Emiratisation targets are run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, MOHRE, through the Nafis programme. Whether they apply to your agency depends on your size, your sector and whether you are on the mainland.
Companies with 50 or more employees
- The target is 2% annual growth in Emirati employees in skilled positions, split into 1% by 30 June and 1% by 31 December.
- From 1 July 2026, the charge for each unfilled position is AED 10,000 a month, or AED 120,000 a year, according to Gulf Today. MOHRE calls these financial contributions rather than fines.
Companies with 20 to 49 employees
- Under Cabinet Resolution 95 of 2022, as amended, companies of this size in 14 sectors had to hire one Emirati in 2024 and another in 2025.
- The sectors include information and communications, professional and technical activities, administrative and support services, and arts and entertainment. Most agencies sit close to one of these, but check how MOHRE classifies your licence activity.
- Contributions for shortfalls were AED 96,000, collected in January 2025, and AED 108,000, collected in January 2026, with instalments allowed. The AED 108,000 relates to 2025, not 2026.
- A departing Emirati must be replaced within two months.
- For 2026, MOHRE's guidance says these companies must employ at least one UAE national and keep those already employed. We found no new hiring step for this group in 2026.
The minimum wage and what counts
From 1 January 2026 the minimum wage for Emiratis in the private sector is AED 6,000 a month. Existing salaries had to be raised by 30 June 2026 or those employees stop counting towards targets, and from 1 July new work permits are suspended for companies that have not complied.
Support and incentives
- Nafis salary support from September 2026 is up to AED 6,000 a month for bachelor's degree holders, AED 5,000 for diploma holders and AED 4,000 for secondary school leavers, for salaries of AED 20,000 or less with a minimum of AED 6,000, according to Gulf Business. Nafis has been extended to 2040.
- Members of MOHRE's Emiratisation Partners Club get up to 80% off ministry fees and priority in government procurement.
- MOHRE asks companies to recruit through the Nafis platform.
The risk of shortcuts
Fake Emiratisation, hiring nationals on paper only, leads to the company being downgraded and to legal action, according to MOHRE.
Free zones
The targets apply across the mainland but not in free zones, including DIFC and ADGM, according to the law firm Pinsent Masons. We could not find a MOHRE statement confirming the free zone position, so check yours.
What to do
- Count your skilled headcount and confirm which sector your licence activity falls in.
- If you are close to 20 or 50 employees, plan hiring before you cross the line.
- Budget for the AED 6,000 minimum and the counting rules.
- Recruit through Nafis, and check the salary support you qualify for.
Our guide to hiring your first account manager covers the hiring process itself.
