Private firms urged to comply with Emiratisation deadline

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is urging private-sector companies to meet their Emiratisation targets for 2024 by the end of December.

The Ministry emphasized that establishments complying with the rules will enjoy various benefits, while those that don't will face financial penalties starting January 1, 2025.

Under Emiratisation policies, firms with 50 or more employees are required to increase their number of Emirati staff in skilled positions by 2% by year-end. Failure to meet this target will result in a penalty of AED 96,000 for each unfilled position.

Additionally, certain businesses with 20 to 49 employees, operating in 14 specific sectors, must hire at least one Emirati and retain any Emiratis employed before January 1, 2024. These businesses will also face a AED 96,000 fine for each unmet target.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring compliance, highlighting the success of Emiratisation efforts, with over 117,000 Emiratis now employed across 22,000 private-sector companies.