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2022-03-01

Saab Helps Boost Local Talent: Anna-Karin Rosén

By: Sakha Pramod

The global defence and security company Saab’s business operations in the UAE date back to the 1980s. It was officially announced as a Landed Company in 2019 and agreed on a business plan with Tawazun, as a first step towards continuous development of Saab’s Abu Dhabi operations.

In an exclusive interview with Nation Shield, Anna-Karin Rosén, Managing Director, Saab in UAE, outlined details about its ongoing projects, future plans and how the company has become a part of the development process in the UAE.

Saab and Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) have inked multiple agreements on various projects. Can you please elaborate on that?

We are very happy with our collaboration with Tawazun. Of course, it goes way back because of all the business we have done in the UAE, but if I look from my perspective as the Managing Director of the landed company, I guess it started with our agreement in 2019 when we decided on a business plan with Tawazun Economic Council. That collaboration is ongoing. We have a very good working relationship with Tawazun.

The latest agreement we signed in December was a new product area under our frame agreement. That was a product of telecommunications which we were proud to launch during UMEX. It was the first product under that product area – DeployNet, locally developed by Saab in the UAE.

How effective has the Saab-Tawazun ‘Sustain & Enhance Emiratisation in Defence & Security’ (SEEDS) programme been so far?

It is an area, where we need to find young Emirati talent. Again, my point of view on this is that we look at different avenues for finding young talent. Tawazun has been very helpful through the SEEDS programme to locate young engineers. We now have the first four engineers in the programme. They are currently in Sweden since over a month. They will stay there for six months as part of the SEEDS programme.

We get reports from these young Emirati engineers and it is a pleasure to read them because they are learning so much and seeing so much. We expect big things when they return to the UAE. Our hope is that they learn the Saab way. If that programme is successful, I hope it can continue.

How successful has your company been in supporting local talent and creating high-tech jobs in the UAE?

I would like to add that the company is growing strongly. Since 2020, we have more than doubled our workforce and we keep expanding. Currently, we have 15 per cent Emiratis, so we have been very successful in finding talented UAE people and retaining them. We do provide high tech engineering jobs.

You recently launched the secure communication system DeployNet. What other major products are lined up?

The other point what we are focussing on at the moment is a long-term development project within sensor technologies. We have product development underway related to sensors which we will reveal in more detail at future dates.

At IDEX 2021, Saab signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports for the development of technologies for port surveillance and vessel traffic management. What has been the progress on this front?

It’s a good collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Ports. We keep regular communication with them. Under the agreement what we have decided and what we are now executing really is that they assist us during the test phase in our development of sensor technologies. I can add how happy we are to have that type of support from the local stakeholder.

What are some of the prominent products and systems that the company has delivered to the region?

Of course, our flagship is GlobalEye, the multi-role airborne early warning & control platform.

I must also mention traffic management. On air traffic, we have lots of equipment at several airports in the region.

We also have installations of Maritime Traffic Management solutions to support authorities, shipping industries and service providers to ensure the safety, security, and efficiency of transport over water.

You recently participated in an insightful session ‘Investing in Climate Action’ held by UNDP and hosted by the Swedish Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Is Climate Action a priority at Saab and what actions are being taken on this front?

It is definitely a priority at Saab, to create security and defence capabilities in a responsible and sustainable way. We have recently further refined the sustainability strategy prioritising a number of sustainability issues that are integrated in our business strategy. We contribute to several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, of course, climate action is one of those important ones. Saab has made a commitment that we will contribute to lowering emissions. If we take local Saab, we follow the Saab global goals and we measure how we take action locally to reduce carbon footprint. I was honoured to participate at the Expo event. It is important for all of us.

Overall, we are very happy about the support the UAE and Nation Shield, the official journal of MoD give us. We sincerely want to contribute to building up the UAE defence and security.

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