Private sector UAE companies must meet Emiratisation targets under the Nafis programme. Here is a guide to calculating your company’s Emiratisation obligations.
Emiratisation Target Calculation
Companies with 50+ employees (skilled roles): 2024 target = 2% of skilled employees must be UAE nationals. 2025 target = 3% of skilled employees. 2026 target = 4% of skilled employees. Increasing by 1% per year until 10% (2031 target). “Skilled employees” for Nafis purposes: employees in roles that require a university degree, professional certification, or specialised skills (typically those earning AED 4,000+/month).
Emiratisation Calculation Example
Company with 200 skilled employees in 2024: Emiratisation target = 200 × 2% = 4 UAE national employees required. If you have 2 UAE national employees: shortfall = 2. Penalty = 2 shortfall × AED 96,000/year = AED 192,000 in annual penalties (paid quarterly to Nafis). After hiring 2 more UAE nationals: penalty eliminated.
Companies with 1–49 Employees (New 2024 Rule)
From January 2024: companies with 1–49 employees must have at least 1 UAE national employee (in companies in certain sectors). Check the Nafis portal (nafis.ae) to confirm if your specific activity and sector falls under the 1–49 employee target — not all sectors are covered yet, and the requirement is being phased in by sector.
Nafis Hiring Process for Employers
Step 1: Register on nafis.ae with UAE Pass. Step 2: Post job vacancies — Nafis-registered UAE nationals can apply directly through the Nafis job board. Step 3: Review applications, interview candidates. Step 4: If hiring: register the Emirati employee on Nafis to receive the government salary subsidy (AED 5,000–7,000/month). Step 5: Update quarterly Nafis report with Emirati headcount.