UAE HR Ministry raises minimum wage for Emiratis in private sector

According to the Ministry, the new minimum wage will apply to all new citizen work permits, as well as existing permits that are renewed or amended from January 1, 2026 onward. 

In a press statement, MoHRE clarified that establishments are required to amend employment contracts of Emirati employees to reflect the new minimum salary before the deadline. The Ministry warned that strict compliance measures will be enforced starting July 1, 2026, against companies that fail to meet the requirement. 

These measures include excluding Emirati employees whose salaries remain unadjusted from contributing to Emiratisation targets for establishments covered by relevant policies. In addition, MoHRE will suspend the issuance of new work permits for non-compliant establishments until salaries are brought in line with the minimum wage.

“The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced an increase in the minimum wage for Emiratis employed in the private sector to AED 6,000 per month, effective 1 January 2026,” the Ministry said. “The new minimum wage applies to new citizen work permits, as well as those being renewed or amended starting from 1 January 2026.” 

MoHRE further called on employers to complete contract amendments before the June 30, 2026 deadline, reiterating that all Emiratis working in the private sector must earn at least AED 6,000 per month by that date.

Khalil Ibrahim Al Khouri, Under-Secretary of Labour Market and Emiratisation Operations at MoHRE, said the wage increase falls within a phased framework adopted by the Emiratisation strategy to gradually improve private sector pay for Emirati talent. 

He explained that the strategy began with a minimum salary of AED 4,000, followed by an increase to AED 5,000, and has now been raised to AED 6,000 per month, effective from 2026. 

The staggered approach, he said, was designed to reflect prevailing market wages based on job nature, while giving private sector establishments sufficient time to implement the salary adjustments. 

Al Khouri reiterated the Ministry’s call for establishments to amend employment contracts in line with the new minimum wage before June 30, 2026, stressing that enforcement actions would begin immediately after the deadline. 

From July 1, 2026, he added, MoHRE will implement several measures against non-compliant establishments, including disqualifying Emirati employees whose salaries are below the threshold from Emiratisation calculations, and halting new work permit approvals until full compliance with the new minimum wage is achieved. 

The latest wage increase underscores the UAE government’s continued efforts to strengthen Emirati participation in the private sector, while balancing market realities with long-term workforce nationalisation goals.