Emiratisation: 79,000 Emiratis working in private sector, says MoHRE

Image Credit: Getty Images

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said as many as 79,000 Emiratis are working in the private sector after the end of the semi-annual deadline for companies with 50 employees or more to achieve a one per cent Emiratisation in skilled jobs.

The ministry said the figures reflect the highest-ever rate of Emiratisation recorded in the UAE private sector, marking at the same time a 57 per cent increase compared to the end of 2022 figures, where 50,228 Emiratis were employed in the private sector.

There are nearly 17,000 private sector companies that employ UAE citizens as of July 7 – the last day for companies to achieve their semi-annual Emiratisation targets.

“The notable growth in the number of Emirati citizens employed in the private sector reflects the effectiveness of the Emiratisation policies that have been implemented on a semi-annual basis starting this year,” said Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

“This growth demonstrates the private sector’s awareness and commitment to its responsibilities as a partner to the UAE Government in the Emiratisation process, guided by a vision to enhance the human development system in the UAE.”

Al Awar said the ministry seeks to empower Emiratis to thrive in the private sector, enhance their competitiveness and enable them to actively participate in the economic and overall development of the country.

The #UAE has achieved its highest-ever Emiratisation rate in the private sector, with around 79,000 Emiratis employed in nearly 17,000 private sector companies as of July 7, 2023, which was the semi-annual Emiratisation targets deadline.

This marks an impressive 57% increase… pic.twitter.com/yPH2Vf30hY

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) July 9, 2023

The private sector is expected to “keep meeting the required Emiratisation targets”, especially with the support from the MoHRE and the Nafis programme to enable companies to fulfil their obligations.

Ghannam Al Mazrouei, secretary-general of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council said that more than 50,000 Emiratis have joined the private sector since the launch of the Nafis programme in September 2021.

Emiratisation targets for the second half of 2023 require private sector companies with 50 or more employees to achieve an additional one per cent growth in the number of Emiratis working in skilled jobs among their staff – meaning companies must achieve an overall growth of 2 per cent by the end of 2023.

Emiratisation semi-annual deadline

Meanwhile, Friday, July 7 was the semi-annual deadline for private sector companies to ensure that three per cent of their workforce comprises Emiratis. Non-compliant companies will face a Dhs42,000 fine for each Emirati not employed starting July 8, based on the 1 per cent semi-annual requirement.

Earlier this year, the government said companies must increase their proportion of Emirati workers by one per cent every six months.

MoHRE fined a private sector company Dhs100,000 for fraudulently evading Emiratisation targets. The company in question must fulfil its actual targets by July 7, 2023. According to the Cabinet Resolution Regarding Penalties and Violations Relating to the Initiatives and Programmes of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), there will be a fine of Dhs300,000 if a company commits a violation for the second time, and Dhs500,000 for the third violation, as well as for each time after the third time.

Read: Deadline for companies to meet Emiratisation targets on July 7