UAE MOHRE Emiratisation Targets

Updated on: Jun 16, 2025

Latest Event


  • Jun. 12, 2025
  • On Jun. 12, 2025, UAE MOHRE reminded private sector companies with 50 or more employees to meet Emiratisation targets for first half of 2025 before Jun. 30, 2025.
  • Reaffirmed confidence private sector companies and job-seeking nationals' awareness of the strategic and national benefits, as well as the positive impact of Emiratisation.
  • Give membership in Tawteen Partners Club, financial discounts on MOHRE service fees.

On Nov. 13, UAE MOHRE called on private sector to achieve targets.

  • UAE MOHRE called on private sector establishments to meet Emiratisation targets.
  • Follows UAE MOHRE said private sector must commit to targets, see #162685.
  • Overview
  • Private sector establishments employing 50 or more workers must achieve a 2% annual growth rate in the Emiratisation of skilled jobs before Dec. 31, 2023.
  • Establishments short of meeting requirements can benefit from the Nafis platform.
  • 18,000 establishments succeeded which increased joining the private sector jobs.
  • 84,000 Emiratis work in private sector and more than 54k entered the last 2 years.
  • Inspection teams inspect compliance with Emiratisation policies, identify negative practices such as fake Emiratisation, take legal actions against decision's violations.
  • Nov. 30, 2023 Companies with 20-49 Workers
  • On Nov. 30, 2023, UAE MOHRE called on companies to meet Emiratisation targets.
  • Document of Nov. 30, 2023, received from UAE MOHRE Dec. 4, summarized Dec. 6.
  • Notified 12k private companies with 20-49 workers to comply with Res 33/5W/2023.
  • 20-49 workers companies must hire 1 UAE national in 2024 and another one in 2025.
  • Resolution comes in addition to Emiratisation targets for companies with 50 or more employees that are required to achieve a 2% Emiratisation growth in skilled jobs.
  • Called on companies to register on Nafis platform and benefit from program support.
  • Resolution included 14 specific economic activities: information and communications, finance and insurance, real estate, professional activities and administrative services.
  • Also included the education, healthcare and social work, arts and entertainment, the mining and quarrying, transformative industries, construction, wholesale and retail.
  • In addition to the transportation and warehousing, hospitality and residency services.
  • Selected companies according to specific criteria and data, as jobs quality, extent of their compatibility with Emiratisation goals, geographic locations, growth, and others.
  • From Jan. 2025, financial contribution will be imposed on companies failing to comply.
  • Jan. 2, 2024 Emiratisation Decision Reminder
  • On Jan. 2, 2024, UAE MOHRE said it had started implementing Cabinet's decision to expand Emiratisation to companies with 20-49 workers operating in 14 key economic activities, by appointing at least one national in 2024 and another citizen in 2025.
  • The ministry recently informed its digital system of more than 12,000 companies to comply with the decision and give them a sufficient chance to achieve their targets.
  • Annual contributions of AED 96,000 imposed on companies not committed to achieving required targets for citizens who have not been appointed, from Jan. 2025 for 2024.
  • AED 108,000 will be imposed in Jan. 2026 for year 2025, and companies are allowed to pay the value of the contributions in installments in agreement with the Ministry.
  • The Emiratisation decision is applied in companies with 20-49 workers, in parallel with continued Emiratization targets for companies with 50 employees or more, which are required to achieve a growth rate in Emiratization of their skilled jobs by 2% annually.
  • Jan. 4, 2024 Update
  • On Jan. 4, 2024, UAE GVT announced that the number of citizens working in the private sector by the end of 2023 will reach 92k people with government support.
  • Which is a 157% increase compared to Sep. 2021 when the program was launched.
  • Currently, more than 19,000 companies adhere to Emiratisation decisions and policies.
  • In addition, UAE GVT imposed financial penalties to non-compliant firms in Jan. 2023.
  • 2024 targets include companies with 20 to 49 workers in 14 specific economic activities and are expected to provide 12k job opportunities annually during 2024-25.
  • Companies joining the Emiratisation Partners Club enjoy benefits like reduced fees (up to 80%) and priority in government procurement and access to the NAFES benefits.
  • Jan. 27, 2024 Editorial Update
  • On Jan. 27, 2024, Reg-Track added press release dated Jan. 2, received Jan. 26, 2024.
  • May 21, 2024 Update
  • On May 21, 2024, UAE MOHRE urged private sector companies employing 50 or more workers to meet their half-yearly (H1) Emiratisation targets by Jun. 30, 2024.
  • Call for 1% growth in number of Emiratis working in skilled jobs in these companies.
  • Starting from Jul. 1, 2024, UAE MOHRE will start monitoring companies’ compliance.
  • Called for registering citizens in authorised pension funds and wage protection system.
  • Allows to benefit from Nafis platform housing data re nationals seeking employment.
  • Supervision system identified 1,379 companies attempting to circumvent Emiratisation targets, hiring 2,170 UAE citizens illegally in period from mid-2022 until May 16, 2024.
  • Jun. 28, 2024 Update
  • On Jun. 28, 2024, UAE MOHRE confirmed private sector companies employing 50 or more workers to meet their half-yearly (H1) Emiratisation targets by Jun. 30, 2024.
  • Reminded of starting monitoring companies’ compliance by the date of Jul. 1, 2024.
  • In Sep. 2024, UAE MOHRE issued reminder of Dec. 31, 2024 deadline, see #226896.
  • May 20, 2025 Update
  • On May 20, 2025, UAE MOHRE urged the private sector companies with 50 or more employees to meet Emiratisation targets for first half of 2025 before Jun. 30, 2025.
  • Achieve growth of minimum 1% in number of UAE citizens employed in skilled jobs.
  • Reminded of starting monitoring companies’ compliance by the date of Jul. 1, 2024.
  • This includes registering the Emirati nationals they employ with a social security fund.
  • Allows companies to avoid financial contributions that are imposed on establishments.
  • Number of Emiratis working in private sector has reached an unprecedented milestone of over 136,000 UAE citizens employed across 28,000 companies by end of Apr. 2025.
  • Jun. 12, 2025
  • On Jun. 12, 2025, UAE MOHRE reminded private sector companies with 50 or more employees to meet Emiratisation targets for first half of 2025 before Jun. 30, 2025.
  • Reaffirmed confidence private sector companies and job-seeking nationals' awareness of the strategic and national benefits, as well as the positive impact of Emiratisation.
  • Give membership in Tawteen Partners Club, financial discounts on MOHRE service fees.
Regulators
UAE GVT; UAE MOHRE
Entity Types
Corp; Pension
Reference
PR, 6/12/2025; PR, 5/20/2025; PR 6/28/2024; PR 5/21/2024; PR 1/4/2024; PR 1/2/2024; PR, 11/30/2023; PR, 11/13/2023; Res 33/5W/2023
Functions
Compliance; Exams; HR; Legal
Countries
United Arab Emirates
Category
State
N/A
Products
Corporate; Pensions
Rule Type
Final
Regions
EMEA
Rule Date
Nov 13, 2023
Effective Date
Jun 30, 2025
Rule ID
191357
Linked to
Reg. Last Update
Jun 12, 2025
Report Section
International