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Does my company with 20 to 49 employees have to hire Emiratis?
Checked against MOHRE rules · reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · next review 15 Jan 2027
Since 2024, UAE private companies with 20 to 49 employees in 14 economic activities must employ Emiratis: one during 2024 and another during 2025, kept on the payroll. The checker first places you by total headcount (under 20, 20–49, or 50+), then checks your activity against the 14 covered ones. If you're covered, it compares the Emiratis required by the current year with the Emiratis who count today and shows the gap, with an estimated contribution at the last confirmed rate of AED 108,000 per missing Emirati.
Coverage and gap for typical small companies, from the same rules the checker uses.
| Company | Activity | Verdict | Required | Gap | Est. contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software house, 35 staff | Information and communications | Covered — 20–49 staff rule | 2 | 1 | AED 108,000 |
| Clinic, 28 staff | Healthcare and social work | Covered — 20–49 staff rule | 2 | 0 | — |
| Restaurant group, 40 staff | Accommodation and hospitality | Covered — 20–49 staff rule | 2 | 2 | AED 216,000 |
| Freight agent, 45 staff | Not in the 14 | Not covered | — | — | — |
| Start-up, 15 staff | Information and communications | Not covered | — | — | — |
Contribution at AED 108,000 per missing Emirati (last confirmed rate). Under-20 companies have no target.
Post the role free with "UAE nationals preferred" in the description — the Emirati job ad template gives you an English and Arabic draft. Eligible Emirati hires may get Nafis salary support. Bigger than 49 staff? Use the Emiratisation calculator.
Only if they work in one of 14 economic activities: Information and communications, Financial and insurance activities, Real estate activities, Professional and technical activities, Administrative and support services, Education, Healthcare and social work, Arts and entertainment, Mining and quarrying, Transformative (manufacturing) industries, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Transportation and warehousing, Accommodation and hospitality. Covered companies had to employ one Emirati in 2024 and a second in 2025, and must keep both employed. Companies with 20–49 staff in any other activity have no Emiratisation target.
MOHRE collects a financial contribution for each missing Emirati. The 2024 shortfall was charged at AED 96,000 and the 2025 shortfall at AED 108,000 per missing Emirati. The 2026 amount hasn't been confirmed, so this checker uses the AED 108,000 rate and labels the figure as an estimate.
MOHRE has not officially confirmed a further hire for 20–49 staff companies in 2026, and no targets have been announced for 2027 onwards. The checker shows the two hires that are confirmed and flags that you should check your MOHRE dashboard for anything new.
An Emirati counts when they are paid at least AED 6,000 a month through the Wages Protection System and are registered for pension and social security. Since 1 July 2026, Emiratis paid below AED 6,000 no longer count, and MOHRE suspends new work permits until the salary is fixed.
Companies with 50 or more employees follow the percentage target instead: Emiratis must make up 10% of skilled jobs by 31 December 2026. Use the Emiratisation calculator to work out your number and gap.
Post your roles free in about 2 minutes and say in the description which nationality you prefer. We review every post; once approved it goes live to job seekers across the GCC.
Post a nationals-preferred roleEmiratisation Hiring Plan
Hires needed and monthly hiring pace to reach the next Emiratisation checkpoint.
Open toolNafis Salary Support Calculator
Published maximum Nafis top-ups by education, for one Emirati hire or several.
Open toolEmirati Job Ad Template
Job ad in English and Arabic, marked 'UAE nationals preferred', ready to post.
Open toolEmiratisation Calculator
Your Emiratisation target, hires still needed and the estimated contribution if you miss it.
Open toolSaudized Jobs List
Which professions are Saudized, the Saudi share required and when each rule starts.
Open toolExpat vs National Cost Calculator
First-year cost of an expat vs an Emirati or Saudi hire for the same role.
Open toolIqama Renewal Cost Calculator
Yearly iqama renewal cost: expat levy, work permit, iqama and dependant fees.
Open toolCompanies with 20–49 staff are only covered in these 14 activities.
Only Emiratis paid at least AED 6,000 through WPS, registered for pension, in skilled jobs.
Am I covered by Emiratisation?
AED 108,000 per missing Emirati per year (2025 rate)
Checked against MOHRE rules · reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · next review 15 Jan 2027Sources: MOHRE — Emiratisation targets (private sector, 50+ and 20–49 staff) · MOHRE — 2025 targets due 31 December; AED 108,000 per missing Emirati · MOHRE — Emiratisation targets for 20–49 staff companies in 14 sectors · MOHRE — Emirati minimum wage AED 6,000 from 1 January 2026 · MOHRE — Pension registration of Emirati employees mandatory to count
Your gap: 1 Emirati role before 31 Dec 2026.
Post them free, marked 'UAE nationals preferred' — takes 2 minutes.
Your coverage, gap and deadline by email, to share with management.