{"id":"561","slug":"uae-takes-legal-action-over-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-firms","url":"https://devodubai.com/article/2026-09-23/uae-takes-legal-action-over-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-firms","json_url":"https://devodubai.com/api/article/uae-takes-legal-action-over-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-firms.json","title":"UAE takes legal action over 377 fake Emiratisation cases at 266 firms","headline":"UAE takes legal action over 377 fake Emiratisation cases at 266 firms","excerpt":"The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has recorded 377 cases of fake Emiratisation at 266 private-sector companies in the first half of 2026.","body":"The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has recorded 377 cases of fake Emiratisation at 266 private-sector companies in the first half of 2026. The ministry said on Tuesday, 22 September, that it is taking legal action against the firms and others involved.\n\nFake Emiratisation means a company registers a UAE citizen as an employee to meet national hiring targets, but does not give them real work. A contract and work permit may exist on paper. The job itself does not.\n\nMoHRE said the cases were found through field inspections and its digital monitoring system. It also said the violations were limited and do not show a widespread pattern in the UAE labour market.\n\n## What the rules require\n\nEmiratisation is meant to put Emirati professionals into real private-sector roles, not names on a spreadsheet. MoHRE said a genuine job needs actual duties, responsibilities and a path to develop skills.\n\nCompanies that break the rules face fines of between 20,000 and 100,000 dirhams per case, according to The National. Serious cases can be referred to prosecutors. Emiratis found in breach can lose Nafis benefits, and the ministry can recover money already paid.\n\nGulf News reported that action was taken under Cabinet Decision No. 43 of 2025, which sets administrative penalties linked to Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council programmes.\n\n## Quotas still apply\n\nPrivate companies with 50 or more staff must reach 10% Emiratisation in skilled roles by the end of 2026, The National reported. That follows a 2% annual growth path, checked at mid-year and year-end.\n\nFrom 12 July, non-compliant firms face monthly fines of Dh10,000 for each skilled post not filled by an Emirati. A minimum Emirati salary of Dh6,000 a month has applied since 1 January 2026.\n\nSmaller firms with 20 to 49 workers had to hire at least one UAE citizen by the end of 2024 and another by the end of 2025. Both must stay on the books through 2026.\n\n## Why it matters\n\nMoHRE warned that sham hiring can skew labour-market figures, waste incentives meant for real jobs, and shut out Emiratis who want proper work. It also hurts firms that invest in training citizens.\n\nThe ministry asked the public to report suspected cases via its website, smart app, or by calling 600590000.\n\nKhaleej Times noted that in the first half of 2025 MoHRE recorded 405 similar cases. Last year one company was fined Dh10 million after appointing 113 citizens to fictitious roles.","category":"news","category_url":"https://devodubai.com/category/news","author":"Editorial Team","author_url":"https://devodubai.com/editor/editorial-team","published_at":"2026-09-23T03:44:52","updated_at":null,"reading_time_minutes":2,"cover_image":"https://cms.devo.co/assets/fe22e35a-2247-440a-a284-8079dcb9fec9","source_count":4,"sources":[{"title":"UAE takes legal action against private firms over 377 fake Emiratisation cases","source":"Khaleej Times","link":"https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-legal-action-private-firms-377-fake-emiratisation-cases","domain":"khaleejtimes.com"},{"title":"UAE MOHRE detects 377 fake Emiratisation cases in first half of 2026","source":"Emirates 24|7","link":"https://www.emirates247.com/uae/uae-mohre-detects-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-in-first-half-of-2026/5911","domain":"emirates247.com"},{"title":"UAE detects 377 fake Emiratisation cases at 266 private firms in H1 2026","source":"Gulf News","link":"https://gulfnews.com/uae/crime/uae-detects-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-private-firms-in-h1-2026-1.500683409","domain":"gulfnews.com"},{"title":"UAE detects 377 fake Emiratisation cases at 266 private companies in first half of the year","source":"The National","link":"https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/22/uae-detects-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-private-companies-in-first-half-of-the-year","domain":"thenationalnews.com"}],"citation":{"text":"Devo Dubai. \"UAE takes legal action over 377 fake Emiratisation cases at 266 firms\". Published 23 September 2026. https://devodubai.com/article/2026-09-23/uae-takes-legal-action-over-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-firms","canonical_url":"https://devodubai.com/article/2026-09-23/uae-takes-legal-action-over-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-firms","json_url":"https://devodubai.com/api/article/uae-takes-legal-action-over-377-fake-emiratisation-cases-at-266-firms.json","usage_info":"We encourage citation of this page, including by AI assistants and research tools — quote or summarize it freely, and we appreciate a link back to the canonical URL so readers can trace the source. Republishing it in full requires permission."},"seo":{"title":"UAE takes legal action over 377 fake Emiratisation cases at 266 firms","description":"The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has recorded 377 cases of fake Emiratisation at 266 private-sector companies in the first half of 2026. The ministry said on Tuesday, 22 September, that it is taking..."}}