Companies with 50+ employees must increase Emirati workforce by 2% by 2026

The Emiratisation agenda in the private sector continues to make progress and remarkable achievements, empowered by the continuous support and directives of the wise leadership. This is reinforced by the growing and strong partnership with the private sector, which has positively impacted the national workforce's stability and competitiveness. This comes as part of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation's (MOHRE's) role in implementing the Nafis programme, which aims to empower Emirati talent across various economic sectors. The number of Emirati citizens working in the private sector exceeded 141,000 by mid-2026, an increase of 13% compared to the end of 2025. More than 23,000 national jobseekers joined the private sector workforce during the first half of 2026, reflecting the continued upward trajectory of the Emiratisation drive. The number of private sector companies that have achieved their Emiratisation targets grew by 10,000 in the first half of 2026, reaching a total of over 27,000 compliant companies by the end of June. The Ministry underscored that the Emiratisation targets for 2026 require companies with 50 or more employees to increase the number of Emirati employees by 2% of their skilled workforce by the end of the year. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation affirmed its commitment to supporting the private sector in achieving these targets through a range of incentives, training programmes, and other enablers provided through the Nafis programme, including support for salaries, pensions, and professional development.