Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
UAE students are set to put their trading skills to the test as the popular ADNOC-Bloomberg competition returns on Wednesday.
The initiative is part of a broader educational initiative aimed at encouraging the youth to explore careers in data analytics, finance, and energy.
Now in its fifth edition, the ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge is part of a three-way collaboration between ADNOC, Bloomberg LP, and the Ministry of Education. It was launched in 2019 to introduce financial literacy and real-time market education to universities.
Ten universities are participating in the challenge, which also includes a programme that provides training sessions for students and professional support for faculty.
Speaking to Aletihad, David Massias, Head of Market Specialists – Middle East and Africa at Bloomberg LP, said the ADNOC–Bloomberg Education Initiative was “born out of a shared vision to empower the next generation of young talent with real-world financial knowledge and skills”.
“Since its inception, the initiative has trained over 9,000 students through the installation of 100 Bloomberg Terminals… Many of these students have gone on to secure internships and full-time roles in finance, trading, and energy,” Massias said.
With the Bloomberg Terminals, students are able to analyse market trends, build trading strategies, and simulate investment decisions using the same tools as industry professionals, he added.
“As the programme matures, we hope to explore opportunities for deeper academic collaboration… Our broader aim remains to foster an environment that supports young professionals as they transition from education to the workforce,” Massias said.
Saif Al Falahi, ADNOC’s Director of Group Business Support and Special Tasks, said the initiative will also help create a world-class talent pool for ADNOC’s new trading entities, “supporting our strategy to build out our trading activities and capabilities to deliver greater value from our products”.
The programme, Al Falahi added, aligns directly with the country’s long-term national strategies.
"The UAE Centennial 2071 charts a long-term vision to prepare future generations through excellence in education, innovation, and skills development. The ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge directly supports this vision by equipping students with real-world financial and analytical capabilities, aligned with the UAE’s shift towards a knowledge-based economy,” he said.
Shaping a Career Path
Qatada Almansoori, who studied at UAEU and won the 2021 ADNOC–Bloomberg Trading Challenge, said the initiative helped shape his career path. He is now part of ADNOC Global Trading.
“Participating in the ADNOC–Bloomberg Trading Challenge gave me hands-on exposure to the world of trading and data analysis, and helped me understand what it truly means to make real-time, high-stakes financial decisions,” he said.
“That experience sparked a strong interest in financial markets and trading, which ultimately led me to pursue a career at ADNOC Global Trading.”
Almansoori said the challenge honed his technical and interpersonal skills. “It helped me develop critical skills like data analysis, risk management, and the ability to interpret complex market data,” he said.
“It also strengthened my teamwork skills, my ability to work under pressure, and my ability to communicate complex ideas.”
Sharing a piece of advice for this year’s participants, he said: “Treat the brief like a real-life challenge… Be curious and use the Bloomberg Terminal to explore, experiment, and ask questions. See the challenge as a learning opportunity, not just a competition to win.”
