Nafis and Your Career: Everything UAE Nationals Need to Know
If you are an Emirati looking for a job in the private sector, you might have heard of Nafis. As a UAE national, you’re interested in how this government programme can help your career. Perhaps you’re wondering how the salary support works or if you’re eligible for the benefits it offers.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Nafis program. We’ll walk you through what it is and how to register. We’ll also cover the benefits of enrolling in this Emiratisation program.
At the end of this guide, you’ll have a much clearer view of how you can take advantage of Nafis. You’ll also learn about useful career events to complement your Nafis membership.
What Is the Nafis Programme and Who Is It For?
Nafis is one of the UAE’s long-term initiatives to bring more Emiratis into private-sector careers. The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council launched the federal programme in 2021. The program is in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). It is a part of the UAE’s “Projects of the 50” and seeks to place 75,000 Emiratis in the private sector by 2025.
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The programme targets Emirati citizens from 18 to 60 years of age. This includes:
Fresh graduates and students preparing to enter the private sector for the first time
Mid-career professionals in government roles who want to move into private sector careers
Emiratis already working in the private sector who may qualify for salary support and added benefits
Private sector companies required to meet Emiratisation targets
The Nafis programme has scaled quickly since its launch in 2021. As of April 2026, more than 32,000 companies are hiring national talent through the programme. It has supported over 176,000 Emiratis into employment. It has also surpassed its target by placing over 152,000 Emiratis currently working in the private sector.
Family support has also expanded, with about 38,000 participants benefiting from the child allowance scheme. Women account for 74% of those who benefit from the programme, highlighting strong and sustained female participation.
In 2026, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the extension of the programme through 2040. This marks a shift from job creation alone to being sustainable. The focus now includes family, career progression, and future-ready skills.
Several updates shape this next phase:
- The child allowance scheme no longer has a cap on the number of children who can receive the benefit
- New salary support targets families, including children of Emirati mothers and spouses of Emiratis in private sector roles
- AI-driven tools now support hiring, skills matching, and talent development
- The “Promising Talents” platform identifies and develops candidates for future-focused roles
- Emiratisation requirements still apply. Companies with 50 or more employees must increase Emirati representation by 2% each year. The target remains 10% in skilled roles.
- Smaller companies in selected sectors must also hire Emiratis.
- Penalties for non-compliance continue and have expanded
How to Register on Nafis and What Happens Next
UAE Nationals can register through the official Nafis portal. You need an active UAE Pass account to log in. UAE Pass is the government’s digital identity system and is available as a mobile app.
For Emirati job seekers, the process is straightforward:
Visit nafis.gov.ae and select “Sign in as an Emirati”
Sign in using UAE Pass
Review and complete your profile details, including personal and education information
Agree to the programme terms and complete onboarding
Once registered, you can start using the platform. Your profile acts as your working record within the Nafis platform. You can search and apply for job vacancies in UAE. You can explore features, claim benefits, and access training and development programmes.
For employers, the registration process requires a valid trade licence number and authorised company representative documentation. Companies, including those in the free zones, can register as Partners through the same portal.
Nafis Salaries and Financial Benefits Explained
One of the most practical reasons to engage with Nafis is access to direct financial support. The programme offers several benefit streams that apply to UAE nationals working in the private sector.
Pension Contribution Support
Emiratis earning below AED 20,000 per month receive pension support for up to five years. The government covers a percentage of the pension contribution / insurance premium on behalf of the employer. This lowers hiring costs for companies and protects the employee’s long-term savings.
Merit Programme Top-ups
Are you an Emirati working in specific high-demand specialisation? You can receive an additional monthly top-up of AED 5,000 through the Nafis Merit Programme.
Eligible roles include nurses, accountants, financial auditors, lawyers, financial analysts, and coders. These top-ups are in addition to the standard salary support scheme.
Child Allowance
The Nafis child allowance scheme supports Emirati employees in the private sector with the cost of raising children. Under the original scheme, eligible employees received AED 600 per child for up to four children. However, the updated programme starting 2026 expands the benefit for larger families earning below AED 50,000 per month.
Aligning with UAE’s “Year of the Family”, there is no longer a cap on the number of children covered under the scheme. Additional family-focused support also includes targeted benefits for the children of Emirati mothers.. It also covers benefits for spouses of Emiratis working in private sector roles.
Unemployment Insurance UAE
Nafis provides an unemployment insurance scheme to private-sector employees who lose their jobs for reasons beyond their control. This unemployment insurance service is a temporary benefit for those with no stable income. The scheme aims to cover basic needs while the employee looks for a new job.
Unemployed Emiratis can claim unemployment benefits for up to six consecutive months. The programme limits total claims to a maximum of 12 months within a five-year period.
