DUBAI : The United Arab Emirates will raise the minimum monthly wage for Emiratis employed in the private sector to AED6,000 ($1,635) from Jan. 1, 2026, as part of its ongoing Emiratisation drive, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said.

The new threshold will apply to newly issued work permits for Emiratis, as well as permits that are renewed or amended from the start of 2026. Companies that hired Emiratis before that date will be given until June 30, 2026, to adjust salaries to meet the new minimum.

Khalil Ibrahim Al Khouri, under-secretary for labour market and Emiratisation operations at the ministry, said the increase is part of a phased framework aimed at steadily lifting Emirati wages in the private sector. The minimum salary was first set at AED4,000 ($1,090), raised to AED5,000 ($1,360), and will now reach AED6,000 from 2026, he said.

The gradual increases are intended to better reflect market wages across job roles while giving private-sector employers time to implement the changes, Al Khouri added.

He urged companies to amend employment contracts to comply with the new requirement by the June 30, 2026 deadline, stressing that all Emiratis working in the private sector must earn at least AED6,000 per month by that date.

From July 1, 2026, measures will be taken against non-compliant firms, including excluding Emirati employees whose pay falls below the minimum from Emiratisation targets and suspending the issuance of new work permits until salaries are adjusted, he said.

Al Khouri praised private-sector employers for their cooperation with Emiratisation policies, noting that participation has been bolstered by the Nafis programme, particularly its digital platform that connects companies with qualified Emirati candidates and offers incentives to firms that meet national employment targets.

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