Workforce nationalisation is government policy to bring more citizens into private sector jobs. In the UAE it is called Emiratisation. In Saudi Arabia it is Saudisation, run through the Nitaqat system. Both set hiring targets for firms, with fines for those who miss them and support for those who comply.
Private firms with 50 or more employees must reach 8% skilled Emiratis by 30 June 2026. That rises to 10% by 31 December 2026. Emirati hires are registered on the Nafis platform.
Missing a target costs AED 9,000 per month for each unfilled place, which is AED 108,000 a year. Non-compliance can also freeze new work permits and lower your MoHRE classification.
Saudi Arabia sets quotas by sector and company size through Nitaqat, using colour bands that tighten over time. The two systems are separate, so plan each market on its own.
Track your ratios every month. Register nationals correctly and hire ahead of each deadline. Our teams in the UAE and Saudi Arabia build compliant nationalisation plans.
Last updated: July 2026 | Reviewed by Tuscan Consulting, Dubai