Labeeb Reference · Graduates · programme pages checked 29 September 2026

Graduate programmes in the UAE and Saudi Arabia: who runs them, when they open and how selection works

Graduate programmes in the Gulf are structured first jobs: a fixed period of training, rotations and mentoring, often followed by placement in a permanent role. This guide lists programmes whose official pages we read on 29 September 2026, and reports only what those pages say. Where an employer publishes no dates, the table says “window not published”. Most programmes here are reserved for UAE or Saudi nationals, so the “Open to” column matters as much as the employer name. Application windows go out of date quickly. Every status below is as checked on 29 September 2026, so confirm on the off

Employer	Programme	Open to	Length	Application window (checked 29 September 2026)	Official page
ADNOC	Accelerator Program Fresh Graduates	Emirati citizens	Up to 2 years	Window not published	jobs.adnoc.ae
First Abu Dhabi Bank	Ethraa Programme	UAE nationals with a Family Book	8 to 12 months	Window not published	bankfab.com
Emirates NBD	Bedaya	UAE nationals	12 months	Window not published	emiratesnbd.com
Emirates NBD	Ruwad	Emiratis	24 months	Window not published	emiratesnbd.com
e&	AI Graduate Programme	Emirati university graduates	12 months	e& news release of 31 July 2025 opened the 2025 cycle for a September 2025 start; no later window published	eand.com news release
Aldar	Future Talent Programme	UAE nationals with a Family Book	12 months	Window not published	aldar.com
Dubai Holding	Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme	All nationalities	12 months	Window not published	dubaiholding.com
Majid Al Futtaim Properties	Emirati Graduate Program	Emirati university graduates	18 months	Window not published	careers.majidalfuttaim.com
Emirates Group	National Cadet Pilot Programme	UAE passport and Khulasat Al Qaid	Four phases of about 12, 12, 3 and 8 months	Window not published	emiratesgroupcareers.com
Public Investment Fund	Graduate Development Program	Saudi nationals	12 months	Programme page showed “The application is now closed” at the time of checking	pif.gov.sa
Saudi National Bank	Rowad Program	Not stated on the page	12 months	Page showed “Application Closed”; the stated window was 1 January to 6 June 2026	alahli.com
Al Rajhi Bank	Blue Generation Development Program	No eligibility list published	Not stated	Window not published	careers.alrajhibank.com.sa
Maaden	Future Leaders Program	Saudi nationals	24 months	Page showed “Applications Closed”	maaden.com
NEOM	GrOW (Graduates Opportunities in Work), 2024 edition	Saudi nationals	Not stated	Window not published; page describes GrOW 2024	neom.com
stc	Talent Incubation Program	Saudi fresh graduates	Not stated	Window not published	careers.stc.com.sa
SABIC	Tamheer (with HRDF)	Saudi graduates	3 to 6 months	Posted per opportunity on the HRDF platform	sabic.com

Who runs graduate programmes in the UAE

Short answer: In the UAE, the programmes with published criteria are run mainly by energy companies, banks, telecoms and property groups, and most are reserved for Emirati graduates.

Energy and telecoms

ADNOC. The ADNOC Accelerator Program Fresh Graduates is described as a development pathway to permanent employment for Emirati graduates. The page gives the duration as up to two years, with trainees evaluated quarterly. Applicants need Emirati citizenship and must have completed, or been exempted from, National Service. Applications are split into four groups: Engineering and Science, Business/Arts/Law, Technology, and Other Graduates.
e&. The source here is a news release on e&’s own website dated 31 July 2025, not a standing programme page. It describes a 12-month AI Graduate Programme with 100 roles for Emirati university graduates, encourages graduates from all disciplines to apply, and gives September 2025 as the start of that intake. We found no later window on the page.

Banks

First Abu Dhabi Bank. The Ethraa Programme is for Emirati fresh graduates. It lasts 8 to 12 months. The criteria are: UAE national with a Family Book, a bachelor’s degree, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, proficiency in English and completed National Service if relevant.
Emirates NBD. Bedaya is a 12-month programme for UAE nationals with a bachelor’s degree or higher and no or very limited work experience. Ruwad is a 24-month programme for Emiratis that includes a 12-month secondment at a partner organisation.

Property, retail and aviation

Aldar. The Future Talent Programme is a 12-month programme for Emirati graduates. The page asks for a bachelor’s degree at minimum, graduation no more than two years before applying, completed military service for male candidates, a Family Book, residence in Abu Dhabi or willingness to relocate, and IELTS 6.0 or demonstrated English proficiency.
Dubai Holding. The Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme is a 12-month programme of placements, learning, mentorship and a capstone project. The page states that it is open to applicants of all nationalities. The same page lists an internship of up to 16 weeks for university students of all nationalities, and an MBA Residency Programme of 8 to 12 weeks marked “Applications opening in October 2026”.
Majid Al Futtaim. The Majid Al Futtaim Properties Emirati Graduate Program is an 18-month paid programme for Emirati university graduates, with rotations in its Asset Management business unit. The same page says the group’s Tomouhi graduate development programme invites applications once a year, but it publishes no eligibility rules, length or dates for Tomouhi, so Tomouhi is not in the table.
Emirates Group. The National Cadet Pilot Programme asks for a valid UAE passport and Khulasat Al Qaid, age 18 to 26, Grade 12 with at least 80% or a university GPA of 3.0 or higher in a scientific major, completed military service unless exempted, a height of at least 160 cm and medical fitness. The page lists four phases of approximately 12, 12, 3 and 8 months, and says sponsorship covers the cost of training “for at least four years”.

