Situation:
The owner who has two companies (one with 21 employees, and another with 100 employees) wants to know how many Emiratis he has to hire to avoid penalties.
What actions are required?
1. Identify the company size and related applicability
| 20–49 employees | Must hire 1 Emirati in 2024 and another one by end of 2025 (hiring 2 Emirati employees in total), only if operating in targeted sectors |
| 50+ employees | Must increase Emiratisation by 2% annually for skilled roles, aiming for 10% by 2026 |
2. Check the company sector (For 20–49 Employee Firms)
If the company employs 20–49 workers, the rule only applies if you are in one of the 14 targeted sectors, such as:
- Information and Communications
- Financial and Insurance Activities
- Education
- Healthcare and Social Work
- Construction
- Wholesale and Retail Trade
- Professional and Technical Services
- Hospitality, Transport, etc.
If the business is in one of these sectors, the owner is obligated to hire 2 Emiratis in total by the end of 2025 (one must have been hired in 2024).
3. Understand Emiratisation Target (For 50+ Employees)
If the company has 50 or...