Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
131,833 Emiratis were employed in the private sector in the UAE by 1 January 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). The figure represents a substantial milestone for a key initiative of the government and looks to enhance the participation and upskilling of nationals across the country's growing economy.
In recent years, the UAE government set an ambitious goal to facilitate the employment of Emirati nationals in the private sector using a mixture of policy measures, incentives and recruitment support under the guise of the "Nafis" programme.
Initially aimed at facilitating the entry of 75,000 Emiratis by 2026, Nafis helped employ over 122,000 Emiratis across 24,000 entities in sectors ranging from financial services to education.
Dr. Afra Al Dhaheri, a Clinical Veterinarian at New York University Abu Dhabi was chosen as one of the top 3 Emirati doctors working in the private sector under the Nafis.
Speaking in her testimony to the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, which oversees Nafis, Al Dhaheri expressed joy at being able to do fulfilling work that challenged her.
"My perspective for working in the private sector company is the same, because whether you work in the private sector, you are the one that can make a difference and prove yourself that you are capable of taking on more challenges," she said.
"I would recommend for Emirati youth to go forward, as there are many opportunities waiting for them in the private sector, they will learn from people from different backgrounds that will benefit their knowledge and skills in the long term."
Back in 2022, the UAE Cabinet approved a decision to raise Emiratisation rates to 2% annually for skilled jobs in private sector establishments with 50 or more employees and to achieve an overall increase rate of 10% by 2026.
This was revised again in 2024 to make it mandatory for companies with 20-49 workers to employ at least one Emirati by 2024 and two by 2025.
Businesses were offered incentives, including salary "top-ups" to make jobs competitive for Emirati hires, specialised training programmes and recruitment support.
Whilst financial disincentives that start at Dh6,000 per month for every citizen not employed for large companies and Dh96,000 per year for smaller businesses.
Earlier in the year, MoHRE found that 1,963 Emiratis had been hired by 1,200 companies in which companies were found to be using "fake Emiratisation" techniques to illegally hire and circumvent the rules. In these instances, fines of between Dh20,000 and Dh100,000 are applicable per case.
The government has put major emphasis on integrating young Emirati talent into the private workforce, even approving a Dh6.4 billion budget earlier in 2024 to boost targets.
According to a recent survey by recruitment consultancy Mark Williams, over the past decade, interest in the private sector among UAE National graduates has significantly increased.
Male graduates' interest soared from 4% to 90% and female graduates' interest rising from 10% to 95%. Despite this shift, 80% of UAE Nationals still perceive the public sector as more aligned with Emirati cultural values. Meanwhile, 70% of UAE Nationals currently employed in the public sector are open to transitioning to private sector roles. However, the report found that challenges persist for private sector companies, with 45% reporting difficulties in hiring UAE Nationals due to skills gaps.
