The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has issued a reminder to private sector companies to achieve their localisation targets by December 31. Companies with 50 employees or more are required to have Emiratis in 4 percent of skilled roles by the end of this year.

The stipulation mandates companies to incorporate 2 percent more Emiratis into their workforce annually until 2026. By the conclusion of the previous year, companies were required to hire UAE nationals for 2 percent of skilled roles.
 A new mechanism introduced earlier this year splits the annual target into two halves: adding 1 percent in the first half of the year and the remaining 1 percent in the second half. Failure to meet these targets incurs fines of Dh1,000 per month per Emirati not hired, with penalties escalating each year. Last year's penalty was Dh6,000, and this year, it stands at Dh7,000.

Fines of Dh42,000 per unfulfilled Emirati position were imposed on companies that missed the semi-annual Emiratisation deadline on July 8 this year, representing Dh7,000 multiplied by the first six months of the year. Companies failing to add an additional 1 percent of Emiratis by the end of 2023, before December 31, face additional fines of Dh42,000 per citizen not hired.

The MoHRE has already imposed fines totaling Dh400 million against private companies that did not meet their Emiratisation targets for 2022. 
The ministry disclosed on Monday that establishments yet to fulfill their targets can utilize the Nafis platform to search for Emirati job-seekers. Currently, 18,000 establishments have met their targets, resulting in a significant increase in the number of citizens entering private sector employment. Over the past two years, more than 54,000 Emiratis have secured jobs, bringing the total number of Emiratis in the private sector to 84,000.

The MoHRE maintains a zero-tolerance policy against fraudulent Emiratisation practices. In August, the ministry identified 565 companies that hired a total of 824 UAE nationals in fictitious positions, resulting in fines ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh100,000.

Emiratisation is considered 'fake' when a UAE national is employed solely to meet a company's target, with the local employee having no genuine tasks or responsibilities. Rehiring an Emirati within the same establishment to manipulate data is also categorized as 'fake.'

The MoHRE emphasized its commitment to providing necessary resources to enhance the private sector's role in advancing Emiratisation plans and increasing the contribution of Emirati talents to the UAE's economic development.