UAE Emiratisation Targets and Updates 2025

The UAE government continues to intensify its Emiratisation drive in 2025, aiming to increase the presence of Emirati nationals in the private sector. Building on the previous years’ momentum, the Emiratisation targets for 2025 now extend to more industries, with stricter compliance rules and higher penalties for non-compliance.

Under the new updates, private companies with 50 or more employees must achieve a 2% annual increase in Emirati hires. New sectors such as construction, real estate, healthcare, and manufacturing have been brought under the compliance umbrella. Businesses failing to meet these targets will face monthly fines of AED 8,000 per unfulfilled Emirati role, with penalties set to rise each year until 2026.

To support this initiative, the UAE’s Nafis program continues to offer salary support, training subsidies, and recruitment assistance to employers. Companies are encouraged to integrate Emiratisation into their long-term hiring strategies, collaborate with local universities, and register new hires through the MOHRE digital platform.

Embracing the Emiratisation targets is not only about compliance—it’s also a step toward sustainable workforce development and contributing to the UAE’s national vision for a knowledge-based economy.