Fake Emiratisation refers to the practice of companies falsely claiming to have employed Emirati citizens to meet government-mandated quotas for hiring Emirati workers. This is done to appear compliant with Emiratisation policies, which aim to increase the number of Emirati nationals in the workforce.

Between mid-2022 and mid-2024, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) fined 1,444 private companies for faking Emiratisation.

On a brighter note, around 21,000 firms have successfully met their Emiratisation targets, which is about 90% of the businesses that need to follow these regulations.

Faking Emiratisation is a serious offense in the UAE, as it goes against the country’s labour policies and sustainable development goals. To prevent such violations, the UAE has introduced heavy penalties. These include fines ranging from AED 20,000 to AED 100,000 per company, possible downgrading of the company’s industry classification, and legal actions that could involve public prosecution. Additionally, individuals involved might be barred from the ‘Nafis’ Emiratisation program and required to return any financial benefits they received.