Ministry Urges Firms to Hire Emiratis or Face Fines

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has urged small businesses with 20 to 49 employees to expedite efforts to hire at least one Emirati citizen by the end of this year. Failure to do so may result in fines of up to USD 29,000, which will be enforced starting January 2025. 

This initiative follows the Cabinet's decision to broaden Emiratisation efforts, now encompassing over 12,000 small businesses across 14 key sectors, including real estate, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, healthcare, and the arts. Previously, these efforts were limited to companies with 50 or more employees. 

The Ministry emphasized the importance of retaining Emirati employees hired before January 1, 2024. Additionally, it requires that all employed UAE citizens be registered in the country’s pension and social security systems, and that their monthly salaries be processed through the Wage Protection System (WPS). 

MoHRE also encourages companies to take advantage of the support offered by the Nafis program, which connects them with a pool of qualified Emirati professionals ready to fill positions across various sectors.