Required certification · United Arab Emirates
MOHRE & Emiratisation (Nafis)
Federal labour ministry that sets and enforces private-sector Emiratisation targets
Market position
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) sets Emiratisation targets for private companies and collects financial contributions from those that miss them. MOHRE requires companies with 50 or more employees to raise their Emirati share by 2% a year, with a first-half deadline of 30 June, and says targeted companies should reach 10% by the end of 2026. Companies with 20-49 employees in 14 sectors had to hire one Emirati in 2024 and another in 2025, and MOHRE points employers to the Nafis platform for help finding Emirati candidates.
United Arab Emirates-specific note
If you have 50 or more employees, or 20-49 employees in one of the 14 targeted sectors, track your Emirati headcount against MOHRE's half-yearly targets: each missed position costs a financial contribution. Your payroll setup should also reflect the AED 6,000 monthly minimum wage for Emiratis in the private sector.
Pros
- + Published targets with half-yearly deadlines (30 June for the first half of 2026)
- + Nafis platform helps employers find qualified Emirati candidates
- + Contribution amounts announced before collection (2025 amounts collected in January 2026)
Cons
- − From 1 July 2026, AED 10,000 a month (AED 120,000 a year) per unfilled position for companies with 50 or more employees
- − Companies with 20-49 employees in 14 sectors paid AED 108,000 per Emirati not hired under 2025 targets
- − Fines of up to AED 500,000 for circumventing targets, per MOHRE
- − Minimum wage for Emiratis in the private sector raised to AED 6,000 a month
Typical United Arab Emirates pricing
Government service fees apply per MOHRE service; missed Emiratisation targets carry financial contributions (AED 120,000 a year per unfilled position from 1 July 2026 for companies with 50 or more employees).
Why this matters for United Arab Emirates trades
Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025, contracting work in Dubai needs a trade licence and entry in Dubai Municipality’s Contractors Register, while federal MOEI e-qualification covers only MOEI’s own engineering projects. VAT is 5%, with registration mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months. E-invoicing follows a decentralised model based on the OpenPeppol standard: under Ministerial Decision No. 244 of 2025, as amended by Ministerial Resolution No. 66 of 2026, each business appoints an Accredited Service Provider from the Ministry of Finance list (by 30 October 2026 for revenue of AED 50 million or more, implementing by 1 January 2027; by 31 March 2027 for smaller businesses, implementing by 1 July 2027). MOHRE sets Emiratisation targets for companies with 50 or more employees and for companies with 20-49 employees in 14 sectors, and in Abu Dhabi a building permit needs an Estidama Pearl rating (at least one Pearl for private projects, two for government-funded ones).
UAE construction and trades software selection is shaped by 5% VAT filed with the Federal Tax Authority through EmaraTax, the phased e-invoicing mandate run through accredited Peppol service providers (under Ministry of Finance decisions, businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more implement it by 1 January 2027 and smaller businesses by 1 July 2027), MOHRE Emiratisation targets, separate regulatory systems in Dubai (Dubai Municipality’s Contractors Register and its BIM requirement for large and specialised buildings) and Abu Dhabi (DMT classification, permits and the Estidama Pearl rating), and AED pricing.
Frequently asked
Is MOHRE & Emiratisation (Nafis) a good fit for United Arab Emirates trades?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) sets Emiratisation targets for private companies and collects financial contributions from those that miss them. MOHRE requires companies with 50 or more employees to raise their Emirati share by 2% a year, with a first-half deadline of 30 June, and says targeted companies should reach 10% by the end of 2026. Companies with 20-49 employees in 14 sectors had to hire one Emirati in 2024 and another in 2025, and MOHRE points employers to the Nafis platform for help finding Emirati candidates. If you have 50 or more employees, or 20-49 employees in one of the 14 targeted sectors, track your Emirati headcount against MOHRE's half-yearly targets: each missed position costs a financial contribution. Your payroll setup should also reflect the AED 6,000 monthly minimum wage for Emiratis in the private sector.
What does MOHRE & Emiratisation (Nafis) cost in United Arab Emirates?
Government service fees apply per MOHRE service; missed Emiratisation targets carry financial contributions (AED 120,000 a year per unfilled position from 1 July 2026 for companies with 50 or more employees). Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current United Arab Emirates pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other United Arab Emirates vendors
Dubai Municipality (Contractor Licensing)
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Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MOEI)
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UAE VAT (Federal Tax Authority)
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UAE E-Invoicing (Peppol)
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Abu Dhabi DMT & Estidama
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Dubai BIM Mandate
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