The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) revealed on 23 September 2026 that it had uncovered 377 instances of so-called “fake Emiratisation” across 266 private-sector firms during the first half of the year. Under the practice, companies list Emirati nationals on their payrolls—often on minimal salaries—without assigning genuine duties, thereby inflating compliance numbers and unlocking government incentives tied to the Nafis localisation programme. MoHRE said the violations were detected through a mix of on-site inspections, artificial-intelligence analytics and cross-checks with pension funds. Firms now face fines of up to AED 500,000 (USD 136,000) alongside possible suspension from recruitment portals. Repeat offenders risk referral to the Public Prosecution. For global mobility and HR teams, the crackdown is a wake-up call: organisations that rely heavily on expatriate workforces must ensure their Emiratisation strategies are substantive, not cosmetic. Failure to do so could jeopardise quota allotments for new work permits, delay residency-visa processing and expose senior managers to legal liability. MoHRE urged Emirati job-seekers to reject sham contracts and encouraged the public to report suspected cases via its hotline and smart app. The ministry added that it will intensify AI-driven audits in Q4 2026, signalling that compliance enforcement is moving from education to penalties.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
