategic partnerships with leading international institutions, such as the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), to offer the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) qualification in Sharjah.