Emiratisation means employment of UAE citizens and it is one of the highest priorities of the government. The Emirati Human Resources Competitiveness Council, ‘Nafis’ implements national initiatives aimed at increasing Emiratisation in the private sector.
Nafis
The Emirati Human Resources Competitiveness Council, ‘Nafis’ implements national initiatives aimed at increasing Emiratisation in the private sector. The council supports citizens in the private sector by increasing their competitiveness and providing this sector with Emirati skills.
The council aims to get 75,000 citizens into the private sector over the next five years. It also offers many initiatives to empower Emirati cadres and motivate private companies to attract Emirati talent.
Rate of Emiratisation
The Cabinet approved a decision to raise Emiratisation rates to 2 per cent annually for skilled jobs in private sector establishments with 50 or more employees and to achieve an overall rate of increase by 10 per cent by 2026. This is accompanied by granting incentives to institutions that perform qualitatively in the training and employment of citizens.
To support the commitment to achieve the above employment targets for nationals, non-compliant companies will have to pay an amount of AED 6,000 monthly, starting from January 2023, for every citizen who has not been employed. The amount will be paid through the digital systems of Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), provided that the value of the monthly contributions increases by AED 1,000 annually until 2026.
To monitor the implementation of these decisions in the labour market, MoHRE is working with the Cabinet Secretariat to measure the indicator of Emiratisation in the private sector.
Find out ministerial resolutions related to Emiratisation in the private sector:
The Nafis award is given to private sector establishments that excel in hiring UAE nationals. It also honours talented Emiratis in the private sector, who prove to be an effective force in various economic sectors. Read more about the Nafis award and the steps to apply.
Following are some of the obligations set by Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) to ensure compliance with the Emiratisation system and to avoid fraudulent Emiratisation practices.
When advertising for Emiratisation jobs, firms must not:
When hiring Emiratis, employers must provide them with appropriate workplace and tools, and minimum on-the-job training to enable them to perform their duties. Additionally, they must:
Upon termination of the employment contract, the employer must cancel the work permit of the national immediately.
Employers must not:
Source: Ministerial Resolution No. 663 of 2022 Regarding Compliance with Emiratisation Regulations in the Private Sector (PDF, 634 KB) for more information.
pay lower salaries to the Emirati in comparison to his/her counterparts in the same position.
Obligations of the Emiratis employed in the private sector
When joining the private sector, Emiratis are required to comply with:
Emiratis are required to inform MoHRE about any practices that violate the provisions of Emiratisation resolutions.
Source: Ministerial Resolution No. 663 of 2022 Regarding Compliance with Emiratisation Regulations in the Private Sector (PDF, 634 KB) for more information.
Cabinet Resolution No. 95 of 2022 Regarding Penalties and Violations Relating To the Emirati Cadres Competitiveness Council Initiatives and Programs (PDF, 491 KB) lists administrative penalties and fines against firms who violate Emiratisation and Nafis targets. The penalties and fines vary according to the nature of the violation committed by the firm.
Violations include:
A maximum fine of AED 100,000 may be levied for each false hiring and all the benefits given to the firm would be stopped and any benefits already distributed would have to be returned.
Read full list of violations, penalties and fines incurred in the above Cabinet Resolution No. 95 of 2022.
According to Federal Law No. 7 of 1999 for Pensions and Social Security and its amendments, a contribution equal to 20 per cent of the employee’s salary must be made to GPSSA on a monthly basis. While the employee must contribute 5 per cent of his/her salary, the employer must contribute 12.5 per cent of the employee’s salary, and the government must contribute 2.5 per cent.
*Text provided by MoHRE
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