The UAE government has implemented a new policy requiring businesses to increase the employment of UAE citizens

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has issued a directive outlining the details. Under the new regulations, companies with a workforce ranging from 20 to 49 employees must hire at least one UAE citizen by 2024, and an additional one by 2025. This requirement applies to private companies operating in 14 sectors of the economy, including real estate, education, construction, and healthcare. Previously, only companies with a minimum of 50 employees were obligated to employ UAE citizens. Any company within the 20-49 employee range that fails to hire at least one Emirati citizen in 2024 will be subject to a fine of AED 96,000. Furthermore, enterprises that do not have two UAE citizen employees by 2025 will face an increased fine of AED 108,000. Currently, companies with a workforce of 50 or more employees are already mandated to hire UAE citizens.