UAE Reports 404 Percent Growth in Private Sector Emirati Employment Since 2021

Emirati employment in the UAE private sector has expanded by 404% since the introduction of the Nafis initiative in 2021, according to Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar during the UAE Government Annual Meetings on November 10.

Al Awar stated that women's participation across the national labour market rose by 109%, alongside a 50% increase in the number of skilled workers. Across the broader economy, the total volume of registered companies expanded by 46%, while total employed personnel increased by 104%.

Financial and social security mechanisms also demonstrated high compliance rates across the private sector. The minister noted that roughly Dh37 billion in monthly wages is distributed through the Wage Protection System (WPS). In addition, private-sector coverage has reached 99% under the workers' protection insurance programme and 93% for the mandatory unemployment insurance scheme.