UAE migration governance highlighted at UN forum as model for labour mobility and worker protection
UAE migration governance showcased at the second International Migration Review Forum in New York, with officials outlining data-led labour policies and social protections. (154 characters)
The United Arab Emirates presented its UAE migration governance model at the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in New York, stressing a data-driven approach to temporary labour mobility and worker protections. Representatives from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation outlined policies and legislative reforms the country says have balanced economic needs with human dignity. The delegation emphasised partnerships, transparency and digital tools as central to managing migration for work in a way that benefits origin and destination countries alike.
UAE delegation frames migration as development and human-rights priority
The UAE delegation highlighted migration governance as an integral part of sustainable development and social cohesion during a main-session address at the IMRF. Shaimaa Al Awadhi, Acting Undersecretary for Labour Market Development and Regulation and Assistant Undersecretary for Communication and International Relations, delivered the UAE statement and detailed national initiatives. She positioned the UAE model as one that combines regulatory frameworks, private-sector partnerships and social protections to create opportunities for more than 200 nationalities living and working in the country.
Data and outcomes: growth metrics cited by officials
Officials presented a series of outcomes they say demonstrate the effectiveness of UAE migration governance, including workforce growth that exceeded 101% and a more than 49% increase in skilled employment over a recent five-year span. The delegation also reported a 45% rise in registered companies and a doubling of women’s labour-market participation, figures offered to illustrate economic dynamism tied to labour reforms. Authorities attributed these shifts to coordinated policy, targeted skills development and reforms that encourage investment and job creation.
Social protection and rights at the centre of reforms
Delegates detailed expanded social protection measures tied to the UAE migration governance model, noting that 99% of workers fall under a wages protection scheme and a large majority are covered by insurance for work-related entitlements. The ministry outlined broader coverage, including a comprehensive health insurance framework that extends to all categories of workers and the progressive rollout of an unemployment-insurance scheme reaching roughly 90% of the targeted workforce. Officials also referenced a national savings system designed to offer workers investment returns on accumulated savings.
Heat-stress policy and worker safety described as regional first
The UAE delegation showcased its heat-stress protection policy as a long-standing, region-leading intervention to safeguard outdoor and labouring workers. Authorities reported compliance rates surpassing 99% among companies, and emphasised that the policy has been in operation for over two decades as part of broader occupational-health efforts. Alongside safety rules, the ministry highlighted multiple continuous training programs and the Skills UAE digital platform as mechanisms to reskill and upskill workers for sectors affected by technological change.
Abu Dhabi Dialogue positioned as a platform for regional labour cooperation
The UAE outlined the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, launched in 2008 and hosted permanently by the UAE secretariat, as a practical example of regional cooperation on labour mobility in the Asia corridor. Delegates described the dialogue as a consultative mechanism that brings together labour-sending and labour-receiving states to coordinate policy, share good practices and develop solutions to migration challenges. Looking forward, the UAE said the Dialogue will prioritise the application of artificial intelligence and digitisation to skills development and smarter inspection systems to improve compliance and worker outcomes.
Forum agenda and UAE priorities for collaborative reform
At the IMRF, the UAE delegation engaged in roundtable discussions covering key topics such as expanding safe and regular pathways for migration, ethical recruitment, skill recognition, combatting trafficking and optimising remittances for development. Officials urged increased use of technology to streamline worker mobility governance and to ensure policy responses remain evidence-based and transparent. The ministry framed these priorities within the broader 2030 sustainable-development agenda, arguing that improved migration governance contributes directly to resilient labour markets and inclusive economies.
The UAE concluded its interventions at the Forum by reaffirming its commitment to continued international collaboration on migration for work, saying future efforts will focus on harnessing digital tools, protecting worker rights and strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships. The delegation underscored that a balanced, contract-based model of labour mobility — anchored in accountability, social protection and skills development — can advance prosperity for both sending and receiving countries while safeguarding human dignity.