Definition
Emiratisation is a workforce nationalization policy implemented by the UAE federal government that mandates private-sector companies to employ a specified minimum percentage of Emirati nationals. The policy targets sectors historically dominated by expatriate labor and aims to build a self-sustaining, knowledge-driven national workforce capable of leading economic diversification.
UAE Context
With expatriates constituting approximately 90 percent of the total workforce, the UAE introduced Emiratisation to address structural employment imbalances. Since 2022, companies with 50 or more employees must increase their Emirati headcount by 2 percent annually. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation enforces compliance through financial penalties of AED 72,000 per unfilled position per year. The Nafis program complements these mandates by offering salary subsidies, training grants, and career counselling to Emirati private-sector employees.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope | Companies with 50+ employees |
| Annual increase | 2% Emirati headcount growth required |
| Penalty | AED 72,000 per unfilled position per year |
| Target sectors | Banking, insurance, telecom, retail, real estate, technology |
| Support program | Nafis (salary top-ups, training, career support) |
Vision 2031 Relevance
Emiratisation is a foundational pillar of the We the UAE 2031 vision. The policy directly advances the goal of building a competitive Emirati workforce that leads private-sector innovation. By reducing structural reliance on government employment and encouraging entrepreneurship among nationals, Emiratisation supports the broader objectives of economic diversification and knowledge-economy leadership.