To continue receiving support, the individual must actively search for a job and accept suitable offers.
Monthly support amounts for unemployment benefits:
- AED 7,000 for the unemployed Emirati
- AED 4,500 for a non-working spouse
- AED 2,400 per month for the first and second child
- AED 1,600 per month for the third child
Emirati Salary Support Scheme
Emiratis working full-time in the private sector who meet the eligibility criteria receive a monthly salary top-up. This support helps bridge the difference between their salary and the relevant target salary.
Salary support applies to Emiratis earning up to AED 30,000 per month. However, the programme does not set a fixed amount for recipients. The top-up amounts depend on the individual's education level and job role. The programme also considers the average basic salary of the eligible employee.
- Bachelor's degree holders: up to AED 7,000 per month
- Diploma holders: up to AED 6,000 per month
- High school graduates: up to AED 5,000 per month
Note that MoHRE has increased the minimum monthly wage for Emirati private-sector employees to AED 6,000. This updated salary threshold applies to all new work permits, contract renewals, and amendments processed starting January 1, 2026.
Nafis and the Private Sector: Which Employers Are Participating?
The Nafis programme operates as a two-sided platform. It is also a portal for companies looking to hire UE Nationals. Companies can enroll as a Partner to meet their Emiratization program goals and access government incentives.
For HR managers, Nafis provides direct access to a verified pool of Emirati job seekers. Participating in Nafis also reduces the effective salary cost of Emirati hires through the subsidy schemes.
While there is a wide variety of companies in the job portal, the sectors most actively participating include:
● Banking and Financial Services
● Telecommunications
● Healthcare
● Technology and Digital Services
● Hospitality and Tourism
● Logistics
● Construction
While over 32,000 companies now participate in the program, these organizations below serve as prime examples. The Nafis Awards recognised these companies for their excellence in recruiting and training Emirati talent:
What Nafis Cannot Do for You — and Where the Gap Is
Nafis can help your career because it gives you real-time access online to what’s available in the job market. When you apply for a role through Nafis, your profile goes into a system. An employer's HR team reviews it. If you are short-listed, you may receive a call for an interview and get a job offer.
This matching process is simple and straightforward but there are also limitations to the program. The Nafis platform lists job vacancies in UAE. But it cannot always reveal the culture, the career path, or the real day-to-day reality of a private sector job. These things emerge through direct conversation between talents and employers.
While Nafis provides a quick way to apply for a job, it does not give you a “real feel” of the company. Reading a company bio page is not the same as talking in person with an employee. The same goes for an employer who could waste a lot of time screening talents that do not align with their company’s vision.
Submitting your CV through an online platform also puts you at risk of “Blackhole Anxiety”. This is the fear that your profile will disappear in the database without reaching a human recruiter. This is possible because certain algorithms may limit your profile from matching with jobs for which you may actually qualify.
This gap is particularly significant for first-time job seekers. They do not have the meaty career profile most employers prefer. Therefore, a young talent pool benefits more from in-person interactions. This is where they can showcase their personality and enthusiasm for the job.
Overall, signing up for Nafis is essential but it cannot replicate the face-to-face interaction between an employer and talents. This is where an in-person career event like Tawdheef fills the gap that no digital platform can close.
How to Meet Nafis-registered Employers in Person — Tawdheef 2026
For Emirati job seekers, meeting Nafis-registered employers face-to-face is the next step to maximise its potential. So, how can you meet these employers in person?
The good news is that there is a free, annual career fair exclusive to Emiratis that takes place in Abu Dhabi. Tawdheef x Zaheb 2026 is a major career event where 100+ Nafis-registered companies all gather. The in-person event bridges the gap between your digital job search and real-world career opportunities.
Tawdheef x Zaheb 2026
Date: 17 – 19 November 2026
Venue: ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi
Entry: Free for all registered Emirati visitors
Here are some of the benefits of attending the Tawdheef x Zaheb in-person career fair.
Speak directly with recruiters and HR leads from Nafis-registered private sector companies
Discover companies you had not considered. Explore fast-growing businesses that may not have prominent Nafis listings but are actively seeking Emirati talent
Apply for roles across multiple sectors in a single visit
Attend CV clinics where career advisers review your CV and profile on the spot. Get advice on how to position yourself for private sector roles
Participate in mock interviews to practise your responses. Receive structured feedback from professionals.
Attending Tawdheef x Zaheb 2026 complements your Nafis membership. It is the major in-person event allowing Emirati job seekers to meet employers directly in the United Arab Emirates. With its 20-year legacy, it is the trusted career event of leading private companies to discover new Emirati talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
