Government

Private sector in Dubai leads in hiring UAE nationals to meet Emiratisation target

By HiDubai Newswire July 13, 2023 1 min read

The private sector in Dubai is hiring the highest number of UAE nationals as companies strive to meet the government's Emiratisation target.

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), around 79,000 UAE nationals are employed in the private sector. In Dubai, 47.4% of Emiratis work in the private sector, followed by Abu Dhabi with 38.6%. Other emirates such as Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain also employ UAE nationals.

The Ministry has expanded the Emiratisation target to include smaller companies with 20 to 49 employees, requiring them to hire at least one Emirati in 2024. The target applies to companies in key sectors such as information and communication, finance, real estate, education, healthcare, and more.

The top fields where Emiratis are employed include business services, administration and support, trade and repair, retail, construction, finance, and mining.

The Emiratisation drive has gained momentum with the launch of the Nafis initiative in September 2021. Nafis aims to enhance the competitiveness of Emirati human resources and empower them to take up positions in the private sector.

The number of Emiratis in the private sector has steadily increased from 29,810 in 2021 to 50,228 in 2022, reaching 79,000 as of July 7, 2023. Most Emiratis working in the private sector are secondary school graduates (46.4%), followed by university graduates and postgraduates (40.8%), and those below secondary school (12.8%).

Distribution of Emirati citizens employed in private sector establishments in each emirate: