Eight days left: Hit Emiratisation targets or face Dh20,000 fines

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) has announced that administrative fines of Dh20,000 per employee will be imposed on establishments committing any of three specific violations, in accordance with Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, its amendments, executive regulations, and implementing resolutions.

These fines apply in cases where:

The Ministry urged private sector companies employing 50 or more workers to meet the Emiratisation target for the first half of 2025—namely, a minimum 1% increase in the number of UAE nationals in skilled jobs—by June 30. Only eight days remain to comply.

Starting July 1, the Ministry will begin verifying companies’ compliance with these targets, including confirmation that newly hired Emiratis are registered with one of the country’s social insurance funds and that contributions are paid regularly. Non-compliant companies will face financial penalties.

MoHRE reiterated the importance of continued progress by relevant companies, leveraging the Nafis digital platform, which provides access to a pool of qualified Emirati talent. The Ministry highlighted its ongoing support for companies that achieve exceptional Emiratisation results by granting them membership in the Emiratisation Partners Club. These companies benefit from up to 80% discounts on MoHRE service fees and receive priority status in the government procurement system.

The Ministry operates an advanced digital field-monitoring system capable of detecting malpractice, including fake Emiratisation and attempts to circumvent targets. Since mid-2022 through April 2025, this system has identified nearly 2,200 violating establishments, which have faced legal action.

MoHRE encourages the public to report any practices that conflict with national Emiratisation policies in the private sector through the call center (600590000), its smart application, or official website.

Roughly two weeks ago, MoHRE renewed its call to private sector companies employing 50 or more workers to accelerate efforts to meet Emiratisation targets for the first half of 2025. The deadline is the end of June. Failure to comply will result in financial penalties starting in July.

Companies are required to achieve a 1% growth in the number of UAE nationals working in skilled roles, calculated against the total number of skilled employees, while maintaining previously achieved Emiratization levels.

The Ministry also called on Emirati citizens to report any violations or unethical practices that undermine Emiratization efforts, reinforcing its confidence in the awareness of both private sector companies and job-seeking citizens. MoHRE emphasized the strategic national importance of Emiratization and its positive impact on the competitiveness of the UAE’s labor market and economic growth.

The Ministry affirmed its continued support for compliant companies through the benefits offered under the Nafis program. These include significant financial incentives for companies demonstrating outstanding Emiratisation performance, such as membership in the Emiratisation Partners Club, service fee reductions of up to 80%, and preferential treatment in government procurement processes—measures that contribute to business growth.

MoHRE highlighted the pivotal role of the Nafis platform in enabling companies to meet Emiratisation targets, noting its extensive database of qualified Emirati candidates. The Ministry praised the positive engagement of the private sector with Emiratisation policies, which has led to record-breaking results. As of the end of May, over 141,000 UAE nationals were employed across 28,000 private companies—a historic milestone for the Emiratisation initiative.