UAE Firms Face Fines Over Emiratisation Targets

With the December 31 deadline fast approaching, UAE authorities are urging private sector companies to comply with the Emiratisation law to avoid penalties starting January 1, 2025. Companies with 50 or more employees are required to achieve a 2% increase in Emirati hires for skilled roles by the end of the year, while firms with 20–49 employees in key sectors must hire at least one Emirati and retain any Emiratis employed before January 1, 2024.

Non-compliance will result in penalties, with fines of Dh96,000 per Emirati not hired. To ensure compliance, recruiters should review their current Emiratisation status, leverage tools such as job portals or AI recruitment platforms to connect with skilled Emirati candidates, and align their hiring processes with the latest updates to UAE labour laws.