United Arab Emirates: Changes to Nafis Program Forthcoming

Effective September 2026, the United Arab Emirates is introducing the following policy additions to its Nafis program – a government initiative aimed at increasing the participation of Emirati nationals in the private sectors: 

• • Shift in pension contribution responsibility. The Nafis program will cease reimbursing 2.5% of the employer’s pension contribution for eligible employees earning below AED 20,000 – as it currently does. Employers will assume full responsibility for the pension contribution. 
  • Working women who have an Emirati husband. Monthly salary support of up to AED 3,000 for women working in the private sector who have Emirati husbands; currently there is no equivalent support regime. Applicants must: 
    • • • earn a monthly salary between AED 6,000 and AED15,000;  
        • have an accredited bachelor’s degree;  
        • have an Emirati husband who is employed in the public or private sector, retired, or unable to work due to certified medical reasons; and 
        • have at least two children or been married to her Emirati husband for at least five years. Limited exceptions apply to this rule.  
  • Children of Emirati mothers. Monthly salary support of up to AED 3,000 per child for Emirati women; currently there is no equivalent support regime. Applicants must earn a monthly salary between AED 6,000 and AED 20,000 and have an accredited bachelor’s degree. 
  • Revised monthly top-up structure. The maximum monthly salary top-up – an amount paid by the government to increase an Emirati’s monthly income – will be restructured according to the beneficiary’s education level as follows: a) Bachelor’s degree holders: AED 6,000; b) diploma holders: AED 5,000; c) high school graduates: AED 4,000; and d) individuals below high school level: between AED 3,000 to 4,000. Currently the top-up regime is capped at AED 7,000 regardless of the applicant’s education status. This revised framework will take effect for new beneficiaries from September 2026; while existing beneficiaries will be transitioned gradually over a period of up to three years, with further benefits for Emiratis employed in free zones.  

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.