NAFIS Scheme UAE Employers 2025 — National Programme for Emiratisation Salary Support Explained
NAFIS — Quick Reference
NAFIS (National Programme for Emiratisation, نافس) is the UAE government salary subsidy scheme that supports private sector UAE National employment. Administered by MoHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the UAE federal body responsible for private sector employment regulation, Emiratisation enforcement, and the Wage Protection System), NAFIS provides monthly salary support of up to AED 8,000 per qualifying Emirati hire in the private sector. The subsidy is paid directly to the employer, reduces the net cost of Emirati employment, and counts the hire toward the company’s Emiratisation target. The 50+ employee rule and the 14-sector rule for 20–49 employee companies both apply in the mainland UAE private sector alongside the NAFIS scheme.
NAFIS — نافس
Up to AED 8,000/month
Employer Salary Subsidy
Private Sector UAE Nationals
Counts Toward Emiratisation Quota
What Is NAFIS? The UAE Government Salary Subsidy Scheme for Private Sector Emirati Hires
NAFIS (National Programme for Emiratisation, نافس) is a UAE federal government programme launched as part of the Projects of the 50 initiative. MoHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the UAE federal body responsible for private sector employment regulation, Emiratisation enforcement, and the Wage Protection System) administers the programme through the nafis.gov.ae portal.
The purpose of NAFIS is to close the compensation gap between government sector and private sector employment for UAE Nationals. Government sector roles traditionally offer higher base salaries, greater job security, and shorter working hours than equivalent private sector positions. NAFIS subsidises the employer’s salary cost for each Emirati hire, making the total employment cost of a UAE National in a private sector role more competitive with the government sector equivalent.
NAFIS is not a one-off incentive payment. It is a recurring monthly support payment that reduces the employer’s net salary outlay for each registered Emirati employee throughout the support period. A company with 10 Emirati employees registered on NAFIS at the maximum AED 8,000 rate receives AED 80,000 per month in salary support — AED 960,000 per year.
NAFIS support is available to private sector UAE mainland companies. The 50+ employee rule and the 14-sector rule for 20–49 employee companies both apply in the same employer landscape where NAFIS operates. Both size-tiers of Emiratisation-obligated company can access NAFIS benefits for their Emirati hires.
NAFIS Support Amounts by Job Category: How Much the Subsidy Pays Per Emirati Employee
| Job Category | Monthly NAFIS Support | Annual Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior / professional roles (high salary tier) | Up to AED 8,000/month | Up to AED 96,000/year | Maximum support level — applies to roles with higher base salaries |
| Mid-level skilled roles | AED 5,000 – AED 7,000/month | AED 60,000 – AED 84,000/year | Support tier varies by salary bracket and job classification |
| Entry-level qualifying roles (salary ≥ AED 4,000/month) | AED 3,000 – AED 5,000/month | AED 36,000 – AED 60,000/year | Entry-level Emiratisation roles must still meet the AED 4,000 minimum salary threshold |
| Platinum category companies (NAFIS Gold) | Enhanced rates above standard | Above standard tier | Companies in the Platinum Emiratisation compliance category access NAFIS Gold enhanced support |
NAFIS Eligibility: Which Employers and Which UAE Nationals Qualify for the Scheme
| Eligibility Factor | Employer Requirement | Employee Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Registered UAE private sector company, mainland | UAE National (Emirati) citizen |
| Employment type | Direct employment — not labour outsourcing | Employed in a qualifying skilled role (salary ≥ AED 4,000/month) |
| Sector | Mainland UAE private sector company in any sector | Not in domestic work or excluded unskilled categories |
| Emiratisation compliance | Company must be compliant or working toward compliance | Must be correctly registered in MoHRE employer system and on WPS |
| NAFIS portal | Company account registered at nafis.gov.ae | Each hire registered individually on nafis.gov.ae |
NAFIS does not apply to UAE National employees placed through a labour outsourcing or contract staffing arrangement where the employer of record is a third-party staffing company. The NAFIS subsidy flows to the direct employer of the UAE National. Companies using an RPO or outsourced hiring model should confirm with their service provider whether the placement structure preserves NAFIS eligibility.
How to Apply for NAFIS: Registration Process and nafis.gov.ae Portal Guide
NAFIS-Adjusted Net Cost: Worked Example Showing True Employer Cost After Subsidy
NAFIS and Emiratisation Quota: Does a NAFIS-Supported Hire Count Toward Your Target?
Yes. A UAE National employed in a qualifying skilled role and registered on NAFIS counts toward the company’s Emiratisation percentage at the MoHRE semi-annual compliance checks in January and July. NAFIS registration does not change the Emiratisation counting rules — the hire is counted based on their role classification and salary threshold (minimum AED 4,000 per month), not on whether NAFIS has been applied.
The practical significance is that NAFIS makes each Emirati hire simultaneously count toward your quota and reduce your net salary cost. There is no tradeoff between accessing the subsidy and achieving compliance — both happen with the same hire.
Estimate Your NAFIS Savings
Use the Emiratisation quota calculator to see how much NAFIS salary support offsets the cost of filling your compliance gap versus paying the AED 108,000 penalty.