The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) detected 405 cases of ‘Fake Emiratisation’ in private sector companies during the first half of 2025.

All private sector employers found guilty of committing this offense against Emiratisation policy will face legal consequences “as per Cabinet Decision No. (43) of 2025, which defines Administrative Violations and Penalties Related to Initiatives and Programmes of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC),” the Ministry said.

It also commended the efficiency of its on-ground inspectors and digital monitoring system in detecting such violations, noting that Fake Emiratisation remains one of the key challenges in the UAE job market.

The Ministry explained, “Fake Emiratisation is defined as the nominal employment of UAE citizens by a company that issues work permits and registers them as employees for purposes other than those for which the permit was issued.

These companies typically sign an employment contract with UAE nationals that has all the formal elements but lacks the essential tenets of a real employment relationship, in a bid to circumvent regulations on the employment of Emirati citizens in the private sector, including Emiratisation targets, or to unlawfully benefit from government support systems and incentives related to the employment and training of UAE citizens.”

The Ministry reaffirmed its firm commitment to taking action against companies that fail to comply with Emiratisation policies, especially violations such as Fake Emiratisation. It emphasized that such negative practices hinder the objectives of Emiratisation, which aims to develop a productive and sustainable Emirati talent pool in the private sector.

“Emiratisation plans enable Emirati talents to actively participate in the country’s development journey and contribute more significantly to the national economy, particularly in priority sectors targeted by semi-annual Emiratisation goals,” the MoHRE statement continued, adding that these goals require enhancing UAE citizens’ competencies in skilled jobs where they perform real duties that advance their professional capabilities.

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For 2024, MoHRE mandated that 14 key private sectors hire at least one Emirati employee by year-end.

In January 2025, it revised the target, requiring all private sector companies with 50 or more employees to achieve a minimum 1% increase in Emirati employees in skilled jobs as a proportion of their total skilled workforce by June 30, 2025.

Additionally, MoHRE stipulated that private sector companies with 20 to 49 workers that failed to employ at least one Emirati in 2024 must pay a financial contribution of AED 96,000 to the government. This will rise to AED 108,000 in 2025 for companies that have not employed at least two Emiratis, as outlined in Ministerial Resolution No. 455 of 2023.

In July 2024, the Abu Dhabi Misdemeanour Court fined a private company AED 10 million for failing to comply with Emiratisation regulations and bypassing targets by appointing 113 Emiratis in fictitious roles.