Mubadala’s early careers page names a Maseeraty Development Program but publishes no eligibility rules, length or dates on the page itself, so it is not in the table.

Who runs graduate programmes in Saudi Arabia

Short answer: In Saudi Arabia, the detailed published programmes come from the Public Investment Fund, large banks, Maaden, NEOM, stc and SABIC, and most state Saudi nationality as a requirement.

Public Investment Fund

The PIF Graduate Development Program is a 12-month, full-time, on-site programme at PIF Tower in Riyadh. The programme page lists these criteria:

Saudi national
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a listed discipline, including business administration, finance and accounting, engineering, law, statistics, data science, information technology, cybersecurity and economics
Graduation year between 2024 and 2026
Minimum GPA of 3.75 out of 5, or 2.75 out of 4
IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 76 or TOEFL PBT 513, with certificates issued in 2025 or later

The programme’s FAQ page adds that STEP certificates are not accepted, that the English requirement is waived for graduates of universities where all instruction is in English, and that degrees from outside Saudi Arabia need a Ministry of Education equivalency certificate. It says approximately 160 places are offered each year and that a permanent role is not guaranteed.

At the time of checking, 29 September 2026, the programme page displayed “The application is now closed”. Check the programme page itself for the current status.

Banks

Saudi National Bank. The Rowad Program is a 12-month journey: eight months of blended learning, then four months of hands-on training and a graduation project. The page states that applications were accepted from 1 January 2026 to 6 June 2026 and showed “Application Closed” when checked on 29 September 2026. It does not state a nationality rule.
Al Rajhi Bank. The Blue Generation Development Program has a Business Track and a Technical Track. The page describes the programme as dedicated to “developing national talent” and as part of the bank’s investment in Saudi youth. It publishes the selection steps but no eligibility list, duration or grade criteria.

Industry and telecoms

Maaden. The Future Leaders Program runs for 24 months. Applicants must be Saudi nationals aged 26 or below, recent graduates or with less than two years of experience, with a GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or 3.75 out of 5.0 and English proficiency. Any discipline is accepted, with engineering, geoscience and mining-related degrees preferred.
NEOM. The page we read is titled GrOW 2024, so these criteria refer to the 2024 edition: Saudi national, bachelor’s or master’s degree, 0 to 2 years of experience, maximum age of 28, minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4 or 4.5 out of 5, English proficiency and flexibility to relocate to NEOM. Criteria for later editions were not published on the page.
stc. The Talent Incubation Program targets Saudi fresh graduates with less than a year of experience.
SABIC. Tamheer, run with the Human Resources Development Fund, trains Saudi graduates for a minimum of three and a maximum of six months. In addition to HRDF’s own criteria, SABIC asks for a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4 or 3.5 out of 5 and a pass in its selection tests. SABIC publishes openings on HRDF’s TAQAT platform.

Programmes that are not for degree holders

Some well-known schemes are often mistaken for graduate programmes. Aramco’s College Degree Program and Apprenticeship Program, and SABIC’s Basic Operation Training Program, are for Saudi high school students and graduates. SABIC’s Cooperative Training is for final-year students nominated by their university, with a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4 or 3.5 out of 5.

When graduate programmes open

Short answer: Most employers do not publish a fixed annual window, so the dependable method is to check each official page regularly and register on the employer’s portal.

Of the pages we read on 29 September 2026, only a few gave dates or a status:

Saudi National Bank stated a Rowad window of 1 January to 6 June 2026, and showed applications as closed.
e&’s news release of 31 July 2025 opened applications for an intake starting in September 2025.
Dubai Holding’s MBA Residency Programme was marked “Applications opening in October 2026”.
PIF and Maaden both showed applications as closed at the time of checking.
Majid Al Futtaim says Tomouhi invites applications once a year, without dates.

These dates fall at different points in the year, so one annual check is not enough. All of them may have changed since we checked, so confirm each one on the official page. The GCC career calendar explains how the hiring year moves in the region.

How selection usually works

Short answer: Employers that publish their process describe recurring stages: an online application and screening, assessments, often an assessment centre, and one or more interviews.

