DUBAI: Private sector companies in the UAE will have to fill 10 per cent of their positions with Emirati nationals within five years, the UAE said yesterday, announcing its latest tranche of economic reforms.
As part of measures to boost the private sector as it diversifies its economy away from hydrocarbon revenues, the Gulf state said it will spend 24 billion dirhams ($6.53bn) to get citizens into 75,000 private sector jobs over five years.
Incentives will include salary top-ups, training grants, pension subsidies and child allowances for Emiratis working in the private sector.
Oil-rich Gulf countries like the UAE have traditionally relied on expatriates for skilled and cheap labour, while citizens largely worked in government jobs. But since the 2014-2015 oil price shock they have increasingly encouraged their citizens to work in the private sector rather than be on the state’s payroll.
The target for 10pc of private sector workers to be Emiratis will start with a 2pc target in the first year. The government also said it wanted 10,000 Emiratis to be healthcare workers in five years’ time.