Commencing January 1, 2023, new Emiratisation quotas apply to private sector companies registered with the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MoHRE), excluding UAE's free zones.

Companies must have at least 2% UAE nationals in their workforce, increasing by 2% annually until 10% of skilled workers are UAE nationals.

Non-compliance results in AED 6,000 monthly fines per outstanding UAE national employee, increasing by AED 1,000 yearly. MoHRE has already fined companies approximately AED 400m for 2022 non-compliance.

Surprisingly, fines apply retrospectively, and compliance is based on skilled and unskilled workforce size.


Aug-17-2023