The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, known as Nafis, will begin implementing a new package of updates to support programs for Emirati citizens working in the private and banking sectors starting next September.
The updates focus on three main areas: a gradual reduction in salary support based on income brackets, changes to pension contribution support under the Eshtirak program, and an expansion of the child allowance to AED 600 per month for each eligible child, with no maximum limit on the number of children.
The changes also include new rules for eligibility in certain cases linked to the minimum wage, as part of efforts to ensure that support remains aligned with approved labor market requirements.
According to Nafis, the new reduction mechanism for the salary support program will apply to beneficiaries registered on or before August 14, 2026, who currently receive support above the new amounts set under the updated system.
Under the new structure, salary support will be set at AED 6,000 for university graduates, AED 5,000 for diploma holders, and AED 4,000 for high school graduates.
Support will also amount to AED 4,000 for citizens whose qualifications are below high school level if they are married or have at least one child, while those in the same education category who are unmarried and have no children will receive AED 3,000.
Nafis said the changes will be applied automatically, meaning beneficiaries will not need to submit a new application or take any additional action.
For beneficiaries registered on or before August 14, 2026, whose total monthly salaries range from AED 20,000 to AED 30,000, the support amount will be automatically reduced by AED 500 every six months until the benefit reaches zero.
For those earning a total monthly salary of up to AED 20,000, support will also be reduced by AED 500 every six months until it reaches the new benefit level assigned to the relevant category.
Nafis has also introduced a transitional mechanism for Emirati citizens working in free zones where the AED 6,000 minimum wage requirement does not apply.
The mechanism will be implemented in three stages. During the first stage, from September 2026 through February 2027, beneficiaries will continue receiving the full support amount with no reduction for six months.
In the second stage, from March through August 2027, the total value of the support will be reduced by 30%.
The third stage will run from September through November 2027, when the reduction will increase to 70%, after which the support will be discontinued.
Minimum Wage
Nafis said that beneficiaries working for private-sector or banking institutions covered by the minimum wage decision, and who were registered on or before August 14, 2026, will stop receiving support from September 2026 if their total monthly salary is below AED 6,000.
The program stressed the importance of employers complying with the approved minimum wage, as this is one of the key requirements linked to labor regulation and continued eligibility for support programs.
Failure by an employer to comply with the minimum wage is considered a violation and may result in penalties and administrative fines under applicable labor regulations, including the Wage Protection System and instructions issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Citizens who have concerns related to their wages may file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation by calling 600590000, or contact the Labor Claims and Advisory Center through 80084.
Eshtirak Program
Nafis will also begin implementing the updated Eshtirak program in September.
Under the new rules, support will be limited to the legally prescribed share of pension and social insurance contributions for Emirati citizens employed in the private sector.
The program will cover citizens whose total monthly salary does not exceed AED 20,000 and is not less than AED 6,000.
Employers, meanwhile, will be responsible for paying their legally required share of contributions to the General Pension and Social Security Authority or other pension funds, in line with the applicable contribution rates.
To qualify for the program, the employer must pay its legally mandated share of employee contributions, while the program covers the prescribed contribution on behalf of the Emirati beneficiary.
The citizen must also be registered with the General Pension and Social Security Authority, the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, or another approved pension fund in the UAE.
Another condition is that the beneficiary must not be receiving a salary or retirement pension from any federal or local government entity.
If a citizen holds two jobs in the private or banking sectors, eligibility will be calculated based on the job with the higher salary.
Required documents include an employment contract issued by one of the covered entities, along with proof of monthly registration with the relevant pension or social insurance authority.
Child Allowance
The new updates also cover the child allowance for Emirati citizens working in the private and banking sectors.
Starting in September, eligible beneficiaries will receive AED 600 per month for each child, with no maximum limit on the number of children.
To qualify for the allowance, the citizen’s monthly salary in the private or banking sector must not exceed AED 50,000.
The beneficiary must also be an Emirati citizen working for one of the establishments covered by the program.
For male children, the allowance will continue until they reach the age of 21 or begin working, whichever comes first.
For female children, the allowance will continue until they marry or start working.
The rules also require that there be no duplication in the payment of social allowances for children.
The allowance will not be paid if the spouse works for a federal or local government entity.
In addition, the beneficiary must not be receiving a salary or retirement pension from any federal or local government entity, except in cases where the pension was inherited from a deceased person.
10 Conditions to Receive Support
The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, Nafis, has set 10 general conditions for beneficiaries seeking to receive support under the covered programs and initiatives.
The conditions include that the beneficiary must be an Emirati citizen employed by one of the eligible private-sector establishments and must hold a valid work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for establishments regulated by the ministry, or by the relevant regulatory authority.
The citizen must also have a valid and officially approved employment contract, and their salary must be paid through the Wage Protection System or another payment system approved by a competent authority in the UAE.
The rules also require that the beneficiary does not own shares in the establishment where they work or receive training.
If the citizen has more than one employment contract under any approved work arrangement, the right to receive support will apply to only one contract.
Beneficiaries are also not allowed to combine a public-sector job with employment in the private or banking sector under any form of work arrangement.
A valid registration with the General Pension and Social Security Authority or one of the UAE’s approved pension and social insurance funds is also required.
If pension contributions stop being paid or the beneficiary does not receive a salary for two months, they will be given a two-month warning period to resolve the issue, while support payments are temporarily suspended.
If the matter is resolved during the warning period, the benefit will be paid retroactively. If the situation is not corrected after the warning period ends, the application for continued support may be rejected.
