The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) announced on Friday that more than 1,300 private companies have been fined for not adhering to Emiratisation regulations from mid-2022 to May 16, 2024. These 1,379 companies were penalized for illegally hiring 2,170 UAE nationals, with fines ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh100,000 per violation.
Private sector firms in the UAE are mandated to increase their Emirati workforce by two percent annually, aiming to achieve at least 10 percent by 2026. To enforce this, Mohre conducts regular inspections and has identified several companies attempting to circumvent this rule through unlawful hiring practices.
Violations include employing UAE nationals in nominal roles without actual responsibilities to falsely meet Emiratisation targets or manipulating data through rehiring tactics. Besides monetary fines, offenders face severe repercussions such as referral to the Public Prosecution, downgrading to the lowest company rating in the Mohre system, and mandatory financial contributions towards Emiratisation.