A guide to Emiratisation rules in Dubai
What is Emiratisation?
Emiratisation refers to a national workforce development initiative implemented in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to increase the participation and employment of Emirati citizens in the country’s workforce.
Emiratisation aims to address the imbalance in the labour market, where a significant portion of the workforce consists of expatriate workers. The initiative seeks to promote the hiring, training, and career development of Emiratis in both the public and private sectors.
Several strategies and measures have been introduced to encourage Emiratisation. These include:
- Mandatory Emiratisation quotas: Certain industries and government entities are required to meet specific Emiratisation targets and employ a minimum percentage of Emirati nationals.
- Job creation and training programs: The UAE government has established various programmes to enhance the skills and employability of Emirati citizens, such as vocational training, internship programs, and scholarships for higher education.
- Preference in government contracts: Government entities may give preference to companies that meet Emiratisation targets when awarding contracts. This incentivises private companies to actively participate in the Emiratisation initiative.
- Awareness campaigns and job fairs: Regular campaigns and job fairs are organised to promote Emiratisation, raise awareness among Emirati job seekers about available opportunities, and encourage them to pursue careers in various sectors.
- Support for entrepreneurship: The government provides support and funding for Emirati entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, fostering economic growth and self-employment opportunities for Emiratis.
Emiratisation is a long-term strategy aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on expatriate labour and ensuring sustainable economic growth by empowering Emirati citizens and maximising their potential in the workforce.
How to determine your company’s Emiratisation obligations
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) recently announced changes to quota obligations for companies, which were effective from 1 January 2023. These apply to all registered companies located in the UAE mainland, with the exception of companies based in free zones.
The law requires all private companies with 50 or more employees to increase the number of UAE nationals they employ by 2% per year in order to make at least 10% of the private sector workforce UAE nationals by 2026.
This quota excludes certain industries such as banking and insurance, which will retain their existing quotas of 4% and 5% respectively.
A firm’s quota is directly related to the size of the firm and the number of skilled professionals it employs. Skilled workers are categorised as follows:
- Level 1: Professional – This includes professionals such as doctors, engineers, and lawyers.
- Level 2: Managers and Executives – This includes people in senior management positions such as CEOs, directors, and heads of departments.
- Level 3: Technicians and Skilled Workers – This includes workers with specific technical skills, such as mechanics, electricians, and plumbers.
- Level 4: Sales and Marketing – This includes employees in sales and marketing departments. B. Sales representatives, account managers, marketing managers.
- Level 5: Administrative and Support Staff – This includes employees of administrative and support functions such as: B. Receptionists, secretaries, and customer service representatives.
The requirements are:
- 0-50 skilled workers – 1 Emirati citizen
- 51-100 qualified employees – 2 Emirati Citizens
- 101-150 qualified employees – 3 Emirati Citizens
- 151 or more qualified employees – 1 Emirati for every 50 employees
Online registration for the Emiratisation programme
To enroll your company in the Emiratisation program, follow these steps:
- Human Resources and Emirates (MOHRE) official website (https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/home.aspx
- Click the Services tab and select Immigration Services from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down to find and click on the Emirates Services Employer Registration option.
- You will be redirected to a new page where you can enter the requested information including company name, business licence number and other relevant details.
Once you have entered all the required information, submit your application.
After submitting your application, MOHRE will review it and you will receive a confirmation email once your company is registered in the system.
How can Global Link help?
Global Link has over 16 years’ experience working with local and global businesses, providing bespoke consultancy services for company incorporation in Dubai and the wider UAE.
We can provide guidance and advice on Emiratisation policies, regulations, and best practices, assessing your company’s current status, identifying areas of improvement, and developing a tailored Emiratisation strategy. We can also assist you with Emiratisation compliance by maintaining accurate records, documentation, and reporting and ensuring that necessary paperwork, such as employment contracts, visas, and labour permits, are properly processed and in compliance with current regulations.
If you need advice on this or any other company incorporation, visa or PRO service, please get in touch with us on +971 4 553 9901 or email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.