If you are hiring Emiratis to meet your Emiratisation target, the Nafis program can reduce the actual cost of that hire, sometimes to close to zero in the early years. Nafis tops up the salary of eligible Emirati employees, supports pensions and training, and connects you to UAE national talent. It is a federal initiative, and in 2026 the UAE extended it to 2040, so it is not going away.
This guide explains what the Nafis program does, what is changing as of September 2026, and how employers can use it.
Key takeaways
- Nafis pays a salary top-up directly to the eligible Emirati employee, not to you, so you can offer a strong total package while paying a competitive base.
- The program was extended to 2040, with a revised framework starting September 2026.
- Registering early matters. Benefits start from the registration date, not retroactively.
- From September 2026, employers will take on the full pension contribution for staff earning below AED 20,000.
- Nafis works alongside mandatory Emiratisation targets. It lowers the cost; it does not remove the obligation.
What is the Nafis Program?
The Nafis program is the UAE’s national initiative to increase the number of Emiratis working in private sector roles. It launched in September 2021 under the Projects of the 50, and it is overseen by the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council in partnership with MOHRE.
It has already passed its original goal. More than 176,000 Emiratis have been placed through the program across more than 32,000 private-sector establishments. In 2026, the government confirmed the program will run through 2040, giving employers and employees long-term certainty.
For a business, the simplest way to understand Nafis is this: it changes the economics of hiring an Emirati. Through wage support, pension assistance, and training, it lowers costs and increases the appeal of a private-sector role for a UAE national.
How Nafis Helps Employers
The core benefit is the salary support scheme, and the mechanics matter. The top-up is paid directly to the Emirati employee, not to the employer. You pay an agreed base salary through the Wage Protection System, and Nafis adds a monthly top-up on top of it. The employee receives both.
That structure is what creates the cost advantage. You can offer a competitive total package to attract Emirati talent while keeping your payroll costs lower than the headline number the candidate takes home.
Salary support is typically tied to education level and paid for up to five years, usually reducing over time. Support has typically reached up to AED 7,000 per month for degree holders, with lower amounts for diploma and secondary qualifications. To qualify for the salary support scheme, the employee’s monthly salary generally needs to sit between AED 6,000 and AED 20,000. Because the figures are being revised from September 2026, always confirm the current bands on the official Nafis platform.
What Is Changing in the Nafis Program From September 2026
The 2040 extension comes with a revised framework that begins in September 2026. A few points employers should plan for:
- New beneficiaries move to the updated system from September 2026. Existing beneficiaries transition gradually over up to three years, with some support categories stepping down by AED 500 every six months until they reach the new levels.
- Pension responsibility shifts. The government will stop reimbursing the 2.5% employer pension contribution for eligible Emirati employees earning below AED 20,000. From September 2026, employers carry that cost. Build it into your recruitment budget.
- Family support expands. Under the Year of Family 2026, the four-child cap on child allowance was removed, and new salary support schemes were announced for children of Emirati mothers and spouses of Emirati men in the private sector.
- Free zone support. From September 2026, UAE nationals at free zone employers earning below AED 6,000 can receive salary support for a limited period.
None of this changes the program’s headline value. It does mean the numbers move, so treat nafis.gov.ae as your source of truth before you budget.
Nafis Benefits Employers Can Use
| Benefit | What it does for you |
| Salary support | Top-up paid to the employee, lowering your effective payroll cost for up to 5 years |
| Pension support | Government contribution toward pensions (changing from September 2026, see above) |
| Training and development | Apprenticeships, internships, and upskilling that build a stronger talent pipeline |
| Nafis platform | Post vacancies and search a database of UAE nationals actively seeking private sector roles |
| Retention safety net | Unemployment cover for Emiratis reduces the pull back to government jobs, helping retention |
| Nafis Award and Partners Club | Recognition and MOHRE service-fee discounts for strong Emiratisation performers |
How to Register for Nafis
Registration is quick, and the key rule is to do it early, because benefits begin from the registration date and are not backdated.
- Register your company on the Nafis platform. You need an active trade license, compliant labor status, and genuine skilled roles. Employer registration is usually completed within one to two business days.
- Register each Emirati employee individually, with their Emirates ID, employment contract, and WPS salary confirmation. This step typically takes one to three days.
- Keep records clean. Support is tied to active, verifiable employment. Delayed payroll, inactive roles, or inconsistent records can affect eligibility.
Who is Eligible for the Nafis Program
Eligibility runs at two levels.
The employer must be a private sector company with an active trade license, compliant labor status, and genuine skilled roles. The employee must be a UAE national, registered on the Nafis platform, meeting the minimum salary threshold of AED 6,000, and not drawing overlapping government support.
One point employers miss: registering an Emirati with the pension authority (GPSSA) within 30 days of their start date is mandatory. Miss it, and you can lose the government’s pension contribution and face daily late penalties. Get the paperwork right from day one.
How Nafis Works With Your Emiratisation Target
Nafis lowers the cost of Emirati hiring. It does not remove the obligation. Companies with 50 or more employees still need to grow Emirati representation in skilled roles, and firms with 20 to 49 employees in 14 selected sectors have their own hiring requirements. The two run in parallel: the target is the requirement, and Nafis is the support that makes meeting it affordable.
There is one condition the program will not bend on. The role has to be genuine. MOHRE checks that the job is real, that salary flows through the Wage Protection System, and that the employee is properly registered. A name on payroll to claim support is treated as fraud. So the smart play is to hire Emiratis into real roles you actually need, then use Nafis to make those hires affordable.
Where Caliberly Fits in
Nafis makes Emirati hiring cheaper. Finding the right Emirati candidate for a real, skilled role is the part it does not do for you. That is where we come in.
Caliberly sources, screens, and shortlists UAE nationals for genuine skilled roles, so the hires you make count toward your target and qualify for support. We handle the search and the documentation readiness; you keep the cost advantage. See how our Emiratisation recruitment works, explore our wider employer services, or read more hiring guides on our blog.
Ready to Hire Emirati Talent That Counts?
Meeting your target does not have to mean overpaying or rushing a hire. Tell us the roles you need to fill, and we will find Emirati candidates who fit the job and stay in it.
Get in touch with Caliberly, and we activate within 48 hours.
FAQs
Does the Nafis salary support go to the employer or the employee?
It goes directly to the employee. You pay the agreed base salary through the Wage Protection System, and Nafis pays a top-up on top of that to the Emirati employee. Your effective payroll cost is lower than the total the employee receives.
Is joining Nafis mandatory?
No. Registering for the Nafis program is optional. Meeting your Emiratisation target is not. Most eligible employers use Nafis because it offsets the cost of the Emirati hiring they are already required to do.
How long does Nafis salary support last?
Support is generally provided for up to five years and usually reduces year on year. The exact duration and amount depend on the employee’s salary, qualifications, and the scheme category. The structure is being revised from September 2026, so check the current terms on nafis.gov.ae.
Can free zone companies use Nafis?
Support is expanding to free zones. From September 2026, UAE nationals at free zone employers earning below AED 6,000 can receive salary support for a limited period. Free zones under DIFC or ADGM operate under separate rules, so confirm your specific situation.
What happens to Nafis after 2026?
The program has been extended to 2040. A revised framework starts in September 2026, and existing beneficiaries transition to the new system over up to 3 years. The program is continuing, not closing.
