UAE announces new 2023 Emiratisation deadline

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said June 30 is the deadline for private sector companies with 50 employees or more to hit their six-month Emiratisation targets – set at 1 per cent of skilled jobs.

The authorities reminded non-compliant companies that they faced half-yearly fines of $11,435 (Dhs42,000) for every Emirati not hired. The announcement comes in line with the amendment of some of the provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (19/5m) of 2022 regarding the mechanism of achieving yearly Emiratisation increase targets.

It stipulates that a 1 per cent Emiratisation increase should be completed before the end of June, with the yearly 2 per cent increase target to be achieved before the end of the year.

Last year, the UAE government directed employers to ensure that 2 per cent of their workforce were Emiratis by the end of 2022 and then increase the proportion of Emiratis in the workforce by 1 per cent every six months.

MOHRE announces 30th June as deadline for #privatesector companies with 50 employees or more to achieve their half-yearly Emiratisation targets, set at 1% of skilled jobs #WamNews https://t.co/Sd90ALnI2S pic.twitter.com/igV7no5kAK

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) April 26, 2023

Aisha Belharfia, acting undersecretary for Emiratisation Affairs and Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, highlighted the importance of companies achieving a half-yearly Emiratisation target increase to avoid fines. She called on the private sector companies to benefit from the support provided by Nafis to hire Emirati talents in skilled jobs.

“The success of Emiratisation efforts depends on expanding the vacancies open to Emiratis in the private sector and building a secure network that supports their career paths. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation supports exceptional companies that train and employ Emiratis in line with Nafis’ objectives,” added Belharfia.

UAE boosts Emiratisation

Meanwhile, earlier in April the MoHRE said Emiratisation has continued to achieve exceptional results, surging by 11 per cent in the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Read: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed reviews NAFIS’ 2022 results and 2023 Emiratisation targets

MoHRE said more than 10,500 Emiratis joined the private sector since the beginning of 2023, bringing the total number of Emirati employees in the private sector to over 66,000.

The increase of Emirati employees in the private sector was accompanied by a 13 per cent increase in the number of private sector companies employing Emiratis in Q1 2023, compared to 2022, as the total number of companies hiring UAE nationals to date has exceeded 16,000.

“We are expecting a stronger rhythm of employing Emiratis in the next two months as the deadline for achieving the 1 per cent semi-annual Emiratisation target for private sector companies with 50 employees or more will be 30th June 2023,” the MoHRE said earlier in a statement earlier in April.

The latest data from the ministry shows that the five sectors that employed the most Emiratis in Q1 2023 are business services, commerce and repair services, construction, financial brokerage and manufacturing.

The UAE launched a new initiative called the ‘Industrialist Programme’ in March to enhance local capacities and increase Emiratisation in the industrial sector.

Read: UAE’s MoHRE fines companies failing to achieve Emiratisation targets for 2022