Authorities have imposed a Dh10 million fine on a private company for not adhering to Emiratisation standards, following the Abu Dhabi Misdemeanour Court’s discovery that the firm assigned 113 Emiratis to fictitious roles.
According to a Khaleej Times report, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) identified severe breaches in the company’s Emiratisation procedures, prompting the case to be handed over to the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution for further investigation.
Investigations revealed that the company issued work permits and registered employees in fake roles, exploiting the Nafis programme, which provides benefits to companies promoting Emirati employment in the private sector.
The court ruled the company guilty of non-compliance with Emiratisation policies and engaging in fraudulent employment practices after the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution referred the case to the competent court.
The UAE government remains dedicated to enforcing Emiratisation regulations and creating genuine employment opportunities for Emirati citizens. The Nafis programme, launched to encourage Emiratis to join private companies, requires firms to increase their Emirati workforce by 2% annually, aiming for a 10% target by 2026.
Starting July 1, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has been monitoring compliance. Companies failing to meet targets face fines of Dh48,000 for each unfilled Emirati position in the first six months, with penalties accumulating monthly and increasing by Dh1,000 every year.
Regular inspections have identified over 1,300 violations since mid-2022. The number of Emiratis employed in the private sector has surged by approximately 170% since the launch of the federal initiative in September 2021, aimed at boosting Emirati participation in the private sector.