Stages employers publish

Online application and screening. PIF lists an online application followed by eligibility screening. Maaden describes initial shortlisting against its eligibility criteria.
Assessments. PIF uses psychometric and aptitude assessments. Al Rajhi Bank lists online assessments. Emirates NBD uses psychometric testing for Bedaya. Aldar lists psychometric, individual and group assessments.
Assessment centre. Emirates NBD’s Ruwad includes an assessment centre with a presentation, group discussion and psychometric testing. Al Rajhi Bank and Maaden also list an assessment centre.
Interviews. Emirates NBD describes a phone interview, an interview with its HR team and a final interview. Aldar invites shortlisted candidates to an in-person interview at its head office.

Employer-specific steps

ADNOC’s published process has its own names: online application, Town Hall assessments with behavioural and technical assessments and a technical panel interview, a Career Day, medical fitness examinations, and government clearances. Mubadala publishes a general hiring process that may vary by role: a pre-screen call, aptitude tests, interviews with the manager and team, business case exercises, final interviews with Executive Directors and background verification.

Meeting the minimum criteria does not secure a place. PIF’s FAQ says meeting them “is necessary but not sufficient”.

Documents to prepare

Short answer: Prepare your degree certificate, transcript, a valid English test result and identity documents before windows open, and start any attestation or equivalency process early.

Degree certificate and transcript. PIF asks for clear, legible scans of original documents, in PDF where possible. If your certificate does not show a GPA, PIF asks for an official university letter confirming your grade level, with your latest transcript.
English test certificate. Check the validity rule as well as the score. PIF accepts only certificates issued in 2025 or later.
Equivalency for foreign degrees. PIF asks for a Ministry of Education equivalency certificate for degrees earned outside Saudi Arabia. Emirates asks for Ministry of Education attestation of the certificates it requires.
National documents. UAE programmes commonly ask for a Family Book and National Service status, as the FAB, Aldar and ADNOC pages state.
Degree attestation. If you will work in the UAE on an employment visa, read the step-by-step guide to getting your degree attested.

What is open to expatriate graduates

Short answer: Of the programmes in the table, only Dubai Holding’s states that it is open to all nationalities, so expatriate graduates should combine it with direct applications for entry-level roles.

Programmes without a nationals-only rule

Dubai Holding’s Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme and its internship both state that they are open to applicants of all nationalities.
Saudi National Bank’s Rowad page and Majid Al Futtaim’s Tomouhi description do not state a nationality rule. Silence is not confirmation. Ask the recruiter in writing.
Al Rajhi Bank publishes no eligibility list, but describes its programme as developing national talent and investing in Saudi youth.

A realistic approach

Every other programme in the table states UAE or Saudi nationality as a requirement. For most expatriate graduates, the practical route is a standard entry-level vacancy rather than a named programme. The fresh graduate guide to a first job in Dubai covers that route, and the guide to moving to work in the Gulf covers relocation. When an offer arrives, run it through the job-offer legitimacy checklist, then use the guide to pay packages and offers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to see what to compare.

Frequently asked questions

Are graduate programmes in the UAE open to expatriates?

Very few state that they are. Dubai Holding says its Leaders of Tomorrow Graduate Programme is open to applicants of all nationalities. The ADNOC, FAB, Emirates NBD, e&, Aldar and Majid Al Futtaim Properties programmes in this guide are for UAE nationals.

What GPA do I need for a graduate programme?

It varies by employer. Published minimums include 2.5 for FAB Ethraa, 2.75 out of 4 for PIF, 2.5 out of 4 for Maaden and SABIC Tamheer, 3.0 for the university route into the Emirates cadet pilot programme, and 3.5 out of 4 for NEOM GrOW 2024. Many pages publish no GPA figure.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

Some programmes publish scores. PIF asks for IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 76 or TOEFL PBT 513. Aldar asks for IELTS 6.0 or demonstrated English proficiency. Others, such as FAB, Maaden and NEOM, ask for English proficiency without naming a test.

Can I apply before I graduate?

Check each programme. PIF states that you must have completed all degree requirements before enrolling. Students who have not graduated can look at cooperative training, such as the SABIC and stc schemes for students, or internships such as Dubai Holding’s.

Does a graduate programme guarantee a permanent job?

Not always. PIF states that permanent placement is not guaranteed. ADNOC says the company may offer a permanent position, based on panel verification and business needs. Saudi National Bank says candidates join a department within the bank after graduation. Read the wording for each employer.

How long do graduate programmes last?

Among the programmes in the table, lengths range from three to six months for SABIC Tamheer to 24 months for Emirates NBD Ruwad and Maaden. Twelve months is the most common length.

Can I apply if I already have work experience?

Usually only a little. PIF allows up to two years of professional experience. Maaden asks for less than two years, NEOM GrOW 2024 for 0 to 2 years, and stc for less than one year. If you leave a job to join a programme, the guide to leaving a job in the UAE and Saudi Arabia explains the notice and settlement steps.

Where do I apply?

Apply only through the employer’s own careers portal, linked from the official pages in the table and sources below. SABIC Tamheer openings are posted on HRDF’s TAQAT platform. Labeeb has no role in any employer’s selection.

Sources

All pages read on 29 September 2026.

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