The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has issued a firm reminder to all private sector companies in the UAE with 50 or more employees: meet your Emiratisation targets for the first half of 2025 by June 30 or face penalties.
Under the directive, companies are required to increase the number of Emiratis in skilled roles by at least 1% of their skilled workforce. This move supports the UAE’s ongoing efforts to integrate more citizens into the private sector.
Starting July 1, MoHRE will begin conducting audits to ensure companies are complying not just with hiring quotas but also with key procedures—such as proper registration of Emirati hires in the approved pension system and timely payment of social security contributions.
“The synergy between MoHRE and the Nafis programme has significantly supported Emiratisation efforts, and we commend the private sector’s active participation,” said Farida Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary of National Talents at MoHRE, adding that the momentum reflects the country’s economic ambitions.
By the end of April 2025, more than 136,000 Emiratis were employed in the private sector, spanning over 28,000 companies—marking a new milestone for the Emiratisation drive.
To motivate compliance and high performance, MoHRE continues to reward companies with strong Emiratisation records through perks such as discounted service fees of up to 80% and prioritized access to government contracts, via the Emiratisation Partners Club.
Non-compliance comes at a cost: firms failing to hire the required number of Emiratis face fines of AED 7,000 per month per unfulfilled role—totaling AED 42,000 annually per position as per existing Cabinet policy.
