Emiratisation to shift focus from numbers to quality of jobs

The number of Emiratis in the private sector has surged by over 437 percent, from 29,000 to more than 157,000 in just four years, with over 30,000 companies now employing UAE nationals.

- Rugayya Al Qaydi [e-mail]

Companies will now be assessed based on their success in retaining Emirati talent, their commitment to professional development and training, and their active use of the Nafis platform for recruitment.

The fourth cycle of the Nafis Award for 2025-2026 was announced at a press conference today, unveiling significant enhancements aimed at deepening the impact of Emiratisation in the private sector.

The award, a key initiative under the Dh24-billion Nafis programme, will now place a stronger emphasis on qualitative, long-term employment for UAE nationals and introduces a new category for professionals in the education sector.

Under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the leadership of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Nafis programme has achieved remarkable success since its launch in September 2021. Building on this achievement, the award’s fourth cycle introduces refined evaluation criteria for the Establishments category. The focus shifts from sheer numbers to the quality and sustainability of employment.