MoHRE career programme reaches 60,000 Emiratis and 3,000 employers

More than 60,000 Emirati jobseekers and private-sector employees, along with over 3,000 companies, have benefited from the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s career counselling programme, according to MoHRE.

The ministry said the programme helps UAE citizens identify private-sector roles aligned with their qualifications, skills and professional interests. It also supports Emiratis already employed in the private sector with career planning, capability development and workplace integration.

Participants receive individual and group counselling covering job searches, interview preparation, career-path planning, competency development and adaptation to the workplace.

According to MoHRE, the sessions also address practical capabilities such as time management and stress management, with the aim of improving professional readiness and supporting more sustainable private-sector careers.

Support extends beyond securing a job

The programme is designed to support Emiratis at different stages of their professional journeys rather than focusing only on initial job placement.

Farida Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for National Talents at MoHRE, said the initiative forms part of the ministry’s wider system for supporting national talent and would continue to evolve in response to labour-market changes.

The ministry said career counselling remains available to jobseekers, existing private-sector employees and companies seeking to strengthen their Emirati talent pipelines.

Employers receive retention and hiring support

MoHRE said participating companies receive guidance on attracting, integrating and retaining Emirati employees.

The programme also provides employers with aptitude assessments intended to improve the alignment between candidates and available roles. According to the ministry, companies can use the support to strengthen workplace environments and reduce employee turnover.

The employer-facing component reflects a broader shift in Emiratisation from filling vacancies towards improving role matching, career progression and retention.

Hiring Emirati talent may help employers meet immediate workforce requirements, but longer-term outcomes depend on whether employees have access to meaningful roles, capable managers and visible development pathways.

Emiratisation enters a more demanding phase

The programme’s reach comes as MoHRE continues to strengthen private-sector Emiratisation requirements.

In a separate announcement, the ministry said companies with 50 or more employees were required to meet their Emiratisation targets for the first half of 2026 by June 30. Financial contributions became applicable from July 1 to employers that failed to achieve the required increase in Emirati employees in skilled positions.

MoHRE also raised the minimum monthly wage for Emiratis in the private sector to AED6,000 from January 1, 2026. Employers with existing Emirati employees were given until June 30 to adjust eligible salaries, with non-compliant employment contracts no longer counting towards Emiratisation targets.

These requirements place greater responsibility on employers to offer appropriate roles, competitive employment conditions and credible career development rather than treating Emiratisation only as a compliance target.

The counselling programme supports both sides of the employment relationship: helping Emiratis make informed career decisions while assisting companies with hiring, integration and retention.

Its impact will ultimately depend on whether the counselling translates into stable employment, stronger internal mobility and sustained career progression for Emirati professionals across the private sector.