Emiratisation

Which companies must meet Emiratisation targets?

The main obligation falls on private-sector companies with 50 or more employees, which must lift the Emirati share of their skilled roles by two percentage points a year toward a 10% level by the end of 2026. A separate, lower target now applies to firms with 20 to 49 staff in a set list of priority sectors.

The definition of a skilled role follows MOHRE's occupational classification, so how a job is categorised can change whether it counts toward the target.

What happens if a company misses its Emiratisation quota?

MOHRE charges a monthly financial contribution for each skilled position that should have gone to an Emirati and did not. The monthly amount has risen year on year since the scheme began. Persistent non-compliance can also restrict a company's ability to secure new work permits, so the cost is operational as well as financial.

How does Emiratisation affect hiring through an employer of record?

An employer of record that holds a UAE entity counts toward that entity's own workforce, so Emiratisation targets apply at the provider's level. Before hiring in the UAE, confirm how your provider manages quota exposure, because a poorly managed obligation can slow work permits and add cost.

Frequently asked questions

• Is Emiratisation the same as Saudi Arabia's Nitaqat system?+

  No. Nitaqat is Saudi Arabia's workforce nationalisation programme. The UAE runs its own scheme, Emiratisation, through MOHRE and the Nafis programme. The two share a goal, raising the share of nationals in private employment, but they are separate systems with different rules and penalties.
• Does Emiratisation apply to every employee or only skilled roles?+

  The annual increase targets are calculated on skilled positions, as defined by MOHRE, rather than on total headcount. The definition of a skilled worker follows MOHRE's occupational classification, so how a role is categorised affects whether it counts toward the target.
• What is the Nafis programme?+

  Nafis is the UAE federal initiative that supports Emiratisation by helping UAE nationals move into private-sector jobs. It offers salary top-ups, pension support and training, and gives employers a recruitment channel for meeting their targets. It works alongside the MOHRE quota rules rather than replacing them.
• Can a company be banned from hiring for missing targets?+

  Missing Emiratisation targets does not usually bar all hiring, but it can restrict a company's access to new work permits and trigger the monthly financial contribution. Sustained non-compliance raises the risk of tighter enforcement, so most employers treat the quota as a planning constraint from the outset.

Related terms

• Wages Protection System
• Labour Law
• HR Compliance