Nafis Emirati Workforce Up 404%: UAE Job Sectors to 2031

Nafis Emirati workforce growth has reached 404% since the programme started in 2021, the UAE's Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation said on 10 November 2026. Speaking at the UAE Government Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar also named the ten sectors the country will back for new jobs up to 2031. The figures matter for both Emirati and expat job seekers, because they show where hiring is heading.

What do the new figures show?

Gulf News reported the numbers from the minister's session on human capital and workforce readiness. All of them compare today with 2021, the year Nafis was launched.

In plain terms, the whole labour market has roughly doubled in five years, and the number of working Emiratis has grown about five times over. The minister put this down to government policy and to cooperation with private employers.

Which sectors will hire up to 2031?

Dr Al Awar presented a model that simulates the labour market as far as 2031. Officials use it, with data and artificial intelligence, to predict how jobs will change and to plan policy early. He said the next round of employment and skills policy will concentrate on sectors that can create lasting, high-value jobs:

• advanced manufacturing
• artificial intelligence
• technology and data
• healthcare and life sciences
• aviation and aerospace
• advanced energy
• sustainability

He listed four goals for the coming years: more Emiratis in private companies, better skills and productivity, keeping international talent in the country, and more opportunities for women.

What does this mean for Emirati job seekers?

Nafis is the federal programme that helps UAE nationals find and keep private sector jobs. It runs a job-matching platform and pays salary support on top of what employers offer.

Demand from employers is strongest at this time of year. Private companies with 50 or more staff must reach their Emiratisation target for 2026 by 31 December, and firms that fall short pay a monthly contribution for every post they did not fill. We explained the rule and the timetable in our guide to the 31 December Nafis hiring deadline.

If your studies or experience match one of the priority sectors above, say so clearly on your Nafis profile and CV. Healthcare is a good example of a field already recruiting nationals in numbers, as the Nabd Al Seha career fair with 347 jobs in Dubai showed this month.

What does it mean for expats?

The message for foreign workers is positive too. The total workforce has grown 104% and the number of companies 46%, which means far more employers and far more jobs than in 2021. The minister said the UAE wants to keep attracting highly skilled professionals and to hold on to the international talent it already has.

The growth in skilled workers (up 50%) points to where the better-paid openings are. Engineers, clinicians, data specialists, aviation technicians and energy professionals fit the 2031 priority list most closely.

How well are workers protected?

The minister also gave an update on worker protection, which is useful to know before you accept a job offer:

• About Dh37 billion in salaries is paid through the Wage Protection System each month.
• Workers' protection insurance covers 99% of private sector employees.
• Unemployment insurance covers 93% of private sector workers.
• Health cover applies to staff in private companies and to domestic workers as well.

The practical lesson: your salary should arrive through the Wage Protection System, and you should be enrolled in the unemployment insurance scheme soon after you start. Ask your employer about both if they are not mentioned in your contract.

What it means for job seekers

• The UAE labour market is expanding, not shrinking, and official policy is to keep it growing up to 2031.
• Pick training that matches the ten priority sectors. Short courses in AI, data and sustainability are the easiest to add to an existing career.
• Emiratis have the most bargaining power between now and 31 December, while companies are racing to meet their targets.
• Expats should aim for skilled roles, where growth has been strongest.

More openings: all UAE jobs