UAE private sector with 20 to 49 workers must hire at least 1 Emirati in 2024 and another in 2025

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced the expansion of the base of private establishments targeted for Emiratisation to include individual companies and establishments with 20 to 49 workers in 14 specific major economic activities.

The ministry said on Twitter, “In implementation of a UAE Cabinet Resolution, the Ministry announces the expansion of the private sector establishments’ pool, subject to Emiratisation targets, to include companies and individual establishments with a workforce ranging from 20 to 49 employees in specific economic activities.

“The decision aims to increase the number of Emiratis employed in targeted establishments across 14 key economic sectors, requiring them to hire at least one UAE citizen in 2024 and another in 2025. The targeted establishments will be informed via the Ministry’s digital channels.”

The ministry said that a yearly financial contribution of Dhs96,000 will be imposed in January 2025 on establishments that do not comply with the decision in 2024.

Non-compliant establishments in 2025 will face a Dhs108,000 fine in January 2026.

The decision targets certain economic activities, which require establishments to comply with.  

The economic activities of the establishments targeted by the decision:

• Information and communications
• Financial and insurance activities
• Real estate
• Professional and technical activities
• Administrative and support services •
Arts and entertainment
• Mining and quarrying
• Transformative industries
• Education
• Healthcare and social work
• Construction
• Wholesale and retail
• Transportation and warehousing
• Hospitality and residency services

The targeted establishments will be chosen based on criteria such as types of jobs, work environment, geographical location, nature of growth in these economic sectors, as well as Emiratisation priorities.