The UAE is aiming to add 36,000 Emiratis to the private sector workforce this year and has approved a $1.7 billion budget to support Emiratisation.
The number of UAE nationals working in the private sector was about 92,000 by the end of 2023, according to the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.
Nearly 42,000 joined private businesses last year, with many attracted by incentives offered under the Nafis programme.
Scott Cairns, managing director of Creation Business Consultants in Dubai, told AGBI that despite the programme’s successes, difficulties in retaining Emirati employees persist.
“Continuous evaluation is crucial for ensuring the programme’s sustained success,” he said.
Some industries still face a skills gap, according to Cairns, and promoting the advantages of private sector employment also “remains a challenge”.
A 2023 survey of 500 Emiratis in private sector jobs, conducted by PwC, found that two-thirds were considering a return to the public sector.
