UAE private sector records 11% rise in Emiratisation

The number of Emiratis employed in the UAE private sector increased by 11 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period last year.

That's according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which said "more than 10,500 Emiratis joined the private sector since the beginning of 2023, bringing the total number of Emirati employees in the sector to over 66,000."

It also showed a 13 per cent increase in the number of private sector firms employing Emiratis during Q1 in 2023, compared to the previous year. This brings the total number of companies hiring UAE nationals to over 16,000, including more than 2,000 companies since the start of 2023.

The ministry revealed that the five sectors that showed growth were construction (14 per cent), commerce and repair services (13 per cent), manufacturing (10 per cent), business (10 per cent) and financial brokerage (4 per cent).

More than 5,000 Emiratis also benefited from career counselling services during the same period, the ministry added.

Under the Nafis programme, private sector firms with at least 50 employees must ensure Emiratis form 2 per cent of their workforce.