Emiratisation Compliance Calculator
Calculate your UAE national workforce requirements under MOHRE regulations
Select your company sector to determine applicable rates
Include only skilled positions (not labourers). Count as per MOHRE work permit records
Count eligible Emiratis in skilled roles in your MOHRE records.
Use total staff for the 50-employee threshold, including skilled and other roles.
UAE Emiratisation Rules: Who Must Comply and by How Much
Covered MOHRE private-sector establishments with at least 50 total employees must increase Emirati employment in skilled roles by 2 percentage points a year, reaching 10% by the end of 2026. The obligation also includes half-year targets. Selected establishments with 20 to 49 employees have separate requirements to hire Emiratis. Check your establishment target in the MOHRE portal. Free-zone and sector rules can differ.
Selected establishments with 20 to 49 employees have separate Emirati hiring requirements. Check your establishment’s status in the MOHRE portal before assuming that a percentage target does not apply. The distinction between “skilled” and “non-skilled” roles matters: only roles classified by MOHRE as requiring professional qualifications count toward the quota calculation.
How the Emiratisation Quota Is Calculated
Use total establishment staff to check the 50-employee threshold. Use skilled employees as the denominator for the percentage estimate. For example, 120 skilled employees at a covered establishment gives an estimated end-2026 requirement of 12 eligible Emiratis in skilled roles. Confirm eligible roles, registered headcount and the official quota with MOHRE.
Use the skilled-role classification and eligible Emirati headcount recorded by MOHRE. Confirm these figures in your establishment records before using the estimate.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
MOHRE can impose financial contributions when an establishment misses its Emiratisation target. Amounts depend on the applicable rules and period. Check your registered shortfall and current contribution in the MOHRE portal. This calculator estimates the hiring gap and does not calculate a fine. Plan genuine Emirati recruitment and retention through NAFIS.
NAFIS offers support programmes for eligible Emiratis and employers. Check the current eligibility rules and benefits directly with NAFIS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Emiratisation apply to free zone companies?
Mandatory Emiratisation quotas currently apply to onshore private sector companies. Most free zones operate under separate regulatory frameworks and are not subject to the same mandatory targets. However, individual free zone authorities may have their own nationalisation initiatives. Always verify with your specific free zone authority.
What counts as a skilled role for Emiratisation purposes?
MOHRE defines skilled roles using the ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations) framework. These are roles that require professional qualifications, technical training, or specialist knowledge. Roles classified at ISCO skill levels 1-3 typically qualify. Check the MOHRE portal or the Nafis platform for the full classification list.
How often does MOHRE update Emiratisation targets?
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 6 of 2023, the mandatory rate increases by 2 percent annually. MOHRE publishes updated targets at the start of each year. Companies should plan their hiring pipelines at least 6 months ahead of each annual target date to avoid last-minute non-compliance.
Can I count Emirati employees on part-time contracts toward my quota?
Yes, under certain conditions. MOHRE allows part-time Emirati employees to count toward the Emiratisation quota on a pro-rata basis, provided the employment is registered through an approved part-time contract. The conditions are defined under Ministerial Resolution No. 43 of 2022.
Use the Calculator Above
Enter your total employee count, the number classified as skilled, and your current Emirati headcount in the calculator above. The tool calculates your mandatory quota, your current compliance percentage, and the number of additional Emirati hires you need to reach target by the end of this year.
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Covered MOHRE private-sector establishments with at least 50 total employees must increase Emirati employment in skilled roles by 2 percentage points a year, reaching 10% by the end of 2026. The obligation also includes half-year targets. Selected establishments with 20 to 49 employees have separate requirements to hire Emiratis. Check your establishment target in the MOHRE portal. Free-zone and sector rules can differ.
Selected establishments with 20 to 49 employees have separate Emirati hiring requirements. Check your establishment’s status in the MOHRE portal before assuming that a percentage target does not apply. The distinction between “skilled” and “non-skilled” roles matters: only roles classified by MOHRE as requiring professional qualifications count toward the quota calculation.
How the Emiratisation Quota Is Calculated
Use total establishment staff to check the 50-employee threshold. Use skilled employees as the denominator for the percentage estimate. For example, 120 skilled employees at a covered establishment gives an estimated end-2026 requirement of 12 eligible Emiratis in skilled roles. Confirm eligible roles, registered headcount and the official quota with MOHRE.
Use the skilled-role classification and eligible Emirati headcount recorded by MOHRE. Confirm these figures in your establishment records before using the estimate.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
MOHRE can impose financial contributions when an establishment misses its Emiratisation target. Amounts depend on the applicable rules and period. Check your registered shortfall and current contribution in the MOHRE portal. This calculator estimates the hiring gap and does not calculate a fine. Plan genuine Emirati recruitment and retention through NAFIS.
NAFIS offers support programmes for eligible Emiratis and employers. Check the current eligibility rules and benefits directly with NAFIS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Emiratisation apply to free zone companies?
Mandatory Emiratisation quotas currently apply to onshore private sector companies. Most free zones operate under separate regulatory frameworks and are not subject to the same mandatory targets. However, individual free zone authorities may have their own nationalisation initiatives. Always verify with your specific free zone authority.
What counts as a skilled role for Emiratisation purposes?
MOHRE defines skilled roles using the ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations) framework. These are roles that require professional qualifications, technical training, or specialist knowledge. Roles classified at ISCO skill levels 1-3 typically qualify. Check the MOHRE portal or the Nafis platform for the full classification list.
How often does MOHRE update Emiratisation targets?
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 6 of 2023, the mandatory rate increases by 2 percent annually. MOHRE publishes updated targets at the start of each year. Companies should plan their hiring pipelines at least 6 months ahead of each annual target date to avoid last-minute non-compliance.
Can I count Emirati employees on part-time contracts toward my quota?
Yes, under certain conditions. MOHRE allows part-time Emirati employees to count toward the Emiratisation quota on a pro-rata basis, provided the employment is registered through an approved part-time contract. The conditions are defined under Ministerial Resolution No. 43 of 2022.
Use the Calculator Above
Enter your total employee count, the number classified as skilled, and your current Emirati headcount in the calculator above. The tool calculates your mandatory quota, your current compliance percentage, and the number of additional Emirati hires you need to reach target by the end of this year.
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Stay updated with more insightful articles and tips by subscribing to our newsletter.
Subscribe Now đŸ‘‰