Emiratis working in the private sector are to receive a minimum salary of Dh6,000 ($1,633) from January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said.
Emirati employees in the private sector were previously to be paid a minimum salary of Dh5,000. That rate took effect from January 1 this year.
“Starting on January 1, 2026, the minimum salary for Emirati citizens working in the private sector will be raised to Dh6,000,” the ministry said in a post on X. "The new minimum wage requirement will apply to all citizen work permit services, including the issuance, renewal and amendment of Emirati work permits.
“We will send notifications through our service channels and the ministry’s smart application, informing employers about the new minimum wage for Emiratis in private sector."
It will no longer be permitted to print or submit Emirati work permit applications, whether for issuance, renewal, or amendment, if the stated salary is below Dh6,000. “Applications will be flagged with a note requiring a salary adjustment,” the ministry added.
If an Emirati employee’s salary is not adjusted by June 30, additional measures are to take effect from July, it said. “These include excluding the Emirati employee from Emiratisation quota calculations until the salary is corrected and imposing a restriction on the establishment that prevents the issuance of new permits due to citizen salaries being below Dh6,000.”
The ministry confirmed that the minimum wage increase applies only to the two-year work permit for Emiratis, whether new, renewed or amended.
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