Given the encouraging job- placement figures for Emiratis in private companies over the past two and a half years, the Nafis employment programme has shown significant success in the UAE. The programme was initiated by Sheikh Mohamed, vice-president and prime minister, UAE and ruler of Dubai, in the year 2021.
The prime minister reviewed the Emiratisation strategy, highlighting the Dh24 billion funding and new legislations aimed at boosting Emiratisation and economic growth.
The Nafis programme aims to boost Emirati employment in the private sector. It mandates companies to increase their Emirati workforce by two per cent annually, aiming for a 10 per cent Emiratisation rate by 2026. Compliance checks will start on 1 July, with fines of Dh48,000 per Emirati not hired for the first half of the year, increasing by Dh1,000 annually.
Consequently, inspections have been ongoing since mid-2022, and over 1,300 companies have been found violating Emiratisation rules as of 16 May this year. Since the programme’s launch, the number of Emirati employees in the private sector has surged by approximately 170 per cent.
Earlier this month, the UAE Cabinet decided that Emirati candidates with a minimum of three years of private- sector experience will be given priority for federal- government positions. The Cabinet clarified that experience in the private sector will be added as a requirement when appointing an employee.
Furthermore, the national and non-citizen workforce enjoy hundreds of thousands of opportunities provided by our national economy. Our goal is to add 1,00,000 new jobs for citizens during the next three years.”
