Emiratisation Takes Centrestage As UAE Nafis Programme Boosts Private Sector Workforce

Introduced in September 2021 as part of a major Emiratisation push, the UAE’s Nafis programme has been helping grow Emirati participation in the private sector.

A staggering 82,000 Emiratis are now employed outside of the public sector, with the government initiative helping create 32,000 job opportunities for the local population.

Nafis was introduced with a mission to ensure 10% of all jobs in the private sector were taken up by Emiratis by the end of 2026. As of now, 52,000 people are employed in the sector.

While 17,000 companies have hired locals, 61,000 people have been drawing benefits from financial support programmes meant to encourage more workers to join the private sector.

As part of the assistance, citizens engaged in tasks concerning the private sector are entitled to salary top-ups as they would generally earn more in the public sector.

Private Sector – A Driving Force For Economic Development

Emiratisation has been taking the centrestage lately as the UAE seeks to help the local population join the private sector, which remains a driving force for economic development.

Employers must increase their Emirati workforce by 1% every six months, with companies supporting at least 50 members expected to meet a 4% target by the end of the year.

Heavy penalties have been imposed on employers trying to manipulate the targets set by the UAE government in order to avoid repercussions.

Keep Reading

• New Emiratisation rules: How Nafis helps firms and supports employees
• UAE’s NAFIS Salary Support Initiative

Ru’ya 2023 Careers UAE Redefined Event

Meanwhile, a number of Emirati job seekers hoping to secure employment in the bustling Dubai attended a major job fair this week.

The Ru’ya 2023 Careers UAE Redefined event on Tuesday involved more than 100 firms, including Dubai Police, Citi Bank and Etisalat.

Ru’ya 2023 aimed to inform and inspire those looking to take their next professional steps. From interactive workshops to career-defining discussions, the event had it all.

The event at Dubai World Trade Centre helped a number of Emiratis secure their dream job and elevate their career, while engaging in interactive sessions led by experts.

Ru’ya is a great platform to connect with like-minded Emirati jobseekers, while helping employers across the country attract some of the best experienced as well as fresh graduates.