UAE raises private-sector minimum wage for Emiratis to AED6,000

The UAE has announced an increase in the minimum wage for Emiratis working in the private sector, raising it to AED6,000 per month from January 1.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said the new threshold will apply to all new, renewed or amended work permits for Emirati employees from that date.

Companies will be given a six-month grace period to adjust salaries for their current Emirati workforce, with all wages required to meet the new minimum by June 30.

In a statement, the MoHRE said the move forms part of the UAE’s wider Emiratisation strategy, which aims to boost citizen participation and long-term career sustainability in the private sector.

Khalil Ibrahim Al Khouri, Under-Secretary of Labour Market and Emiratisation Operations, said the wage increase follows a phased approach introduced in recent years.

“The strategy began with a minimum salary of AED4,000, then AED5,000, and now AED6,000 from 2026,” he said, adding that the gradual increases are designed to reflect market conditions while giving employers time to adapt.

Al Khouri urged companies to update employment contracts for Emirati staff ahead of the June 2026 deadline, stressing that AED 6,000 will become the minimum salary for all Emiratis in the private sector by that point.

MoHRE warned that penalties will apply from July 1 for non-compliant employers. These measures include excluding underpaid Emiratis from Emiratisation targets and suspending new work permits until salaries are brought into line with the new rules.

The ministry said private-sector engagement with Emiratisation has strengthened in recent years, supported by the Nafis programme, which connects employers with qualified Emirati candidates and offers incentives to companies meeting national employment targets.

Officials said the latest wage increase is intended to enhance the attractiveness of private-sector roles for Emiratis while supporting sustainable economic growth.