The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) detected 377 cases of fake Emiratisation involving 266 private-sector companies during the first half of 2026, with legal action taken against the companies and other parties involved.
The violations were identified through the ministry’s field inspections and digital monitoring systems. MoHRE said the cases were limited and did not represent a widespread practice across the UAE labour market.
Action against the violating companies was taken under Cabinet Decision No. 43 of 2025, which sets out administrative violations and penalties related to initiatives and programmes of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.
MoHRE said Emiratisation is not simply about registering a UAE national as an employee. Genuine Emiratisation requires an actual employment relationship, with the employee carrying out defined duties and responsibilities and having opportunities for career development.
Fake Emiratisation refers to arrangements where Emiratis are registered as employees to help companies meet national employment targets without providing genuine jobs or requiring them to perform actual work.
The ministry warned that such practices can distort labour market and Emiratisation data, divert resources and incentives intended for genuine employment, and limit Emiratis’ access to meaningful jobs and professional development.
MoHRE also said such arrangements can put companies that invest in recruiting, training and developing Emirati employees at a disadvantage.
The UAE’s Emiratisation programme requires private-sector companies with 50 or more employees covered by the policy to increase the share of Emiratis in skilled positions by 2 per cent annually, with the target split between the first and second halves of the year.
For the first half of 2026, companies were required to achieve a 1 per cent increase by June 30. Firms that failed to meet the target face financial contributions of Dh10,000 per month, or Dh120,000 annually, for each Emirati position not filled.
MoHRE has encouraged companies to use the Nafis platform to connect with Emirati jobseekers across different professional fields and support recruitment and workforce development.
The ministry has increasingly used digital monitoring, data analysis and artificial intelligence to identify potential violations and strengthen labour-market oversight.
In 2025, MoHRE reported nearly 695,000 inspections across private-sector establishments, alongside more than 3,000 joint inspection campaigns with federal entities.
The ministry previously reported a 62 per cent decline in violations related to fake Emiratisation and associated nationalisation decisions in 2025.
MoHRE said protecting the integrity of Emiratisation is a shared responsibility and urged companies to comply with the policy’s objectives. It also called on Emiratis not to participate in arrangements where they are registered as employees without carrying out actual work.
Suspected violations can be reported to MoHRE through its call centre on 600590000, smart application or website.