Emiratisation Calculator 2026 — Check Your Compliance
The deadline to achieve 10% Emiratisation is December 31, 2026. Use this calculator to check your company's status and potential fines.
Calculate Your Requirements
Company Details
MOHRE skill levels 1–5 (certificate above secondary, attested; salary ≥ AED 4,000/month). The 10% target is calculated on skilled roles only — not total headcount.
Compliance Results
No Calculated Obligation
MOHRE Emiratisation targets apply to mainland companies: 10% of skilled staff at 50+ employees, and 1–2 Emirati hires at 20–49 employees in 14 targeted sectors. Enter your details above to calculate your obligation.
Source: u.ae — Emiratis' employment in the private sector
Guidance estimates — confirm your exact obligation with MOHRE or ZETUP.
Understanding the 2026 Emiratisation Requirements
Who Must Comply?
Private sector companies registered on the mainland with 50 or more employees must reach 10% Emiratisation of their skilled workforce (MOHRE skill levels 1–5, salary at least AED 4,000/month) — not total headcount. Companies with 20–49 employees in one of 14 targeted sectors must also hire 1–2 Emiratis.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Non-compliant companies face a fine of AED 9,000 per month for each missing Emirati employee. Additionally, companies may be blocked from MoHRE services, including new work permit applications.
How to Prepare Now
Start by calculating your gap using the calculator above. Then register on the Nafis platform, begin the recruitment process, and work with a trusted PRO services provider to ensure full compliance before the deadline.
How ZETUP PRO Helps with Emiratisation
We manage the full Emiratisation lifecycle — from quota calculation and Nafis registration to recruitment coordination and MoHRE reporting. Let us handle the complexity so you can focus on your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Private sector companies registered on the mainland (MOHRE-registered) with 50 or more employees must reach 10% Emiratisation of their skilled workforce by December 31, 2026. Companies with 20–49 employees in one of 14 targeted sectors must also hire one Emirati (by end-2024) and two (by end-2025). Free-zone entities register with their own free-zone authority rather than MOHRE — confirm your specific obligation with MOHRE.
The 10% target is calculated on your skilled workforce — MOHRE skill levels 1–5 (certificate above secondary, attested; salary at least AED 4,000/month) — not total headcount, rounded up. For example, a company with 40 skilled employees must employ at least 4 UAE nationals (40 x 10% = 4).
Companies that fail to meet the Emiratisation quota face a monthly fine of AED 9,000 per missing Emirati employee. For a company short by 5 employees, that is AED 45,000 per month or AED 540,000 per year.
The MoHRE has specific requirements for counting Emirati employees toward your quota. Part-time arrangements may count under certain conditions, but they must be registered through the Nafis platform and meet minimum salary and working hour thresholds. We recommend consulting a PRO services provider for guidance on your specific situation.
Nafis is the UAE federal programme that supports Emiratisation in the private sector. It provides salary top-ups, pension contributions, and training subsidies for UAE nationals employed in the private sector. Employers must register their Emirati hires through the Nafis platform to receive these benefits and ensure compliance.
Book a Free Emiratisation Consultation
Let us review your Emiratisation status and build a custom compliance plan before the deadline.