General

Nafis is a governmental federal program aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Emirati human resources and empowering them to occupy jobs in the United Arab Emirates’ private sector over the next five years. It is launched as part of the “Projects of the 50”, which aim to accelerate the development journey of the UAE.

• Create a partnership between the public and private sectors and empower the private sector to become the key driver of the UAE’s development journey
• Increase the competitiveness of Emirati human resources and enable Nationals to occupy 75,000 job opportunities in the private sector over the next five years
• Create equal job opportunities in the private sector to attract Nationals
• Foster the attraction of job opportunities in the private sector
• Provide coaching, professional training, mentoring services, and counselling to program participants

Nafis targets Emirati job seekers and current employees in the private sector, free zones, and the banking, financial, and insurance sectors—both males and females aged 18 and above—as well as companies that employ Emirati nationals.

1. Emirati Salary Support Scheme
2. Pension Program
3. Child Allowance Scheme
4. Talent Program
5. Apprentice Program
6. Recruitment Targets
7. National Healthcare Program
8. Unemployment Benefit
9. Vocational Counselling Program
10. Job Offers
11. On-the-job training program

Visit the Nafis Initiatives page to know more details about these programs.

Nafis initiatives cover all sectors and fields of the private sector.

Kindly follow the latest Nafis news and announcements posted on social media platforms, as well as on the Nafis platform itself.

Nafis was launched in September 2021, and program registration has started over several phases. You can visit the Nafis Initiatives page for more details.

The first package of Nafis initiatives was launched in October (Emirati Salary Support Scheme, Unemployment Benefit, Job Offers Programme, Child Allowance Scheme, Pension Program). The second package was announced in March 2022 and included four specialized training and development programmes.

• Talent Program: Develops national cadres’ competencies to obtain international professional certificates.
• National Healthcare Program: Targets 10,000 Emiratis over five years with grants for academic and vocational healthcare qualifications.
• Apprentice Program: A 12-month training programme with financial rewards in private and semi-governmental companies.
• Career Counselling: Provides guidance on skills, career paths, CV writing, interviewing, and work ethics.

• The Talent Program will be implemented by the Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy and the Center for Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT).
• Nine government and private educational institutions will provide accredited healthcare programmes.
• The Apprenticeship Program will be overseen by private and semi-private companies meeting programme criteria.
• The Career Counselling Program will be implemented by the Federal Youth Foundation.
• All initiatives are coordinated under the Emirati Cadres Competitiveness Council.

Any Emirati citizen between 18–60 years old may register on the Nafis platform—via UAE Pass—to search for work, find training opportunities, or apply for programs, subject to eligibility terms.

Since launch, Nafis has been promoted through various media, and its electronic platform hosts all the information and FAQs citizens need. We partner with universities, bodies, and authorities to raise competencies, encourage registration, and enhance Emirati presence in the private sector.