Emiratisation: Nafis says citizen mobility strengthens private‑sector competitiveness
Nafis director says Emiratisation gains from citizens moving between private firms; minimum wage rose to AED 6,000 and Emiratisation now reaches 177,000 workers.
The Emirati Workforce Competitiveness Council (Nafis) defended the mobility of UAE nationals across private-sector employers, saying movement between firms is a positive driver of Emiratisation and market competitiveness. Issam Al Ali, Nafis director of communications and partnerships, told attendees at the Manufacturers 2026 jobs fair in Abu Dhabi that citizens seeking better roles and training helps build a skills-led labour market. He said companies increasingly prioritise trained Emirati candidates, and there is no requirement for nationals to remain with a single employer for a fixed period. The remarks come as the ministry-backed initiative reports rising minimum wages and significant growth in private-sector Emiratisation.
Nafis official defends worker mobility
Issam Al Ali told reporters that mobility among Emirati employees is normal and beneficial in a dynamic private market. He argued that job changes reflect workers pursuing career development and that firms can view this as evidence of a maturing labour pool. Al Ali also said that attracting trained nationals ultimately raises standards across competing employers and supports the broader Emiratisation agenda.
Employers urged to adapt retention strategies
Al Ali advised companies facing competition for trained Emirati staff to reassess pay, benefits and career pathways rather than discourage movement. He said firms should align compensation and incentives with market demands to retain talent, noting that static packages may lose employees to organisations offering clearer progression. The Nafis official framed retention as an adaptive business challenge rather than a legal or cultural constraint on employee mobility.
Minimum wage timeline cited by Nafis
The Nafis director outlined recent steps on minimum wages for UAE nationals in private employment, charting a rapid increase since the programme’s start. He noted there was initially no statutory minimum, followed by a ministerial decision in 2024 setting a floor at AED 4,000. That minimum rose to AED 5,000 in 2025 and reached AED 6,000 at the start of 2026, he said, adding that these adjustments were applied regardless of educational credentials.
Emiratisation participation surges, Nafis data shows
Nafis highlighted measurable gains in private-sector Emiratisation, with the number of Emirati employees rising from roughly 29,000 at the programme’s inception to about 177,000 today. Al Ali said the proportion of nationals attracted to private employment climbed from an estimated 15 percent to roughly 60 percent by the end of 2025. He presented these figures as evidence that policy, training and incentives are producing tangible results for the government’s localisation targets.
Manufacturers 2026 fair connects Emiratis with industry roles
The comments were made on the sidelines of Manufacturers 2026, a careers and recruitment exhibition organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. The two‑day event on June 8–9 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre brought together industrial and advanced-technology employers seeking to recruit and upskill Emirati talent. Nafis representatives used the fair to emphasise partnerships with companies that offer training pathways and managerial advancement for nationals.
Success stories and private‑sector leadership highlighted
Al Ali pointed to examples of Emiratis moving into senior managerial positions within private companies as evidence of successful localisation. He said that a combination of targeted training, employer engagement and wage reforms had created pathways into leadership roles for qualified citizens. The Nafis director described these success stories as central to sustaining momentum for Emiratisation across high-growth industrial and technological sectors.
Nafis also confirmed that the programme will continue through to 2040, reinforcing a long-term government commitment to raising Emirati participation in the private sector. The council reiterated that its approach balances regulatory measures, wage floors and employer partnerships while leaving room for labour-market dynamics. As private companies compete for trained nationals, Nafis stressed the importance of employer-led career development and competitive compensation in securing a stable, skilled Emirati workforce.