The MoHRE has raised the minimum wage for Emirati citizens in the private sector

At a glance

• The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has raised the minimum wage for Emirati citizens in the private sector to AED6,000 per month, effective 1 January 2026.
• The new minimum wage applies to all new, renewed, and amended work permits issued from 1 January 2026.
• Employers with Emirati staff hired before this date must adjust salaries to meet the new minimum by 30 June 2026.
• From 1 July 2026, non-compliant employers risk sanctions, including exclusion of underpaid Emiratis from Emiratisation quotas and suspension of new work permits.
• This measure aims to strengthen Emiratisation efforts and ensure fair compensation for Emirati employees in the private sector.